lpsi part2 lecture 3

Social Influence

A change in beliefs, attitudes, or behavior caused by other people

Majority Influence

Influence in which a smaller group moves toward the position of a larger group

Minority Influence

Influence in which a larger group moves toward the position of a smaller group

Conformity

Changing one's attitudes, beliefs, or behavior to match a majority position

Independence

Resisting social pressure and maintaining one's own opinion

Innovation

Social change that results from minority influence

Compromise

When both majority and minority members move toward each other's position

Shared Reality

A common understanding of the world developed through social interaction

Attitude Change Perspective

Approach that studies influence by examining changes in individuals' attitudes or perceptions

Decision-Making Perspective

Approach that studies influence by examining collective group decisions

Asch Line Judgment Experiment

Classic conformity experiment showing that people sometimes agree with an obviously incorrect majority

Asch Paradigm

Experimental setup in which participants judge line lengths while confederates provide unanimous incorrect answers

Conformity Rate in Asch's Studies

Approximately one-third of responses conformed to the incorrect majority

Unanimous Majority

A majority in which all members express the same opinion

Social Pressure

Influence exerted by others to encourage conformity

Informational Influence

Conformity based on a desire to be correct and reduce uncertainty

Normative Influence

Conformity based on a desire to gain approval and avoid rejection

Deutsch and Gerard (1955)

Researchers who distinguished informational influence from normative influence

Private Acceptance

Genuine internal attitude change resulting from influence

Public Compliance

Outward agreement without genuine attitude change

Cognitive Dependence

Reliance on others for information about reality

Social Dependence

Reliance on others for social approval and acceptance

Uncertainty Reduction

Motivation to obtain accurate information and reduce doubt

Need for Approval

Motivation to gain acceptance and avoid rejection

Majority Size Effect

The tendency for conformity to increase as majority size increases

Plateau Effect

The finding that conformity increases only up to a certain majority size and then levels off

Power Function Model

Latane and Wolf's model proposing that each additional majority member has a smaller effect on conformity

Other-Total Ratio

Mullen's measure of majority size divided by total group size

Social Proof

Using the behavior or opinions of others as evidence of what is correct

Burden of Social Proof

The amount of consensus needed before people accept a position as correct

Social Support

Presence of at least one other person who disagrees with the majority

Social Support Effect

Reduction in conformity caused by having an ally

Supporter

Someone who shares or supports a minority position

Dissenter

A person who disagrees with the majority opinion

Majority Influence Theory

Theory explaining why majorities exert stronger influence than minorities

Objective Consensus Approach

Theory proposing that majority influence occurs because consensus suggests correctness

Consensus Heuristic

Using agreement among many people as evidence that something is true

Independent Social Entities

Individuals believed to have formed opinions independently from one another

Minority

The smaller faction in a group disagreement

Majority

The larger faction in a group disagreement

Minority Influence Theory

Theory explaining how a minority can influence a majority

Moscovici

Researcher who pioneered the study of minority influence

Blue-Green Slide Experiment

Moscovici's study showing that a consistent minority could influence majority judgments about color perception

Conversion Theory

Moscovici's theory proposing that minorities create deeper cognitive processing and attitude change

Conversion

Internal attitude change produced by minority influence

Validation Process

Careful consideration of a minority's arguments

Latent Influence

Delayed influence that appears after the initial interaction

Indirect Influence

Influence on related attitudes rather than the focal attitude

Behavioral Compliance

Public agreement without internal attitude change

Consistency

Repeatedly expressing the same position over time

Behavioral Consistency

Consistently advocating the same viewpoint

Diachronic Consistency

Consistency across time

Synchronic Consistency

Consistency among different minority members

Consistency Principle of Minority Influence

Consistent minorities appear more confident, certain, and committed

Confidence

Certainty expressed by an influence source

Behavioral Style

The manner in which a message is communicated

Flexibility

Willingness to compromise on details while maintaining the core position

Rigid Minority

Minority that refuses any compromise

Flexible Minority

Minority that remains consistent while showing openness to discussion

Investment

Personal sacrifices made for a position

Augmentation Principle

The tendency to view a person's behavior or beliefs as more genuine and convincing when they maintain them despite significant costs, risks, or obstacles.

Autonomy

Acting independently rather than because of external pressure

Source-Context Elaboration Model (SCEM)

Theory proposing that influence depends on the source, context, and amount of cognitive processing

Elaboration

Careful thinking about a message

High Elaboration

Deep processing of information

Low Elaboration

Superficial processing of information

Self-Categorization Theory

Theory proposing that people are influenced most strongly by members of their own group

Social Categorization

Classifying people into groups

Ingroup

A group to which an individual belongs

Outgroup

A group to which an individual does not belong

Ingroup Influence

Influence exerted by members of one's own group

Prototype

The member who best represents the norms and characteristics of a group

Depersonalization

Seeing oneself primarily as a group member rather than as a unique individual

Referent Informational Influence

Influence resulting from identifying with an ingroup prototype

Divergent Thinking

Considering multiple perspectives and alternatives

Convergent Thinking

Focusing on a single correct answer or solution

Minority Stimulation Effect

The tendency for minorities to stimulate deeper thinking and creativity

Group Decision Quality

The effectiveness and accuracy of a group's decisions

Progressive Influence

Minority influence that promotes a new position

Reactionary Influence

Minority influence that promotes a return to a previous position

Conservative Influence

Minority influence that blocks change to a new position

Modernist Influence

Minority influence that blocks a return to a previous position

Group Consensus

General agreement among group members

Zeitgeist

The dominant opinion or spirit of the times

Majority Status

The social position associated with belonging to the majority

Minority Status

The social position associated with belonging to the minority

Dissent

Expressing disagreement with the majority

Groupthink Prevention

One benefit of minority influence because it encourages critical evaluation of alternatives

Creative Problem Solving

Enhanced generation of solutions resulting from exposure to minority viewpoints

Validation

Careful examination of a position's merits

Compliance

Behavioral change in response to influence

Internalization

Acceptance of a position because it is perceived as correct

Identification

Accepting influence because of a desire to be like or associated with the source