1. 1 Social Influence Module 44

2. QR code for the SG for the 43 44 45 Exam 2

3. 3 Social Psychology Social Influence Overview  Conformity and Obedience  Group Influence

4. 4 Social Influence The greatest contribution of social psychology is its study of attitudes, beliefs, decisions, and actions and the way they are molded by social influence. NON SEQUITER © 2000 Wiley. Dist. by Universal Press Syndicate Reprinted with Permission

5. 5 Conformity & Obedience Conformity: Adjusting one’s behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard (Chartrand & Bargh, 1999).

6. 6 The laugh track and mind control… Researchers have confirmed that laugh tracks increase the likelihood that a viewer will consider a situation funny. We laugh in order to fit into and conform with our social surroundings. You think you know what is funny but do you really?...

7. 7 The Chameleon Effect Chameleon Effect: Unconsciously mimicking others expressions, postures & voice.

8. 8 Group Pressure & Conformity Suggestibility is a subtle type of conformity, adjusting our behavior or thinking toward some group standard.

9. 9 Group Pressure & Conformity Informational Social Influence: The willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality. Link 1:58 Link William Vandivert/ Scientific American

10. 10 Conditions that Increase Conformity 1.One is made to feel incompetent or insecure. 2.The group has at least three people. (but no appreciable increase over 3) 3.The group is unanimous.(a single dissenter will reduce conformity the most) 4.One admires the group’s status and attractiveness. 5.One has no prior commitment to a response. 6.The group observes one’s behavior. 7.One’s culture strongly encourages respect for a social standard.

11. 11 Reasons for Conforming Normative Social Influence: Influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid rejection.

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13. 13 Obedience Stanley Milgram designed a study that investigates the effects of authority on obedience. People comply with social pressures. How would they respond to outright command? Stanley Milgram (1933-1984) Courtesy of CUNY Graduate School and University Center

14. 14 Milgram’s Study Both Photos: © 1965 By Stanley Miligram, from the film Obedience, dist. by Penn State, Media Sales Derren Brown on MilgramDerren Brown on Milgram 10:48

15. 15 Milgram’s Study: Results Milgram on Youtube

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17. 17 Diffusion of Responsibility/Bystander Intervention Effect The phenomenon where a person is less likely to take responsibility for an action or inaction when others are present. The greater number of bystanders who witness an emergency the less likely it is that any one of them will intervene to help. Link 3:36 Bystander effect LinkLink

18. 18 Individual Resistance A third of the individuals in Milgram’s study resisted social coercion. Link 9:57 Link AP/ Wide World Photos

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20. 20 Lessons from the Conformity and Obedience Studies In both Asch's and Milgram's studies, participants were pressured to choose between following their standards and being responsive to others.

21. 21 Individual Behavior in the Presence of Others Social facilitation: Refers to improved performance on tasks in the presence of others. Triplett (1898) noticed cyclists’ race times were faster when they competed against others than when they just raced against the clock. Michelle Agnis/ NYT Pictures

22. 22 Social Loafing The tendency of an individual in a group to exert less effort toward attaining a common goal than when tested individually (Latané, 1981).

23. 23 Social Proof Idea that if others are doing something it must be ok for me. –Phillips’ research has demonstrated that, immediately following a front-page suicide story, the suicide rate increases dramatically in those geographical areas where the story has been highly publicized. –Heavyweight championship prize fights that receive coverage on network evening news appear to produce measurable increases in the United States homicide rate. –For example, it has been shown (Phillips, 1979) that immediately following certain kinds of highly publicized suicide stories, the number of people who die in commercial-airline crashes increases by 1,000 percent! Even more alarming: The increase is not limited to airplane deaths. The number of automobile fatalities shoots up as well (Phillips, 1980).

24. 24 Serial Killers and Social Proof According to FBI forensic experts, each nationally publicized incident of this sort spawned an average of 30 more incidents (Toufexis, 1993).

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30. 30 Deindividuation The loss of self-awareness and self- restraint in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity. Mob behavior

31. 31 Effects of Group Interaction Group Polarization enhances a group’s prevailing attitudes through a discussion. If a group is like- minded, discussion strengthens its prevailing opinions and attitudes.

32. 32 Groupthink A mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides the realistic appraisal of alternatives. Escalation of Vietnam War Kennedy and the Bay of Pigs Invasion Watergate Cover-up Chernobyl Reactor Accident Challenger explosion Feynman on the o-ring http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qAi_9quzUYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qAi_9quzUY

33. 33 Power of Individuals The power of social influence is enormous, but so is the power of the individual. Non-violent fasts and appeals by Gandhi led to the independence of India from the British. We need pro-social models! Gandhi Margaret Bourke-White/ Life Magazine. © 1946 Time Warner, Inc.

34. 34 EXPLORING PSYCHOLOGY (7th Edition in Modules) David Myers PowerPoint Slides Aneeq Ahmad Henderson State University Worth Publishers, © 2008

35. 35 Power of defaults