Social Influence: Crash Course Psychology #38

Summary

This script delves into the power of social influence and conformity, highlighting the chilling Milgram experiment which revealed that most people would obey authority even to the point of causing harm. It also discusses Solomon Asch's conformity study and explores group dynamics such as social facilitation, loafing, deindividuation, polarization, and groupthink, emphasizing the balance between individual choice and group influence.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The Milgram experiment demonstrated the chilling extent to which people can obey authority, even to the point of administering what they believe are harmful electric shocks to others.
• 👥 Conformity is a powerful social force, influencing individuals to adjust their behavior to align with group norms, as shown in Solomon Ash's line-judgment experiment.
• 🤔 Social influence can lead to both positive and negative outcomes, with individuals potentially conforming to harmful group behaviors or beneficial collective actions.
• 👀 The presence of an authority figure and the depersonalization of the victim can significantly increase obedience to authority, as observed in Milgram's variations of his experiment.
• 🤷‍♂️ People are more likely to conform when they feel insecure or incompetent, especially in larger groups where uniform agreement exists.
• 🏅 The desire for approval and belonging can drive individuals to comply with group norms, a concept known as normative social influence.
• 🏃‍♂️ Social facilitation can enhance performance in the presence of an audience, but it can also lead to increased anxiety and decreased performance.
• 🌾 Social loafing occurs when individuals exert less effort in a group setting, knowing that their individual contributions are less noticeable.
• 👥 Deindividuation can lead to a loss of self-awareness and restraint in group situations, contributing to behaviors such as riots or online trolling.
• 📈 Group polarization refers to the strengthening of attitudes and beliefs within a group, often resulting in an 'us vs. them' mentality.
• 💻 The internet facilitates group polarization by connecting like-minded individuals and amplifying their views, which can be both constructive and destructive.
• 🤯 Groupthink can lead to poor decision-making within a group that values consensus over critical evaluation of alternatives.

Q & A

What was the main purpose of Stanley Milgram's experiment?

Stanley Milgram's experiment aimed to investigate the extent to which average people might be capable of inflicting harm on others when under orders from an authority figure.

What was the defense of Adolf Eichmann and other Nazis during their trials?

Adolf Eichmann and other Nazis defended themselves by claiming that they were simply following the orders of their superiors, which led to Milgram's interest in obedience to authority.

How was the 'shock generator' in Milgram's experiment designed to influence participants?

The 'shock generator' was a phony device with switches labeled from 'slight shock' to 'dangerous shock' and 'XXX', designed to test participants' obedience to administering increasing levels of shock to a 'learner'.

What role did Milgram's colleague play in the experiment?

Milgram's colleague posed as a research subject, acting as the 'learner' in the experiment, who was supposedly receiving the shocks from the 'teacher' participants.

What were the 'prods' used by the researcher in Milgram's experiment to encourage participants to continue?

The 'prods' were a series of prompts starting with 'Please continue', escalating to 'The experiment requires you to continue', 'It's absolutely essential that you continue', and finally 'You have no choice but to continue'.

What surprising result did Milgram find in the first round of his experiments?

Milgram was surprised to find that about two-thirds of the participants delivered the maximum 450-volt shock, and all continued to at least 300 volts, showing a high level of obedience.

What factors did Milgram discover influenced the level of obedience in his experiments?

Factors that increased obedience included the proximity and perceived authority of the person giving orders, depersonalization or distance of the victim, and the absence of others disobeying.

What is the concept of conformity in social psychology?

Conformity in social psychology refers to the adjustment of one's behavior or thinking to align with the norms or rules of the group they belong to.

What was Solomon Ash's experiment on conformity about?

Solomon Ash's experiment on conformity involved a group of people, including actors, who would unanimously give the wrong answer to a simple visual perception question, testing the real participant's adherence to their own perception or the group's incorrect consensus.

What is 'normative social influence' and how does it relate to conformity?

Normative social influence is the idea that individuals comply with group norms to fulfill their need to be liked or to belong, which is a key driver of conformity.

What is 'social loafing' and how does it manifest in group settings?

Social loafing is the tendency for individuals to exert less effort when they are part of a group and not individually accountable for the outcome, leading to a decrease in personal contribution.

What is 'deindividuation' and how can it lead to negative group behaviors?

Deindividuation is the loss of self-awareness and restraint that can occur in group situations, often leading to individuals engaging in more dangerous or extreme behaviors due to the sense of anonymity and arousal.

What is 'group polarization' and how does it affect group dynamics?

Group polarization is the process by which the attitudes and beliefs of a group become more extreme when group members discuss their shared views, often leading to a stronger 'us' vs 'them' dynamic.

What is 'groupthink' and how can it lead to poor decision-making?

Groupthink is a phenomenon where a group makes bad decisions due to a desire for consensus and an avoidance of dissenting opinions, leading to a lack of critical evaluation of alternatives.

What role does the internet play in group polarization and conformity?

The internet facilitates the connection of like-minded individuals, amplifying their inclinations and potentially leading to increased polarization and conformity within online communities.