Status and Power within Groups

Factors affecting conformity

-group size: the bigger the group the more likely to conform -unanimity: do not want to disagree with group -informational influence: if unsure of answer they will conform -normative influence: go along to fit group -culture: western culture are less likely to conform, asian cultures are more likely to conform -social loafing: make less effort when in groups -de individualisation: loss of individuality

types of Peer Pressure

1. Direct: one or more others telling you what to do I.E- have this cigarette, try it 2. Indirect: You act to conform with the group I.E- everyone else is doing it and you are not, so you do it to go along with others 3. Individual: You act like the rest of the group to avoid feeling different. I.E- does not matter if everyone is doing it, you do it to fit in and feel popular-- own pressure

6 different types of Power

1. Reward power: Ability to give positive consequences or remove negative consequences in response to a behaviour. I.E- Teacher taking a detention away 2. Coercive Power: The ability to give negative consequences or remove positive consequences in response to a specific behaviour I.E- Police fining people, teacher taking phones away 3. 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. I.E- President, principle 4. Referent Power: Individuals identify with or want to be like or liked by this person I.E- like a role model, they influence you 5. Expert Power- Having special knowledge and skills that are desirable or needed. I.E- family members assisting others (carpenters) 6. Informational power: Having resources or information that are useful and are not available elsewhere I.E- Scientist finding out cures -Lawyers -councillors -psychologists

Factors affecting obedience

1. Social proximity: the physical distance and the closeness of the relationship between 2 people can affect their obedience 2. Legitimacy of the authority figure: An individual is also more likely to be obedient when the authority figure is perceived as being legitimate and having power 3. Group Power: An individual is more likely to be obedient where there is little or no group support for resisting the authority figure

What is a role?

A role is 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 general, basically is a part an individual plays in life that carries with it expectations of how they should behave in different situations.

Asch's Experiment

Aimed to see the extent to which an individual within a group will conform with the majority opinion. Participants were told they were doing a test on visual perception, they were place into a group with seven to nine confederates (actors), the participant was always second last to give an option, they were asked which lines were of the same size. results showed that most people changed their original answer and conformed to fit majority opinion.

Conformity

Conformity is 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).

Anti Social

Considered unacceptable for both adults and adolescents. I.E- cheating, drink driving, bullying, drug use, rape, murder, stealing

Risk taking behaviour

Defined as behaviour that has potential to cause: -negative consequences -harm to physical health -harm to psychological well being

Rebellious

Experimenting with activities that are usually acceptable for adults but generally disapproved for adolescents. I.E- smoking, drinking alcohol, swearing and staying out late

Thrill-seeking

Involve behaviours that are challenging but relatively socially acceptable, such as engaging in dangerous sports (for example, skydiving or bungee jumping) and experimenting with relationships and sexuality.

Obedience

Occurs when we follow the commands of someone with authority, or the rules or laws of our society

What is a group?

People must interact with (for longer than a few moments) and influence one another. They must also share a common purpose, or goal.

What is Power?

Power refers to an individual'S (or group's) ability to control or influence the thoughts, feelings or behaviour of another person (or group)

What is status?

Status refers to the importance of an individual's position in the group, as perceived by members of the group. I.E- Family members... father has more power than child *Low status can still influence those of high status

Reckless

Thrill-seeking but have a higher chance of not being accepted by the adult population, and have negative social or health-related outcomes. I.E- drinking and driving, speeding, unprotected sec

Zimbardo's Stanford Prison experiment

Was aimed to see if certain roles with authority can influence a person's behaviour towards lower roles. He got participants to choose whether they wanted to be 'guards' or 'prisoners', he placed them in a jail type setting and watched how they interacted with each other now that they had certain roles to abide to. The participants were told not too harm each other, but that rule was broken when the authority and power the guards had started to take effect. It was shown that the guards abused the authority privileges they had and harmed the prisoners.

Milgram's experiment

Was aimed to see whether participants would obey and authority figure and cause severe pain to another person. Participants were required to "shock" other people (actors). Every time the 'learner' (actor) got a question wrong they would receive an electric shock that would increase per question given by the 'teacher'. Participants enquired about stopping but were told to continue which resulted in most continuing the treatment. The results showed that the participants followed the instructions of authority despite the consequences/ action that needed to be done.

What is Peer pressure?

is a social influence by peers, that is, real or imagined pressure to think , feel or behave according to standards, or 'guidelines' that determined by peers. Can be positive or negative