1. Defining Social Influence

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this lecture, we think about what social influence is, focusing in particular on: (i) its importance for rational thinking and updating your views, as well as its potential to come from improper sources; (ii) the power that social influence can have, even without inclusion of a power dynamic or even a physical presence of the influencer with the influenced.

Course

In this course, Dr Ayoub Bouguettaya (University of Birmingham) explores social influence in its three primary forms: obedience, compliance, and conformity. In the first lecture, we think about what social influence is and the power it can have, even when the influencer themselves is not physically present. In the second lecture, we define and explain the afore mentioned three types of social influence. In the third lecture, we think about some early research into social influence, including Milgram’s studies on obedience and Asch’s studies on conformity. Next, we think about individual variables that can increase or decrease social influence. In the fifth lecture, we think about social situational factors which can impact social influence. In the sixth and final lecture, we think about some conclusions that can be drawn on social influence, including its sustained prevalence in modern society.

Lecturer

Dr Ayoub Bouguettaya is a lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of Birmingham. Dr Bouguettaya’s research interests are in social psychology and how knowledge from that field can be applied to others, particularly health, including how we can apply social identity theory to societal problems, as well as investigating the different perspectives one might take on those issues. Some of Dr Bouguettaya’s recent publications include 'The relationship between gambling advertising and gambling attitudes, intentions and behaviours: a critical and meta-analytic review' (2020) and 'The Effect of a Food Addiction Explanation Model for Weight Control and Obesity on Weight Stigma' (2020).