U2AOS1 Ch8 Factors that influence individual and group behaviours

changing behaviour as the result or implied pressure from others

A participant is in a room with about four other participants. Sitting at a table, they look at a vertical line (the standard line) and then at three vertical lines (the comparison lines). They indicated which line is the same length as the standard line. 

⚬In the first few trials, all participants gave the same correct answer. In the next trial, the four people before them all gave the same answer – an answer that is obviously incorrect to the participant.

• ⚬Data presented by Asch (1955) suggested that 75 per cent of participants ‘made a mistake’ and went along with the group on at least one occasion, although 24 per cent of participants never conformed
• - People tested alone erred in less than 1 per cent of their judgements of the length of the line

our likelihood to conform is influenced by the established behaviour of the group. The group can be friends, family or society.

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

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

refers to 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
• - helps us make decisions, regulate our emotions and improve our wellbeing and inspires us
• - can lead to feelings of inadequacy, negative mood and lower self-esteem

• comparing ourselves to those we views as inferior or having negative characteristics
• - improves our mood and our evaluations of ourselves

comparing ourselves to those we views as our equals

occurs 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