PSYCHOLOGY: SOCIAL INFLUENCE THE HOLOCAUST

RESEARCH: Conformity Compliance Obedience Persuasion 1)Come up with a definition 2)Create an example in modern day society 3)Create an example that might have occurred in the Holocaust (WWII)

SOCIAL INFLUENCE Psychology – the study of human behaviour Area of psychology that examines how people exert influence on the behaviours, beliefs, feelings, and attitudes of others

TYPES OF SOCIAL INFLUENCE Conformity - the tendency to change perceptions, opinions, and behaviours in ways that are consistent with group norms (passive/internal or external) Compliance - changes in behaviour that are elicited by direct requests (active/external) Ex: Can you please take out your work? Yes. Obedience - changes in behaviour that are produced by the commands of an authority figure (active/external) Ex: Sit down and stop disrupting. *Sits down & remains quiet Persuasion - an active attempt by a person, usually through some form of communication, to change another person's attitude (active/internal) Source: Dr. Leandre Fabrigar, Queen’s University

SOCIAL IMPACT THEORY (LATANÉ) Social influence is a function of SIN: Strength of Source/Target Strength (ex: expertise, power, Nazis, weaponry) Immediacy of Source to Target Immediacy (ex: physical distance, psychological distance) Number of Sources relative to Targets Ex: Overpower More victims than Nazi’s, so in the case of the Holocaust the concepts of strength & immediacy of the source were stronger Source: Dr. Leandre Fabrigar, Queen’s University

CONFORMITY Happens because a person believes others are correct in their judgments Happens because a person fears negative social consequences of appearing deviant Happens to a greater extent when group members are liked and seen as similar to us People who value independence may suffer negative effects on their self-concept after conformity Collectivist cultures conform more Behavioural Mimicry – repeating the nonverbal behaviour of another outside of conscious awareness Source: Dr. Leandre Fabrigar, Queen’s University

OBEDIENCE Stanley Milgram study – Why did people in Nazi Germany follow immoral orders? Was it something about the people or something about the social dynamics? Participant to administer shocks to a learner when error was made Each shock increased by 15 volts (learner not actually shocked) Goal: see if participants followed the experimenter’s instructions, and to what extent Source: Dr. Leandre Fabrigar, Queen’s University

MILGRAM EXPERIMENT No gender difference Replicated in several different countries and age groups Factors Affecting Obedience: The victim’s proximity Absence of another behavioural model Participants were led to feel relived – shift of responsibility for the victim’s welfare How might this have occurred in the Holocaust? Source: Dr. Leandre Fabrigar, Queen’s University

STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT (ZIMBARDO) Simulated prison environment – random assignment Ended on Day 6 of 14 Guards  increasingly aggressive behaviours Prisoners  showed signs of severe distress Goal: examine dehumanization process in isolated environment How social context can override individual dispositions in the absence of direct face-to-face authority Source: Dr. Leandre Fabrigar, Queen’s University

BYSTANDER EFFECT Kitty Genovese (1964) – at least 12 people stood by and didn’t call the police as she was stabbed, raped, and murdered Staged emergencies – 70% alone will call, 40% in the presence of others will call The more information given to the bystander, the more likely they will help 1) Notice the situation 2) Interpret the situation 3) Degree of responsibility felt 4) Form of assistance 5) Implement the action choice