Social influence

Social influence changes behavior through several pathways. Conformity, compliance, and obedience are related but refer to different situations.

Lesson 2 of 33 parts Practice Flashcards

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Conformity and Compliance

Objective: Explain conformity and compliance, distinguish their meanings, and apply them to a described case.

Conformity: Conformity adjusts behavior or judgment toward a group's pattern. Compliance: Compliance responds to a request. Personality and social-psychology findings describe patterns that interact with situations. Trait dimensions do not sort everyone into fixed types. Social influence differs across contexts, and people do not all respond identically. Beliefs, evaluative attitudes, and discriminatory actions should be distinguished. A measure needs evidence of reliability and validity for its intended use; a popular quiz or one classroom interaction cannot establish a comprehensive personal profile. Application: A person adopts a group's answer without a direct command. This most directly illustrates conformity. A person agrees to an explicitly requested action. This most directly illustrates compliance.

Worked examples

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: A person adopts a group's answer without a direct command. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: A person adopts a group's answer without a direct command. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Conformity adjusts behavior or judgment toward a group's pattern. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of conformity. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: A person agrees to an explicitly requested action. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: A person agrees to an explicitly requested action. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Compliance responds to a request. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of compliance. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

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Conformity and Compliance

Objective: Explain conformity and compliance, distinguish their meanings, and apply them to a described case.

Worked examples

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: A person adopts a group's answer without a direct command. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: A person agrees to an explicitly requested action. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Obedience and Normative influence

Objective: Explain obedience and normative influence, distinguish their meanings, and apply them to a described case.

Obedience: Obedience responds to an authority's command. Normative influence: Normative influence concerns acceptance or avoiding social disapproval. Personality and social-psychology findings describe patterns that interact with situations. Trait dimensions do not sort everyone into fixed types. Social influence differs across contexts, and people do not all respond identically. Beliefs, evaluative attitudes, and discriminatory actions should be distinguished. A measure needs evidence of reliability and validity for its intended use; a popular quiz or one classroom interaction cannot establish a comprehensive personal profile. Application: A person follows an instruction from a perceived authority. This most directly illustrates obedience. A person agrees to fit in despite private doubts. This most directly illustrates normative influence.

Worked examples

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: A person follows an instruction from a perceived authority. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: A person follows an instruction from a perceived authority. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Obedience responds to an authority's command. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of obedience. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: A person agrees to fit in despite private doubts. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: A person agrees to fit in despite private doubts. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Normative influence concerns acceptance or avoiding social disapproval. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of normative influence. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

Informational influence and Situation and agency

Objective: Explain informational influence and situation and agency, distinguish their meanings, and apply them to a described case.

Informational influence: Informational influence uses others as evidence about uncertain reality. Situation and agency: Behavior reflects situational pressures while individuals still vary and make choices. Personality and social-psychology findings describe patterns that interact with situations. Trait dimensions do not sort everyone into fixed types. Social influence differs across contexts, and people do not all respond identically. Beliefs, evaluative attitudes, and discriminatory actions should be distinguished. A measure needs evidence of reliability and validity for its intended use; a popular quiz or one classroom interaction cannot establish a comprehensive personal profile. Application: A person follows a group believed to know the correct route. This most directly illustrates informational influence. A study does not assume everyone responds identically to authority. This most directly illustrates situation and agency.

Worked examples

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: A person follows a group believed to know the correct route. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: A person follows a group believed to know the correct route. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Informational influence uses others as evidence about uncertain reality. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of informational influence. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: A study does not assume everyone responds identically to authority. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: A study does not assume everyone responds identically to authority. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Behavior reflects situational pressures while individuals still vary and make choices. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of situation and agency. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

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