Social Influence and Conformity Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is the belief that outcomes in life are influenced by luck or fate called?

  • Social support
  • Internal locus of control
  • External locus of control (correct)
  • Psychological reactance
  • People conform due to the need for independence and self-reliance, not for approval.

    False (B)

    Identify one explanation of resistance to social influence.

    Social support or locus of control.

    An individual's belief that success is determined by hard work rather than luck demonstrates an ______ locus of control.

    <p>internal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms related to resistance to social influence with their definitions:

    <p>Social support = Presence of others reduces conformity Internal locus of control = Belief in personal effort for success External locus of control = Belief in fate determining outcomes Conformity = Changing behavior to align with group norms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How might the presence of Tom's refusal to participate in the play affect Daniel's and Matthew's decision?

    <p>It may lead Daniel to feel more supported in resisting peer pressure. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A confident personality is the only factor influencing resistance to social influence.

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

    Explain why Daniel is more likely to resist social influence than Matthew.

    <p>Daniel has an internal locus of control, believing success comes from hard work.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the percentage of participants who proceeded to the full 450 volts when confederates withdrew from the experiment?

    <p>10% (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Social support must be credible to effectively help individuals resist social influence.

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

    What other factors, apart from social support, might contribute to an individual's ability to resist social influence?

    <p>Confidence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Lucas et al. (2006), participants resisted social influence ___% of the time with easy math problems.

    <p>92</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the study with its finding:

    <p>Allen and Levine (1971) = Even poor sources of support can increase resistance to conformity. Lucas et al. (2006) = Resistance varies depending on problem difficulty. Perrin and Spencer = Less conformity among engineering students. Milgram's study = Obedience rates decreased with confederate withdrawal.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does social support have on individuals facing authority pressure?

    <p>It increases resistance to authority pressure. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    People with low confidence tend to resist social influence more effectively than those with high confidence.

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

    What was the finding of Perrin and Spencer's study in relation to conformity rates?

    <p>Less conformity was found, with only one out of 396 trials showing conformity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What concept explains the extent to which people believe they have control over their own lives?

    <p>Locus of Control (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Individuals with an internal locus of control are more likely to conform to social pressures.

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

    What is one characteristic of individuals with an internal locus of control?

    <p>They feel they have personal responsibility for their actions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    People with an _____ locus of control are more likely to allow external factors to dictate their actions.

    <p>external</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following traits is typically associated with individuals who have an internal locus of control?

    <p>Higher self-confidence (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following descriptions with the corresponding locus of control:

    <p>Internal Locus of Control = Belief that life events are controlled by one's own actions External Locus of Control = Belief that life events are controlled by external factors like luck High Self-Confidence = Associated with internal locus of control Greater Conformity = More likely with external locus of control</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term describes the refusal to conform to group pressures and the ability to make independent decisions?

    <p>Resistance to social influence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Individuals with an external locus of control are more likely to resist social influence.

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

    Study Notes

    Social Influence

    • Social influence is the process by which individuals or groups change the beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors of others.
    • Social influence processes are crucial for social change.

    Types of Conformity

    • Compliance: People publicly agree with a majority but privately disagree. This is a superficial type of conformity; it only lasts as long as the group pressure is present.
    • Identification: People publicly conform to a majority group because they wish to be part of that group. This involves a temporary change in behaviour and private beliefs (has components of compliance and internalisation). This change is not sustained when the group is no longer present.
    • Internalisation: People privately and publicly conform to a majority group, adjusting both behaviour and private beliefs to align with the majority's views. This change is the most permanent type of conformity, as it is maintained even when the group is no longer present.

    Explanations for Conformity

    • Informational social influence (ISI): People conform because they want to be right. They look to others as a source of information, especially in ambiguous situations. This often leads to internalisation as people adopt the behaviours and beliefs of others in the group. Examples of this include a student unsure of the answer in class choosing the answer the majority chose, or a group following an expert's opinion.
    • Normative social influence (NSI): People conform because they want to be liked and accepted by others. This is why people conform with the group to avoid disapproval. Examples include conformity to a group's fashion sense, or an individual adopting the beliefs and behaviors of their peer groups.

    Conformity to Social Roles

    • Social roles are the 'parts' people play in society.
    • Conformity to social roles was investigated by Zimbardo in his Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE).
    • The SPE showed that individuals readily conform to assigned roles, even when the roles become oppressive and inhumane.

    Explanations for Obedience

    • Agentic state: People shift from an autonomous state of taking responsibility for their actions to an agentic state, meaning they place responsibility on someone else (the authority figure). They obey because they feel they are acting on behalf of the authority figure.
    • Legitimacy of authority: People obey because they recognise the authority figure has the right to give orders. This is based on established social hierarchies in society.
    • Situational variables: Variables like proximity, location, and uniform influence obedience levels in the context of obedience studies. Proximity (how close the participants are to the authority figure) and location can affect obedience levels. The uniform of an authority figure (e.g. a lab coat) can also influence participants' obedience.

    Dispositional explanations for obedience

    • Authoritarian personality: People with an authoritarian personality tend to be more obedient. This type of personality is characterized by respect for authority and obedience to those in power. It may develop due to experiences during childhood like strict parenting.

    Resistance to social influence

    • Locus of control: People with an internal locus of control believe they have control over their lives. They are more likely to resist conformity and obedience pressure. External locus of control people feel external factors control their lives, and are more likely to conform.
    • Social support: The presence of others who resist social influence can increase others' confidence to resist as well. This can influence both conformity and obedience.

    Minority Influence

    • Consistency: Minority groups are more effective when they are consistent in their position over time and between different individuals.
    • Commitment: Demonstrating commitment to their cause, even by making personal sacrifices, makes the majority give their views more attention.
    • Flexibility: A minority that is too rigid in its views may appear unreasonable to the majority, so flexibility may enhance the minority's persuasiveness.
    • The snowball effect: The rate of conversion to a minority viewpoint increases over time, leading to social change.

    Social Influence Processes Explaining Social Change

    • Social change occurs when society adopts a new behaviour or belief.
    • Minority influence, informational influence, and normative influence explain social change

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    Description

    Explore the dynamics of social influence and the different types of conformity in this quiz. Learn about compliance, identification, and internalization as key processes that shape beliefs and behaviors in social settings. Understanding these concepts is essential for grasping how social change occurs.

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