Understanding Social Influence: Conformity, Compliance, Obedience

Conformity

Change in attitudes due to social pressure.

Compliance

Going along with explicit requests from others.

Obedience

Submitting to authority's demands or orders.

Mimicry

Imitation of another's behavior consciously or unconsciously.

Informational Social Influence

Conforming based on others' actions as correct.

Normative Social Influence

Conforming to avoid social disapproval or sanctions.

Group Size Influence

Larger groups increase conformity pressure up to four.

Unanimous Groups

If everyone in a group agrees, there's more pressure for others to go along with the group.

Expertise Influence

Higher status members increase group influence on conformity.

Cultural Influence on Conformity

Interdependent cultures show higher conformity than independent.

Gender Differences in Conformity

Women generally conform more than men in uncertain domains.

Minority Influence

When a small group sticks to their opinion, they can have a big impact.

Norm of Reciprocity

Obligation to return favors to those who help us.

Door-in-the-Face Technique

a high-commitment request is made, expected to be refused, followed by a lower commitment request that is more likely to be accepted. 

Foot-in-the-Door Technique

Starting with a small request before a larger one.

Emotion-based Compliance

Good mood increases likelihood of agreeing to requests.

Negative State Relief

Compliance reduces feelings of guilt or sadness.

Descriptive Norms

Indicate how people actually behave in contexts.

Prescriptive Norms

Indicate how people should behave in situations.

Milgram Experiments

Studies demonstrating obedience to harmful authority demands.

Normative vs. Moral Conflict

Tension between social influence and personal ethics.