Psychology: Conformity Concepts

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary motivation for compliance in conformity?

Desire for independence

Understanding group norms

Need for social acceptance (correct)

Desire for personal growth

Which type of conformity involves changing beliefs only as long as external pressure exists?

Internalization

Identification

Authority Acceptance

Compliance (correct)

How does identification differ from compliance in conformity?

Identification is driven by a desire for accuracy.

Identification is unrelated to social pressure.

Identification leads to permanent behavior change.

Identification involves adopting group behaviors to maintain relationships. (correct)

Which of the following exemplifies internalization in conformity?

Adopting recycling habits after learning about climate change. Signup and view all the answers

What motivates normative social influence predominantly?

Fear of social rejection Signup and view all the answers

Why might an individual adopt the behaviors or values of a group through identification?

They desire to maintain a connection with the group. Signup and view all the answers

What outcome does internalization have on an individual's beliefs?

Lasting change in private beliefs Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario best illustrates compliance?

Joining in on a group activity only to make friends. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary motivation behind informational social influence?

Desire to make correct choices Signup and view all the answers

In Ash's conformity experiment, what was the result when one confederate provided the correct answer?

Conformity rate dropped to 5.5% Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the key findings related to group size in Ash's experiment?

Conformity increased dramatically up to three confederates, then leveled off Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of Ash's experiment contributes to its high internal validity?

Standardized procedures with control over variables Signup and view all the answers

Which statement reflects a weakness of Ash's conformity experiment?

It was culturally biased with a small sample of American students Signup and view all the answers

How does task difficulty affect conformity, according to Ash's findings?

Conformity increases as tasks become more difficult Signup and view all the answers

How might dispositional factors influence conformity according to the content?

Confidence decreases the likelihood of conforming Signup and view all the answers

What does the combination of ISI and NSI suggest about real-world conformity?

Both influences play a role in different contexts Signup and view all the answers

What behavior might lead a teenager to conform to risky actions according to the content?

Fear of exclusion or mockery from peers Signup and view all the answers

In which situation is informational social influence most powerful?

In ambiguous situations with uncertainty Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Conformity

A change in behavior or belief as a result of real or imagined group pressure.
This can stem from a desire for positive reactions from others or a fear of disapproval or punishment.
Conformity is distinct from obedience, which involves complying with direct orders from an authority figure.

Types of Conformity

Compliance: Individuals change their behavior or expressed beliefs, but their private beliefs remain unchanged.
- Driven by normative social influence, the desire for social acceptance and approval.
- Changes are superficial and temporary, lasting only as long as the external pressure exists.
- Example: Joining a social media trend for popularity, not because one believes it's meaningful.
Identification: Individuals adopt the behaviors, attitudes, or values of a group to establish or maintain a connection with it.
- Conformity arises not from a belief in correctness, but from a desire for group affiliation.
- Common in workplaces, social clubs, religious organizations, and peer groups.
- Example: Following a music genre or adopting a specific style because one identifies with and feels a connection to a group that values those things.
Internalization: Individuals genuinely adopt the beliefs, values, or norms of a group.
- Results in a lasting and private change in beliefs and behaviors.
- The individual perceives the group's norms as matching their own, or views them as correct or beneficial.
- Driven by the desire for correctness and a belief that the group's norms are superior to prior beliefs.
- Example: Embracing environmentalism after exposure to compelling arguments and evidence.

Explanations for Conformity

Normative Social Influence (NSI): The need for social acceptance is a strong motivator. Individuals conform to avoid social rejection or being an outcast.
- Leads to compliance, where individuals publicly accept group norms but don't change their private views.
- Emotionally driven, motivated by a desire to feel connected, supported, and valued by peers.
- Example: Teenagers engaging in risky or undesirable behaviors to avoid being ridiculed or ostracized.
Informational Social Influence (ISI): Individuals believe the group possesses superior knowledge or information about a situation.
- Especially influential in ambiguous or uncertain contexts.
- Individuals look to others as a source of information, using their judgments to make decisions.
- Driven by the desire to make correct choices and understand appropriate behaviors in given situations.
- Example: During a fire alarm, people observing others' actions to understand the appropriate escape route.

Ash's Conformity Experiment

Method: Involved groups of male students.
- All but one participant were confederates (actors).
- The task involved judging the length of lines.
- In 12 trials, confederates gave the incorrect answer.
Findings: 75% of participants conformed to the incorrect group judgment on at least one trial, with a mean conformity rate of 32%.
- 5% participants never conformed.
Supporting Research: Indicates that task triviality contributes to normative influence, and conformity stems from a desire to not be perceived differently.
Variations:
- Group Size: Conformity increased with larger groups up to a certain point, then remained relatively stable.
- Unanimity: Conformity decreased significantly if one confederate gave the correct answer.
- Task Difficulty: Conformity increased when lines were more similar in length, highlighting informational influence when participants are unsure of the correct response.

Evaluating Ash's Experiment

Strengths:
- High Internal Validity: Standardized procedures minimized external influence on participants.
Weaknesses:
- Low Temporal Validity: Conducted decades ago, potentially reflecting limited relevance to contemporary conformity rates.
- Low Generalizability: Sample limited to American male students, potentially showcasing a cultural bias.

Further Evaluating Conformity

Dispositional Explanations: Individual personality traits influence conformity levels.
- Individuals highly motivated for social approval are more prone to conforming, while those with higher self-confidence exhibit less conformity.
ISI vs NSI: Practically impossible to isolate ISI and NSI in real-world scenarios. Both factors often work concurrently.
Combination: Most real-world cases of conformity result from both informational and normative social influence.

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Description

Explore the nuances of conformity in this quiz, including definitions and types such as compliance and identification. Understand how group pressure influences behavior and belief changes, highlighting the distinction between conformity and obedience.