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Social Behavior !

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Social Impact on Behavior• Groups create pressure to conform • We can be manipulated to comply • Authority figures can compel us to obey

How did cult leader Jim Jones

convincepeople to commit

“revolutionary suicide

Types of Social Influence:Normative Social Influence: Going along with the

group so they will like you.

Informational Social Influence: Going along with the group because you think they know more than you do.

Results of Social Influence:Public Compliance: Changing your actions to please

others, but holding your same beliefs internally. (Related to Normative Social Influence).

Private Acceptance: Changing your own beliefs or attitude because you think

that the group is right. (Related to

Informational Social Influence).

Video 1

GroupthinkA phenomenon that occurs when the desire to reach a

consensus in a group actually leads to the suppression of good ideas and good judgement.

Group members try to minimize conflict, which

causes a lack of critical or dissenting viewpoints. This

often occurs when members are very loyal to the group, and do not feel a

desire to challenge it.

In a “groupthink” situation, you may have individual ideas or opinions to share, but feel that you can not or

should not share them.