Unit 2 AOS1 Factors that influence individual and group behaviours

Formed when two or more people interact, influence each other and share a common objective

A person’s position in the hierarchy of a group. It may be based on lineage, occupation or wealth and it can determine their degree of influence over others.

The amount of influence or capacity that an individual can exert over another person. The higher a person’s status, the more power they exert.

Based on the ability to reward a person who complies with the desired behaviour e.g. teacher giving stickers or employer giving promotions to good workers

Based on the ability to punish a person for failure to comply e.g. principal giving detention or police giving a fine for breaking the rules

Based on our acceptance of a person as being part of an established social order e.g. following the instructions of an elected politician or parent

Based on our desire to be like a person and refer to them for direction e.g. wanting to be like a famous actor or sports star

Based on our recognition of a person with knowledge or expertise in a specific field because of their training or experience e.g. taking advice from a doctor or medical professional

- value group needs or interests over the interests of individuals

- prioritise loyalty to the group (as the belief is that the group will in turn support the individual), as well as interdependence, and understanding your role within the group

- emphasise conformity (following the group), obedience (respecting authority and following the rules) and security

- value individual interests over the interests of groups

- view people as independent and accept that individuals’ actions are focused on the attainment of their goals and the meeting of their needs over any broad group goals

- promote the interests of the individual and encourage the development of independence and personal identity

When people change their behaviour in response to direct commands from others. Whether an individual obeys a command might depend on the social power or status of the person issuing the command.

Social proximity: the social distance between two parties.

In the case of Milgram’s experiment, the social proximity was the distance between the teacher and the learner. Teachers were more obedient when the learner was in another room and less obedient when they were next to the learner.


Legitimacy of authority: when people assign authority to an individual and are obedient to their instructions.

A higher perceived legitimacy of authority means higher obedience and in Milgram's experiment, the teachers felt that the scientists were responsible for their own behaviour.

Few participants withdrew from the experiment before delivering shocks of 300 volts, and 65% of participants delivered the maximum deadly voltage of 450 volts.

Milgram concluded that the participants were influenced by the gradual nature of the situation. Participants gradually found that the task was more and more inconsistent with their beliefs about what they should and should not do.

Changing behaviour as the result of real or implied pressure from others

75% ‘made a mistake’ and went along with the group on at least one occasion, although 24% of participants never conformed. Compared to when tested alone, participants only made an error in less than 1% of their judgements of the length of the line.

• Normative influence
• Informational influence
• Unanimity
• Group size
• Deindividuation

Our likelihood to conform is influenced by the established behaviour of the group (e.g. friends, family or society)

We look at the behaviours of others to guide us in whether we should behave in a similar way

We are more likely to conform when other members of the group behave in the same way

Our conformity increases as the group size expands from two to four, then stays at similar levels of conformity in a group of eight

When we are in large group, our behaviour can be influenced by a sense of anonymity and this can lead us to behave in a way that we never would when alone

When group members prioritise the strong bonds of the group over clear decision-making

The belief that we belong to a group and generally feel close to other people

Comparing ourselves to those we view as superior or possessing positive characteristics

Comparing ourselves to those we view as inferior or having negative characteristics

Comparing ourselves to those we view as our equals

When an individual is aware of how the group expects them to behave but their decision-making is not swayed by the expectations of the group

Deliberate refusal to comply with social norms as demonstrated by ideas, beliefs or judgements that challenge these social norms

Actively argues against the points of group members, even if they share the same beliefs as the group members