Social Influence

Aug 22, 2024

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Lecture Notes: Social Influence in Psychology

Introduction

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Conformity

Types of Conformity

  • Compliance: Superficial, temporal change; motivated by NSI (Normative Social Influence).
  • Identification: Change in behavior and private values when with group.
  • Internalization: Deep, permanent change; motivated by ISI (Informational Social Influence).

Explanations

  • NSI: Desire to be liked, avoid rejection; leads to temporary conformity.
  • ISI: Desire to be correct; leads to permanent change.

Key Studies

  • Asch (1951): Line judgment task with 32% conformity rate.
    • Variables Impacting Conformity:
      • Group Size: Higher conformity with more confederates (up to 3).
      • Unanimity: Conformity drops with dissent from one confederate.
      • Task Difficulty: Increased ambiguity increases conformity.

Evaluations

  • NSI and ISI: Difficult to separate, often simultaneous.
  • Internal and External Validity: High internal validity but cultural and ecological limitations.

Obedience

Milgram Experiment

  • Setup: Participants instructed to administer shocks; tested obedience to authority.
  • Findings: 65% obeyed to 450 volts.
  • Variations: Obedience affected by proximity, location, and uniform legitimacy.

Evaluations

  • Agentic State: Shifts responsibility to authority figure.
  • Legitimacy of Authority: Cultural acceptance impacts obedience.
  • Critiques: Methodological flaws, ethical concerns.

Field Studies

  • Hofling (1966): Nurses obeyed phone orders against policy.
  • Sheridan & King (1972): Real shocks to a puppy; high obedience rates.

Social Roles

Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment

  • Setup: Mock prison, random roles for guards and prisoners.
  • Findings: Participants conformed to roles; extreme behavior observed.
  • Evaluations: Insights into institutional cruelty, ethical concerns.

Resistance to Social Influence

Social Support

  • Impact: Presence of dissenters reduces conformity and obedience.
  • Studies: Milgram and Asch variations demonstrate this effect.

Locus of Control

  • Internal vs. External: Internals more likely to resist social pressures.
  • Research: Mixed results, often correlational.

Minority Influence

Factors Contributing to Influence

  • Consistency: Repeated, stable message.
  • Commitment: Willingness to suffer for beliefs.
  • Flexibility: Ability to compromise and consider alternatives.

Social Change

  • Snowball Effect: Gradual shift in majority viewpoint.
  • Applications: Civil Rights, LGBTQ+ movements.

Conclusion

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These notes cover the key concepts and studies related to social influence in psychology, providing a foundation for understanding conformity, obedience, social roles, and minority influence.