Social psych influence

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  • Created by: Steff06
  • Created on: 29-04-17 11:14

Conformity and compliance

Conformity types:

  • Informational social influence:other people can be useful sources of info about appropriateness
  • Informational -> Situations are ambiguous, so we look at others
  • Normative social infleuence:We want to be accepted by others, so do what they do

Factors influencing conformity:

  • a. Group size - larger = more influential. 3 people enough to elicit conformity, levels off after 3/4
  • b. Unanimity - Break in unanimity is enough to reduce conformity
  • c. Expertise/status - disapproval of high-status people hurts more
  • d. Culture - Interdependent (collectivist) groups/females conform more
  • e. Construal of disagreement - Ross, 1976 - If good reason not to conform then they wont

Compliance: Occurs when we are influenced by a direct attempt by someone without authority. The difference between compliance and obedience is that obedient is where someone has power over us.

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Definitions and studies

  • Conformity = Changing behaviour in response to real or imagined presence of others
  • Compliance = Changing behaviour by responding favourably to an explicit request, possibly to a superior
  • Obedience = Responding to an explicit request from someone who has power over you

Studies: Conformity (Solomon & Asch), obedience (Milgram), aggression (Bobo doll)

Social psych -> Studies power of situation on individual thoughts, feelings and behaviour

Zimbardo: Stanford Prison Experiment - led to formed ethical guidelines. Zimbardo took on 2 roles and lost objectivity. Participants lost personal identity

Strength of social influence increases ffrom 1-3:

  • 1.Conformity - As others do  2.Compliance - As others want  3.Obedience -As commanded
  • 3 types --> a) Reason-based   b) Emotion-based    c) Norm-based
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Normative/informational, automatic mimicry

Normative social influence: Peer pressure provoked. Use other's behaviour and comments as guide to avoid disapproval.

  • Asch, 1956: Normative: Judge whether lines are same length. 1 real ppt in group of confederates
  • Confederates give wrong answer, ppts conformed on 1/3 of critical trials, 75% ppts conformed at least once. Unambiguous, conform on outside, not inside (temporary public compliance)

Informational, Sherif, 1936: Dark room asked: 'how much did the light move?' Didn't move at all, but situation is ambiguous and difficult. Reported movement alone and with others. Judgement converged to group norm as it was an ambiguous situation so used other's answers as info. --> Ambiguous (unsure/difficult) - other's responses form opinions, believe what other's say/internalise

Automatic mimicry: Empathic orientation/high need to affiliate are more likely to automatically mimic others. Demonstration of empathy + closer social bond

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Foot-in-the-door, Cialdini

Foot-in-the-door:

Initially small request which is easy to accept and then larger one

E.g. Freedman & Fraser, 1966:

1. Display sign in window (small), then large          2. Display sign in yard? (large)

Agreed to large sign = 76% for 1/17% for 2

Cialdini, 1975: a. Chaperone juveniles on a zoo trip? b. Counsel them for 2hrs per week for 2 years? No? Then chaperone them to the zoo?

Compliance = 17%/50%. Feel obliged to make a concession

Reason-based (door-in-the-face) = reciprocal concessions - ask for large favour first, then real more modest request after

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