Social Influence Lecture 2023 PDF

Social Influence Social Psychology Lecture 2023 Faculty of PsychologyUGM Reflect for 15’ in groups Are the decisions we make always based on what we think, or do we use other’s thoughts and behaviour to...

Social Influence Social Psychology Lecture 2023 Faculty of PsychologyUGM Reflect for 15’ in groups Are the decisions we make always based on what we think, or do we use other’s thoughts and behaviour to help us make a decision? Under what circumstances we refer to others’ thoughts and behaviour to make decision or to behave? Provide examples of your behaviour that was influenced by others lately.  Social Influence Informational Normative The need to know The Need to Be what is “right” Accepted  Informational Social Influence The influence of other Ambiguous situation or crisis incompetent or insecure people that leads us to feelings conform because we see Admiration (status, them as a source of attractiveness, etc) information to guide our Believe that others’ behaviour interpretation more correct than our own judgement. Reference to choose/decide an appropriate course of action. Sherif’s Research: The Autokinetic Phenomenon Alone in a dark room, participants estimated how much a light 15 feet away moved. Even though the light did not move, the autokinetic effect caused the illusion of motion. The light seem to move, usually about 2-4 inches but as much as 10 inches. Days later, the participants did it again but not alone, this time with other people who reached a common estimate. Participants’ estimates tended to conform to these, as shown in the next slide.  Sherif’s Research: The Autokinetic Phenomenon These results indicate that people used each other as a source of information, coming to believe that the group estimate was correct. Private Acceptance Conforming to other people’s behaviour out of a genuine belief that what they are doing or saying is right  Conformity A change in one’s behavior due to the real or imagined influence of other people (Aronson (Aronson et et al, al, 2013). 2013). A type of social influence in which individuals change their attitudes or behavior to adhere to existing social norms (Baron (Baron et et al, al, 2012). 2012). Can you think of an example of real and imagined influence of others? Other part of the world To what extent do we conform and why? How do you see this phenomena in light of social influence  Informational Conformity Backfires Contagion The rapid spread of emotions or behaviors through a crowd When one’s personal safety is involved, the need for information is acute—and the behavior of others is very informative.  Normative Social Influence: The Need to Be Accepted Public Compliance - The influence of other Conforming to other people’s people that leads us behaviour publicly without to conform in order to necessarily believing in what we are doing or saying be liked and accepted by them. Social norms - The implicit or explicit rules a group has for the acceptable behaviors, values, and beliefs of its Can you think of an members. example?  Asch’s Line Judgement Task Which of the comparison lines best matched the reference line in length? A B C? Video: https://www.youtube.c om/watch?v=qA-gbpt7Ts8  Cohesiveness and Conformity: Being Influenced by Those We Like One factor that strongly Cohesiveness influences our tendency to The extent to which conform, to go along with whatever norms are operating we are attracted to in a given situation, is cohesiveness (Turner, 1991) a social group and The greater cohesiveness is, want to belong to it. the more we tend to follow the norms (i.e. rules) of the group.  Conformity and Group Size: Respect to Social Pressure Conformity increases with group size, but only up to about three of four members; beyond that point, it appears to level off or even decrease. (Asch, 1956; What do you think? Gerard, Wilhelmy, & Conolley, Can you give an 1968) Conformity increases in groups example? of 8 or more. (Bond & Smith, 1996) The greater the number of people who behave in some specific way, the greater our tendency to conform and “do as they do” Using Social Influence to Promote Beneficial Behaviour What can you do?  Descriptive and Injunctive Social Norms: How Norms Affect Behavior Normative Focus Descriptive norms Theory Norms simply indicating what most people do in a given situation. A theory suggesting what norms will influence Injunctive norms behavior only to the extent that they are focal Norms specifying what ought to be done; what is approved or for the people involved at disapproved behaviour in a given the time the behavior situation occurs.  Compliance-gaining Strategy The foot-in-the-door technique The door-in-the-face technique  Non-conformity High Power status Desire to be unique  Obedience to Authority Since childhood we are socialized to obey authority figures who we perceive as legitimate. (Blass, 2000; Staub, 1989). We internalize the social norm of obedience to the point where we would obey rules and laws even when authority figures are not present. Milgram’s Obedience Experiment (1963) Video: https://youtu.be/yr5cjyokVUs  Milgram Agency Theory Milgram (1974) explained the behavior of his participants by suggesting that people actually have two states of behavior when they are in a social situation: The autonomous state – people direct their own actions, and they take responsibility for the results of those actions. The agentic state – people allow others to direct their actions, and then pass off the responsibility for the consequences to the person giving the orders. In other words, they act as agents for another person’s will. 07/10/2015 Thank you!