Psychology social Influence

what are the three types of conformity

internalisation

compliance

identification

what is compliance

agreeing with or behaving like the group publicly but disagreeing with or having different opinions from the group privately

social influence definition

process by which individuals and groups change each other’s attitudes and behaviours

define legitimacy of authority

explanation for obedience suggesting we are MORE LIKELY to obey people who we perceive to have authority over us due to position of power THEY HOLD IN HIERACHY

3 features of authoritarian personality

-submissive to superiors

-dismissive of inferiors

-highly prejudiced

internalisation conformity definition

• accepting and agreeing with the group publicly and privately

• STRONGEST TYPE OF CONFORMITY —→ LEADS TO LONG TERM CHANGE

what are two explanations for conformity

informational social influence and normative social influence

identification conformity definition

Temporary/short term change of behaviour and beliefs only in the presence of a group (middle level)

order strongest to weakest levels of conformity

STRONGEST

internalisation

identification

compliance

WEAKEST

what is informational social influence

individuals conforming due to the belief that someone holds more knowledge than them so is more likely to be right

what is normative social influence

individuals conforming due to the belief that they might be ostracised or perceived negatively if they don’t

three variables affecting conformity

-group size

-unanimity

-task difficulty

two explanations for obedience

agentic state and legitimacy of authority

agentic state

individuals carrying out instructions as an agent for a figure of authority (indivuals no longer view their decisions as autonomous/ take responsibility for their actions)

legitimacy of authority meaning

individual obeys someone in a perceived higher state of authority

situational variables affecting obedience

proximity + location+ uniform

dispositional explanation for obedience

authoritarian personality

explanations for socia

what is locus of control

measurement of an individual’s sense of control over their lives, i.e to what extent they feel that events in their lives are under their own personal control, versus under the control of other external powers like fate.

social support definition

other candidates confirming the belief of the participant by giving the same

what are three ways the majority is more likely to be influenced by the minority (minority influence)

• consistency in minority’s beliefs

• commitment to minority’s beliefs/point of view

• flexibility in minority’s views

Asch’s study on Variables affecting conformity: group size, unanimity and task difficulty

group size: 123 Male American undergrads- groups of 6 WITH ONE TRUE PARTICIPANT AND FIVE CONFEDERATES

PROCEDURE: Participants and confederates were presented with 4 lines; 3 comparison lines and 1 standard line

• They asked to state which of three lines was the same length as a stimulus line

• The real participant always answered last or second to last

Asch observed how often the participant would give the same incorrect answer as the confederates versus the correct answer

findings of Asch’s study

36.8% conformed

25% never conformed

75% conformed at least once In a control trial,

only 1% of responses given by participants were incorrect

how does GROUP SIZE affect conformity

-participants more likely to conform in a BIGGER GROUP SIZE

Evidence: There was low conformity with group size of confederates were less than 3 - any more than 3 and the conformity rose by 30%

Explanation: