Chapter 4

Understanding and Influencing Others

Behavior is a product of both the situation (e.g., cultural influences, social roles, and the presence of bystanders) and of the person (e.g.,…

According to some social psychologists, people tend to overemphasize internal factors as explanations—or attributions—for the behavior of…

The famous and controversial Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted by social psychologist Philip Zimbardo and his colleagues at Stanford University,…

Conformity is the change in a person’s behavior to go along with the group, even if that person does not agree with the…

According to obedience research, we may harm others under the forceful pressures of an authority figure (Milgram, 1974). How about if the…

Obedience to authority is classically demonstrated in a more famous series of social psychology experiments performed by Stanley Milgram. He was…

Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention. The…

Source: William Brady & Jay Van Bavel—New York University It is obvious that we are influenced by those around us, but in the early to mid…

Source: Diego Reinero & Jay Van Bavel—New York University People are social chameleons and regularly engage in nonconscious behavioral…