Psychology: Conformity and Social Roles

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Questions and Answers

What are the three types of conformity?

  • Internalisation, obedience, compliance
  • Internalisation, identification, obedience
  • Obedience, identification, compliance
  • Internalisation, identification, compliance (correct)

Which theory explains conformity based on wanting to be liked and accepted by the group?

  • Dispositional influence
  • Informational social influence
  • Normative social influence (correct)
  • Situational influence

Which theory explains conformity based on the belief that others have better information than oneself?

  • Situational influence
  • Dispositional influence
  • Informational social influence (correct)
  • Normative social influence

Who conducted the classic study investigating the effects of group size, unanimity, and task difficulty on conformity?

<p>Asch (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment investigate?

<p>The impact of social roles on behavior (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a situational variable affecting obedience as investigated by Milgram?

<p>Group size (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The theory that explains obedience by suggesting that individuals relinquish personal responsibility and act as an agent of authority is:

<p>Agentic state (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Authoritarian Personality is a dispositional explanation for obedience.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an explanation for resistance to social influence?

<p>Authoritarian personality (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of minority influence?

<p>Unanimity (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the three important factors that contribute to minority influence?

<p>Consistency, commitment, and flexibility.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Conformity types

Internalization, identification, and compliance are the three ways people adapt their beliefs and behaviors to others.

Informational social influence

Trying to figure out what's right by looking to others for guidance in unclear situations.

Normative social influence

Behaving as expected to fit in or avoid being disapproved.

Asch's conformity study

Investigated the factors influencing conformity using line-judgement tasks.

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Zimbardo's prison experiment

Study showing how social roles affect behavior, specifically in a simulated prison setting.

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Obedience explanations

Agentic state (feeling as an agent) and legitimacy of authority are reasons people obey.

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Milgram's obedience study

A study that examined obedience to authority through shocking participants.

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Resistance to social influence

Ways individuals resist conformity or obedience, such as through social support and personal control.

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Minority influence

The impact of a small group or individual on changing the opinions of a larger group.

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Social change

The process of societal shifts influenced by factors like social influence, conformity, and obedience.

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Study Notes

Conformity

  • Conformity involves changing one's behavior or beliefs to match those of a group.
  • Types of conformity:
    • Internalisation: Conforming to a group because we accept the group's views.
    • Identification: Conforming to a group because we want to be part of it.
    • Compliance: Conforming to a group publicly, but not privately.
  • Explanations for conformity:
    • Informational social influence: Conformity because we believe the group is right.
    • Normative social influence: Conformity because we want to be liked.
  • Variables affecting conformity (as investigated by Asch):
    • Group size: Larger groups typically lead to more conformity.
    • Unanimity: If all others agree, conformity increases.
    • Task difficulty: More difficult tasks increase conformity.

Conformity to Social Roles

  • Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment - investigated roles influence.
  • Participants adopted assigned roles (guard/prisoner) influenced behavior drastically.

Obedience

  • Obedience involves changing one's behavior in response to a direct order, often from a perceived authority figure.
  • Explanations for obedience:
    • Agentic state: Individuals shift responsibility to an authority figure.
    • Legitimacy of authority: People obey authority figures when they believe they are legitimate.
  • Situational variables affecting obedience (as investigated by Milgram):
    • Proximity: Closer the victim, less obedience.
    • Location: Prestigious location increases obedience.
    • Uniform: Authority figures in uniform elicit more obedience.
  • Dispositional explanation for obedience:
    • Authoritarian personality: Individuals with rigid beliefs and respect for authority.

Resistance to Social Influence

  • Resistance involves not conforming or obeying.
  • Explanations for resistance:
    • Social support: Having others who resist pressure reduces conformity.
    • Locus of control: Internal locus of control (belief that you control your destiny) increases resistance.

Minority Influence

  • Minority influence involves a smaller group changing the majority's views.
  • Factors for successful minority influence:
    • Consistency: Maintaining the same position over time.
    • Commitment: Demonstrating dedication to the cause.
    • Flexibility: Adapting arguments to be more appealing.

Social Change

  • Social change results from social influence processes.
  • Minority influence plays a role in social change.

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