Conformity and Social Influence

Study Notes

Conformity involves modifying behavior to adhere to social norms based on Baron's definition in 2012.
People conform due to the belief that others' interpretations of ambiguous situations are more accurate than theirs.
There are two types of conformity influences: informational (changing behavior based on others as a source of information) and normative (conforming to be liked by others).
Normative influence results in public compliance but not private acceptance of others' ideas.
Crutchfield's experiment showed that physical presence affects conformity, with individuals more likely to conform in a group setting than when alone.
Social Impact Theory by Latané and Wolf in 1981 states conformity depends on the strength, immediacy, and number of influencing individuals.
Strength refers to how important the influencing group is to the person.
Immediacy relates to the physical closeness of the group to the individual, impacting the likelihood of conformity.- The number of people in a group influences whether individuals conform to normative or informational influence.
Individuals may resist normative group influence due to the desire for individuation, desire to maintain control, and prior commitment to their original viewpoint.
Prior commitment plays a significant role in resisting group influence, as individuals strive to remain consistent with their original views.
To resist conforming pressures, individuals should take time to think, seek social support, and become aware of the influences around them.
Group members typically first try to convince a deviant individual to conform; if unsuccessful, they may eventually reject or exclude the deviant from further discussions.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of resisting pressures to conform and highlights the strategies individuals can use to maintain their autonomy.
The overall goal is to empower individuals by providing free education and raising awareness about mental health through the channel's videos.

Description

Explore the concept of conformity and social influence based on Baron's definition in 2012. Learn about the reasons why people conform, types of conformity influences, and strategies to resist conforming pressures. Understand the impact of factors like strength, immediacy, and number of influencing individuals on conformity.