Psychology AOS 2 - How are people influenced to behave in particular ways?

Social responsibility norm

A social norm prescribes that we should help those who need help because it is our responsibility or duty to do so

Reciprocity norm

A social norm that we should do for others what they would do for us or what we would expect them to do

Coercive power

Ability to give negative consequences or remove positive consequences in response to specific behaviour

Reward power

Ability to give positive consequences or remove negative consequences in response to specific behaviour

Legitimacy of authority figures (factor affecting obedience)

An individual is also more likely to be obedient when the authority figure is perceived as being legitimate and having power

Group pressure (factor affecting obedience)

An individual is also more likely to be obedient where there is little or no group support for resisting the authority figure

Power

An individual's (or group's) ability to control or influence the thoughts, feelings or behaviour of another person (or group)

Legitimate power

An individual's status or position in a group, institution or society in general gives them the right (authority) to exercise power over those with a lower status or with less authority

Group

Any collection of two or more people who interact with and influence one another and who share a common purpose

Group size (factor affecting conformity)

Asch's results showed that conformity increased with group size

Unanimity (factor affecting conformity)

Complete agreement among group members; when everyone in the group gives the same answer, but an answer that is different from your answer

Culture (factor affecting conformity)

Conformity occurred less often in studies conducted in North America and Western Europe (e.g., France and Portugal) than in other parts of the world such as Africa, Fiji and Asia (e.g., Hong Kong and Japan).

Pro-social behaviour

Everyday acts of helping others, as well as helping that involves personal cost to the helper

Obedience

Following the commands of someone with authority, or the rules or laws of our society

Informational power

Having resources or information that are useful and are not available elsewhere

Expert power

Having special knowledge and skills that are desirable or needed

Anonymity in a group (factor affecting conformity)

In groups, when people feel anonymous or 'invisible', and less accountable for their actions, they may choose to conform to a group which is behaving in ways they otherwise would not

Referent power

Individuals identify with or want to be like or liked by this person

Audience inhibition

Not doing something because of a fear of appearing foolish in the presence of others

Noticing the situation

Noticing an incident that is different or unusual and may involve someone in need of help is a necessary first step in making a helping response

Normative influence (factor affecting conformity)

Occurs when a response is guided by one or more social norms for a particular situation

Competence

People with abilities or training that are relevant to a situation in which help is required are more likely to help then those who do not have the training or skills required

Social norms

Standards that govern what people should or should not do in different social situations

Empathy

The ability to identify with and understand another person's feelings or difficulties

Role

The behaviour adopted by an individual or assigned to them that influences the way in which they function or act in different situations and life in general

Diffusion of responsibility

The belief that, in a situation where help is required and others are present, responsibility is spread across the whole group, leading each individual to feel less responsible for helping than when alone because they assume that someone else will take on the responsibility of helping

Social proximity (factor affecting obedience)

The closeness between two or more people, either in physical distance or in the closeness of their relationship

Social influence

The effects of the presence or actions of others, either real or imagined, on the way people think, feel and behave

Stauts

The importance of an individual's position in the group, as perceived by members of the group

Deindividuation (factor affecting conformity)

The loss of individuality, or the sense of anonymity, that can occur in a group situation

The bystander effect

The tendency for individuals to be less likely to help another person in need when other bystanders are present, or believed to be present, as compared to when they are alone, and, the greater the number of bystanders, the less likely any one of them is to help

Social loafing (factor affecting conformity)

The tendency of an individual to make less effort when involved in a group activity than when working alone

Conformity

The tendency to adjust one's thoughts, feelings or behaviour in ways that are in agreement with those of a particular individual or group, or with accepted standards about how a person should behave in certain situations (social norms)

Personal factors

There is empirical evidence that suggests various personal factors can influence pro-social behaviour demonstrated through helping

Taking responsibility for helping

Though you may notice and correctly interpret a situation as one in which help is required, you are unlikely to intervene and help unless you believe it is your responsibility to do so

Situational factors

Three key factors associated with the specific situation that influence whether people will be pro-social and help

Interpreting the situation

To interpret the situation as one in which help is required

Mood

We will be more likely to help when in a good mood and less likely to help when in a bad mood

Cost-Benefit analysis

Weighing up the personal and social costs of doing something against the benefits of doing it

Informational influence (factor affecting conformity)

When a response results from a need for direction and information on what to do in a specific situation when uncertain about how to behave

Shift in attention (factor affecting conformity)

When individuals are with others in a group, their attention is often focused on the activities of the group and events in the environment

Social power

When power is involved in a social interaction

Collective

When there is minimal or indirect intercation between a collection of people