Influence

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Influence

• William P. Wattles, Ph.D.
• Francis Marion University

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Asch conformity studies

• Subjects gave incorrect answers to perceptual
  problems in order to conform to the group.

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Social Influence

• Interpersonal processes that change thoughts,
  feelings or behaviors of another person.

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Size matters

• As the size of the majority increases social
  influence increases.

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Compliance

• Change that occurs when the person accepts the
  position publicly but continues to hold original
  belief.

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Conversion

• Private Acceptance. The group member actually
  accept the new position.

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Counterconformist

• Also called anticonformist. A person who
  expresses disagreement simply to disagree.

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Who conforms

• No one conformed everytime. 23 never conformed
  at all.
• Authoritarians respect and obey authorities.

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Who conforms

• High in Dependency
• Feminine
• Low individuators
• Less intelligent
• Self-blaming
• Low self-esteem
• High self-monitors

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Minority Influence

• The majority does not always win.

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Idiosyncrasy Credits

• Interpersonal credits earned by individuals for
  group contributions. Holders of minority views
  may have power from previous good deeds.

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Social Impact Theory

• Influence depends on
• Strength
• Immediacy
• Number
• Of influencers
• involved

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1. Information Influence

• Social influence that results from new
  information.

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Information Influence

• NYT
• Inuits change mind about opposition to gas wells
  after fur trade blocked.

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Social Comparison

• Members observe others views as they formulate
  their decisions and opinions.

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False Consensus Effect

• During Social Comparison
• Perceivers tendency to assume that many other
  share their personal qualities and
  characteristics.

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Heuristics

• A heuristic is a rule-of-thumb strategy for
  making more efficient decisions
• Dont make waves
• Majority rules
• Whatever

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2. Normative Influence

• People who violate group norms are often
  disliked, assigned lower status jobs and in some
  cases dismissed from the group.

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Normative Influence

• Five of nine members of NASA Aerospace Safety
  Advisory Board fired after critical report.

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3. Interpersonal Influence

• Social pressure rather than informational.

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Interpersonal Influence

• NYT
• 2/5 a24 Nominee intervened in Iraq inquiry.
• Bybee violated a policy to avoid the appearance
  of trying to influence a prosecutor.

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Minority Influence
Vs.
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New Catholic College

• NYT
• 75 of Catholics dont practice faith. Wants to
  change that
• College only appeals to 10

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Juries

• Majority usually persuades the minority.

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The End