Social Influence Concepts and Theories

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary reason people conform to group norms according to the social identity perspective?

  • They feel pressure to meet the expectations of others.
  • They believe the group is part of their identity. (correct)
  • They want to be correct and accurate.
  • They want to avoid potential social consequences.

What was the approximate conformity rate observed in Asch's original experiment?

  • 50%
  • 25%
  • 10%
  • 35% (correct)

Which type of social influence emphasizes the desire to be correct and accurate?

  • Descriptive social influence
  • Normative social influence
  • Informational social influence (correct)
  • Referent informational social influence

How does the dual process dependency model of social influence differ from the social identity perspective?

<p>The dual process model focuses on individual needs, while the social identity perspective focuses on group identity. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the SIDE model, what happens to an individual's focus of identity when they are in a group setting with reduced identifiability?

<p>They become less aware of their personal identity and more aware of their social identity. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the research by Franzen and Mader (2023), how did monetary incentives affect conformity rates?

<p>Monetary incentives reduced the conformity rate, but social influence remained a significant factor. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does social media play in the context of social influence?

<p>Social media amplifies social influence by creating echo chambers and promoting conformity. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a 'descriptive norm'?

<p>A perception of how people <em>actually</em> behave. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential explanation for why Asch's findings were successfully replicated without confederates in recent studies?

<p>The studies might reflect a tendency to conform to perceived norms, even when those norms are generated by artificial agents. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason given for people conforming to viral trends on platforms like TikTok?

<p>Social validation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Based on Study 2, what is a significant conclusion drawn about the influence of AI-driven social environments on moral decision-making?

<p>AI and human influence have similar impacts on moral judgments. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of influencer culture is described as a significant driver of compliance?

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

How do the examples of TikTok trends and influencer marketing differ, in terms of their focus?

<p>TikTok trends promote collaborative behavior, while influencers emphasize individual success. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary ethical concern raised about the potential impact of algorithmic compliance on online content?

<p>Promotion of extreme content (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between Milgram's original study and the replication by Burger (2009)?

<p>The participant's awareness of their ability to withdraw. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant finding emerged from the Milgram replications conducted by Reicher, Haslam, and Smith (2012)?

<p>Obedience is more likely when group members have a shared identity. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential limitation of using VR to conduct obedience studies, as discussed in the text?

<p>VR technology may not accurately simulate real-world social interactions. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Social Influence

The effect of group behavior on individual choices or beliefs.

Normative Social Influence

Pressure to conform to positive expectations and perceived norms of a group.

Informational Social Influence

Acceptance of information from others to be correct and accurate.

Referent Informational Social Influence

Conformity due to identification with a group as part of oneself.

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Descriptive Norms

Norms that describe behaviors typically exhibited by a group.

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Injunctive Norms

Norms that specify what behaviors are approved or disapproved in a group.

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Asch's Conformity Study

Study showing that individuals conformed to incorrect group answers 35% of the time.

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Social Media Influence

Alignment with majority opinions to gain acceptance; can lead to conformity or dissent.

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Electric Shocks Study

A study with 34 participants delivering electric shocks during a task, exploring obedience and authority.

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Agentic State

A psychological state where individuals view themselves as an instrument for carrying out another person's wishes, leading to obedience.

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Deindividuation

A psychological state characterized by diminished self-awareness and lower personal responsibility, often in group settings.

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Social Identity Theory

Theory proposing that a person's sense of who they are is based on their group membership, influencing behaviors and attitudes.

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SIDE Model

Social Identity Model of Deindividuation Effects; suggests that anonymity in groups enhances conformity to group norms.

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Online Disinhibition

The phenomenon where users express themselves more freely and openly online due to perceived anonymity.

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Private vs. Public Self-Awareness

Increased private self-awareness leads to higher self-disclosure online, while reduced public self-awareness does the opposite.

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Polarization Effects

The intensification of group attitudes and behaviors as users become more attached to their in-groups online.

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Contemporary Conformity

Adjusting thoughts or behaviors to match those of a group in modern contexts.

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FOMO

Fear of missing out; anxiety that others are having rewarding experiences without you.

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Moral Conformity

Adjusting moral judgments based on group influence.

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Obedience Studies

Experiments analyzing how authority affects compliance, famously conducted by Milgram.

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Experiment Replication

Reproduce studies to confirm findings, e.g., Milgram's shock experiment.

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Reciprocity

Mutual exchange; an expectation to return favors, often seen in social media giveaways.

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Algorithmic Compliance

Adhering to content suggestions made by algorithms, influencing user behavior.

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Identity-Based Obedience

Compliance arising from identification with authority figures or groups.

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Study Notes

Social Influence

  • Social influence is the process by which individuals are affected by the presence of others
  • Normative social influence is pressure to conform to positive expectations and perceived group norms.
  • Informational social influence is the desire to be correct and accept information from others.
  • Referent informational social influence is a model where people conform to group norms because the group is part of their identity.
  • Emergence of social norms provides a framework for behaviour, influenced by descriptive and injunctive norms.
  • Asch's research (1951) demonstrated conformity, with an average conformity rate of 35% in a line judgment task.
  • Asch's findings hold up even when participants receive payment as indicated in research by Franzen & Mader (2023), with rates around 33% error. Introducing incentives reduced the error rate to 25%, suggesting significant influence within the group. Political opinions also show conformity effects (38%).

Social Media Influence

  • Social media platforms facilitate social influence, where people conform to perceived majority opinions to gain acceptance or to avoid criticism.
  • This includes influencing via trends, reciprocity, social proof, and scarcity.
  • Minority voices are suppressed or amplified by the characteristics of the platform. Fear of cancellation can lead people to conformity.
  • Artificial intelligence driven influences on moral decision-making may be similar to human group pressures, altering previously held opinions.

Obedience Studies

  • Obedience studies (Milgram, 1965; 1974) investigated the effects of punishment on learning.
  • A teacher (naïve participant) administered shocks to a learner (confederate) based on incorrect answers.
  • Strikingly, 65% of participants went to the highest shock level (450 volts).
  • Burger (2009) and Reicher, Haslam & Smith (2012) replicated the experiments adding new insights and elements such as identifying with leaders and hierarchies, helping to explain real-world forms of compliance.

Contemporary Conformity

  • Viral trends on TikTok are an example of how trends create widespread conformity.
  • Influencers foster compliance with reciprocity, social proof, and scarcity principles.
  • People seek to conform to opinions in groups to gain acceptance, or to avoid disapproval.
  • Deindividuation (loss of responsibility and self-consciousness) can also influence behaviours within groups.

Social Identity Theory

  • Social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979; 1986) explains how people conform to group behaviours based on shared identity.
  • Online behaviours are influenced by the interaction of identity and social effects. Polarisation can increase alignment within a specific group.

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