Social Influence Quiz

Internalisation: A person genuinely accepts the group’s beliefs or behaviours, resulting in private as well as public change.

Identification: A person adopts the group’s behaviour or attitudes publicly because they value the group, but not necessarily privately.

Compliance: A person changes their behaviour to fit in with a group, but privately disagrees. This is often temporary.

Normative social influence occurs when an individual conforms to a group to be accepted or liked, often leading to compliance. It is driven by the desire to fit in with the group and avoid social rejection.

Asch manipulated the number of people in the majority to determine how it affected the rate of conformity. He found that conformity increased with the size of the majority, but plateaued after a group size of 3.

The level of obedience decreased when the proximity of the experimenter was reduced (e.g., when the experimenter gave orders by phone) or when the location of the experiment was less prestigious (e.g., when the study was conducted in a less professional environment).

Locus of control refers to an individual's belief about the extent to which they have control over events in their life. People with an internal locus of control believe they can influence outcomes, making them more likely to resist social influence, while those with an external locus of control believe outcomes are largely outside their control.

Informational social influence occurs when people conform because they believe the group has accurate information. It typically leads to internalisation because individuals genuinely adopt the group’s behaviour or beliefs.

Normative social influence is driven by the desire to be liked and accepted by others, leading to compliance. This is often temporary and does not result in a change in private beliefs.

Asch’s research showed that as the size of the majority increased, so did the rate of conformity. Conformity was very high when there were three confederates in the group, and adding more had little effect. This suggests that a group size of 3-4 is optimal for influencing conformity, but beyond that, conformity does not increase significantly.

Zimbardo’s study demonstrated how quickly individuals can conform to assigned social roles, especially when given authority. Participants who were assigned the role of guards became abusive and authoritarian, while those assigned the role of prisoners became passive and submissive. The experiment highlighted the power of situational factors in influencing behaviour and showed how individuals can adopt roles with little personal motivation or intent.

Agentic state: In this state, individuals see themselves as agents of another person (e.g., an authority figure), meaning they feel less personal responsibility for their actions. They obey orders because they believe the authority figure is responsible for the outcomes.

Legitimacy of authority: People are more likely to obey individuals whom they perceive as having legitimate authority, such as police officers or teachers. The legitimacy of the authority figure increases the likelihood of obedience, especially when they are seen as part of a recognised institution or system.

Milgram altered the proximity between the participant (teacher) and the learner (victim) in different conditions. In the touch proximity condition, the teacher had to physically force the learner’s hand onto a shock plate. Obedience decreased when the teacher was in closer physical proximity to the learner, demonstrating that personal responsibility and empathy can reduce obedience levels.

The Authoritarian Personality is a personality type characterised by high levels of obedience, rigid thinking, and an unquestioning adherence to authority. People with this personality are more likely to conform to and obey authority figures. They tend to have a strong desire for order and control and often see the world in black-and-white terms. This explanation was proposed by Adorno et al., who believed that individuals with this personality are more likely to be influenced by authority figures and less likely to question authority.

Social support refers to the presence of others who dissent or resist social influence, which makes it easier for individuals to also resist. Having a fellow dissenter can reduce the pressure to conform or obey, as it provides an alternative point of view. This can help individuals feel more confident in standing up against majority opinions or authority figures.

Locus of control refers to an individual’s belief about whether they can control events that affect them. People with an internal locus of control believe that they can influence outcomes through their actions, which makes them more likely to resist social influence. They are more independent in their decision-making and less likely to conform or obey. On the other hand, individuals with an external locus of control are more likely to feel that their lives are governed by external forces, making them more susceptible to social influence.

The key factors contributing to minority influence are:

• Consistency: Minorities who consistently express their views over time are more likely to influence the majority.
• Commitment: Minorities who show commitment to their cause or beliefs, often at personal cost, appear more credible and persuasive.
• Flexibility: While consistency is important, minorities that are flexible and open to discussion are more likely to influence others, as rigid insistence can alienate potential supporters.

Social influence processes can lead to social change through mechanisms like minority influence and normative social influence. For example, when a minority group consistently advocates for change (e.g., civil rights movements), they can shift societal norms and attitudes. As others begin to accept the minority's views, the majority's attitudes can change, leading to broader societal transformation. Additionally, social support can amplify resistance to the status quo, encouraging others to challenge social norms. Over time, widespread social change can occur through the cumulative impact of these individual acts of resistance.