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To what extent are individuals influenced by the majority and how can this be explained?
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| Submitted: Mon Jun 19 2006
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To what extent are individuals influenced by the majority and how can this be explained? Norms as Influence An individual's personal norms (standards of behaviour that derive from internalized values) can be influenced by social or group norms, either explicit or implicit. Group norms may be descriptive (how the majority behaves in a situation) or injunctive/prescriptive (how an individual should behave in a situation). Both may influence an individual to conform (private attitude/behaviour change to match group/social norms) or to comply (public acquiescence to a request for change of attitude/behaviour). Extent of Influence The extent of social influence can be measured both quantitatively (e.g. amount of change) and qualitatively (e.g. degree of internalisation of change). In Asch's (1955) line length study, even though there was an obviously correct answer, 76% of subjects complied at least once with an incorrect group majority decision. 24% of subjects gave all (factually) correct responses irrespective of the majority...
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