Social Influence

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Social Influence
A class presentation by Cheryl Dickter
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Conformity It could happen to you!

• Definition the tendency to change ones beliefs
  or behaviors in ways that are consistent with
  group standards.
• Examples?

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The Sherif Studies (1936)

• The experiment Sit in a dark room by yourself.
• Instructions Watch the single point of light in
  front of you and estimate how far it moved.
• Autokinetic effect The point of light seemed to
  move, although it was really stationary.
• Results Some participants thought the light
  moved 1-2 inches, others thought it moved 800
  feet!
• Groups of 2-3 brought together to share
  estimates.
• At first, these estimates were different over
  time, they became more and more similar.
• What happened when a confederate was introduced?

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The Asch Studies (1955)
1 2 3
standard

• Which line is most similar in length to the
  standard?
• At first, all five subjects agreed 2
• On 3rd trial, first 4 subjects gave consistent
  wrong answer (1)
• 5th subject wrong answer given 35 of time
• 75 of subjects conformed at least once during
  the study

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Other Studies

• Similar conformity using other stimuli
  opinion statements, statements of fact, logic
• Some examples
• Men are 8 to 9 inches taller than women on the
  average
• There is no population problem in the U.S.
  because 6,000 miles of continent separates San
  Francisco from New York
• Male babies have a life expectancy of only 25
  years

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Why Do We Conform?

• Informational Influence we want to be right
• other people can provide us with information
• examples

• Normative Influence we want to be liked
• we alter our behavior to conform to group norms
  or standards in order to gain social acceptance
• examples

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When Do We Conform?

• Group Size
• Group Unanimity
• Commitment to the Group
• The Desire for Individuation

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Group Activity
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The Power of Obedience

• Crimes of Obedience
• The Nazis, A Few Good Men
• Milgram Experiment (1963, 1974)
• Teacher and learner
• Shock Machine (15-450 v)

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Conditions to Increase/Decrease Obedience