A primary reason individuals comply with demands from authority figures is their concern about the potential negative consequences that may arise from non-compliance.

Motivation for Obedience

Obedience is the act of changing one's behavior to comply with an order from an authority figure. This influence is so powerful that individuals may follow directives even when they conflict with their personal values.

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University of Chicago

Michigan State University

Social influence refers to the power of a social situation to alter an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This phenomenon, driven by real or imagined pressure from others, is demonstrated through key topics such as conformity, obedience, and group processes.

Social Influence

Gilovich, Thomas, Dacher Keltner, Serena Chen, and Richard E. Nisbett. Social Psychology, 2019. Print.

Social Psychology: Goals in Interaction

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Conformity refers to a change in behavior to match the actions or responses of others in order to “fit in," despite not necessarily agreeing with the actions of others.

Conformity

Responding to a direct request by changing one’s behavior

Compliance

The mistaken impression that people in a group largely accept a norm because the group members are acting inconsistently or against their beliefs. 

Pluralistic Ignorance

Social influence reduces diversity in crowd responses which diminishes the accuracy of the group median estimate.

The Social Influence Effect in Relation to Crowd Estimates


A study to test the hypothesis that online social network can influence political behaviour. 

A 61- million- person experiment in social influence and political mobilization 

Houck, A. M., King, A. S., &amp; Taylor, J. B. (2021). Updating with others: Testing the effect of informational social influence on political attitudes. Politics &amp; Policy, 49(1), 87–125. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12394 

Updating with Others: Testing the Effect of
Informational Social Influence on Political
Attitudes

The perception of common agreement amongst people, also called "social proof."

Social Consensus

Through a process, ideas and behaviors that could be considered outside social norms come to be accepted as "normal". 

Social Normalization 

The ability to understand others’ perspectives and empathize with them, even when they are from varied backgrounds.

Social Awareness

When individuals find themselves in a new or uncertain situation where the appropriate way to behave is unclear, they tend to observe the actions of others to guide their own behavior. This reliance on social cues is a key mechanism through which people navigate unfamiliar social environments and align their actions with the group.

Using Social Cues in Ambiguous Situations

Group processes are a key area within social psychology that illustrates how the dynamics of a social situation can significantly change an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This topic, along with conformity and obedience, exemplifies the broader concept of social influence.

Group Processes

Obedience

Human social interactions can be categorized by their dual nature, leading to both positive and negative outcomes. People may collaborate for the greater good, such as providing mutual aid during crises, but they can also cause significant harm through aggression, adherence to immoral group norms, or destructive obedience to authority.

Duality of Social Behavior

Analyze the following scenario and explain the primary psychological reason for the change in Alex's actions, based on how social situations can alter individual behavior.

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