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Psychology - Social Influence - Coggle Diagram
Psychology - Social Influence
Key Terms
Social Influence
The ways in which external factors affect our behaviour.
Conformity
A form of social influence where you decide to follow the behaviour of the majority (majority influence.)
For example - Fashion trends, Peer Pressure.
Internalisation
The strongest form of conformity, whereby an individual's behaviour and beliefs are completely changed in line with a group's (in order to conform.)
This leads to private and public acceptance of a group's beliefs.
It is long-term/permanent form of conformity.
For example - agreeing to the beliefs of a terrorist group.
Normative Social Infuence
An explanation for conformity.
Instances where individuals conform in order to gain approval or receive disapproval from other group members.
Can lead to a person conforming.
For example - liking a friend's social media post first.
Identification
A type of conformity that is moderate, whereby an individual's behaviour and beliefs change in line to a group (only when in the presence of the group.)
We agree with the group's beliefs publicly and privately, but only when in the presence of the group.
It is a short-term form of conformity.
For example - adopting the same fashion style as your friend group.
Compliance
The weakest form of conformity, whereby individuals change their behaviour or beliefs only for the sake to comply with a group (which only exist in that group.)
This leads to public acceptance of a group's beliefs, with personal beliefs remaining unchanged.
It is a short-term form of conformity.
For example - waiting our turn in at a restaurant, even if you are hungry.
Informational Social Influence
An explanation for conformity.
Instances where individuals conform since they are unsure at what they should be doing in their particular scenario (looking for guidance.)
Often leads to internalisation.
For example - being unsure what to do in your new job, therefore asking a coworker for guidance (following what they advise.)
Social Role
The parts people play in a social group, having expectations placed on them in line to them.
Agentic state
An explanation for obedience where individuals act as an 'agent' for an authority figure, they are no longer believe they have responsibility for their actions.
Legitimacy of Authority
An explanation for obedience where individuals obey individuals since they are in a higher position of authority (higher up the social hierarchy.)
Locus of Control
Identification for personality, where individuals can either believe that internal or external factors have control their life (fate.)
Autonomous state
A mindset where individuals are in complete control of their actions and are responsible for their consequences.
Key Psychologists
Jenness' Jelly Beans Experiment
Procedure
Individuals were asked how many jelly beans were in a jar, starting with an interview individually with each participant.
They then were placed into a group and told to arrive at a group estimate.
They then were interviewed each again, individually.
ISI
Informational Social Influence
Since participants did not know the official answer (they were unsure,) they leaned towards what others thought. Changing their aswer after gaining more evidence from peers.
NSI
Normative Social Influence
Since participants wanted to seek approval and not disapproval from the group, they chose to go along with the majority.
Results
Almost every participant strayed away from their initial answer and made it closer to the group estimate.
Aim
To investigate how people conform based on the behaviour of others.
Sherif's Autokinetic Effect Experiment
Procedure
Made use of the autokinetic effect - an effect whereby stationary light appears to be moving (optical illusion.)
Participants were asked to view a light under the autokinetic effect.
Participants were interviewed individually being asked to estimate how far the light had moved across the room.
This was repeated but with the participants in a group of three and were told to discuss how far the light had moved together, they then were interviewed again individually.
Results
Each participant changed their estimates in line to the group's estimate or 'the norm.'
NSI
Normative Social Influence
Participants conformed to what the rest of the group estimated, this is as they wanted to be approved (avoid disapproval.)
Aim
To investigate how individuals conform when they are put into an ambiguous (unclear) situation.
Asch's Lines Experiment
Aim
To examine the extent that social pressure from a majority could have on people to conform.
Results
Nearly 75% of the participants in the experiment went along with the confederates at least once.
32% of the participants conformed to the incorrect answers.
26% of the participants never conformed during the experiment.
Procedure
Consisted of seven confederates and one participant sat in a row (the participant was sat towards the end.)
Line puzzles were placed on the screen (individuals had to guess which option of lines were the same length of the target line adjacent.)
Individuals were all asked to state what line was the same length (going down the row individually from left to right.)
All confederates stated the wrong answer.
Variations
Unamity
One or more of the confederates were told to give the correct answer.
Result - When someone else gave the right answer, conformity dropped considerably.
Size of Majority
The group number was increased.
Result - Conformity to the majority was lower when it consisted of only one or two people. But conformity increased to 30% when the majority consisted of three people (further group size increases had no change.)
Task Difficulty
Lines were made to look more similar in length.
Result - Conformity to the majority increased.
ISI
Informational Social Influence
The participant was more unsure on the correct answer, so they had more of a chance of conforming to the group (using it as guidance.)
Moscovici, Nemeth, Adorno, Bushman, Rotter.
Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment
Aim
To investigate and answer: 'Do prison guards behave badly because they have sadist personalities or is it the situation that creates the behaviour?'
Investigate the conformity of social roles.
Procedure
Dr Phil Zimbardo (psychology professor at Stanford university) began by allocating 24 Stanford university students into the role of prisoner or guard (randomly.)
The prisoner participants were "arrested" at their homes and then placed into a mock prison (under Stanford University) with uniforms and ID numbers.
Prisoners - Only had a prison uniform on (dress or a smock that had their prison ID's on the front and back) and heavy chain bolted on their ankles.
Guards - Identical khaki uniforms and sunglasses (carrying a whistle and a baton.)
The prison was set out to be functioning for 14 days, with the guards encouraged to live out their duties by the superintendent (Zimbardo.)
Results
Day 1
Surprise arrest on the nine prisoner students.
Guards waited for the prisoners to arrive in the mock prisoner, upon arrival, prisoners were stripped down and changed into their prisoner uniforms.
Day 2
Prisoners were only referred to by their identification numbers (depersonalistion) and were placed into small cells.
Guards did a 2:30 am wake up call, causing many inmates to rebel.
Prisoners refused to leave their cells to eat in The Yard, ripped of their identification numbers and stocking caps. In response guards sprayed fire extinguishers at the prisoners and removed all their clothes/mattresses (with some being placed in 'The Hole.'
Day 3
Guards aimed to prevent the prisoners from rebelling once again, those who had minimal roles in the rebellion were granted special privileges (rewarded.) They received food, a mattress and clothes in the 'good cell.'
Prisoners were denied access to the toilet - had to go in a bucket in their cells.
Prisoner #8612 starting showing signs of mental breakdown (emotional disturbance.) He was then released when he repeatedly screamed.
Day 4
The prisoners began to distance themselves from each other depending on how they were separated on their involvement of the rebellion.
Prisoner #819 began displaying signs of emotional distress, he was removed from the experiment with fellow inmates chanting that he was a 'bad prisoner.' He left after Zimbardo reassured him of his real identity.
Day 5
Friends and families were allowed into the prison for visitations, with some being so concerned for their children's wellbeing that they were going to get a lawyer to release them early.
Rumors aroused that prisoner #8612 was going to return to the prison and set the remaining prisoners free.
Christina Maslach - prompted Zimbardo to consider ending the study due to the inhumane treatment of the prisoners.
Day 6
Due to the influence of Maslach and the increase of guard violence the experiment was prematurely ended.
Zimbardo spoke to the guards and prisoners individually and then collated them together to allow them to discuss the experience.
Key Topics
Conformity Types and Explanations, Conformity to social roles, situational factors of obedience, dispositional factors of obedience, obedience to authority, minority influence, social change,
Key Psychologists
Milgram's Shock Experiment
