22 Questions
What is culture, according to Hofstede?
The collective programming of the mind that distinguishes one group or category of people from another
What is a characteristic of collectivist cultures?
Higher conformity
According to the Milgram, Bickman, and Berkowitz (1969) study, what percentage of people copied a single person when stopping and staring up at a 6th-floor window?
4%
What is a key difference between individualist and collectivist cultures?
The level of conformity
What is the main finding of the Milgram, Bickman, and Berkowitz (1969) study?
The more people involved in a social influence situation, the more likely individuals are to conform
Which of the following countries has an individualism score of 90?
Australia
What is the percentage of conformity in collectivist cultures?
37%
What is the name of the researcher who defined culture as 'the collective programming of the mind that distinguishes one group or category of people from another'?
Hofstede
In Sherif's autokinetic effect study, what was the purpose of having participants make their estimates in a group setting?
To observe the convergence of group estimates over time
Which of the following is a factor that affects conformity?
Unanimity of the group
What is the primary reason for informational social influence?
Desire to be correct and understand the right way to act
In Asch's line studies, what was the main explanation for the participants' conformity?
Public compliance due to fear of social rejection
What is the key difference between social norms and social roles?
Social norms are expectations for behavior, while social roles are patterns of behavior
What is the defining characteristic of conformity?
A long-lasting change in behavior due to group pressure
What is the term for the tendency to conform to societal norms in order to avoid social rejection?
Normative social influence
What is the main difference between informational social influence and normative social influence?
Informational social influence is based on the need for accuracy, while normative social influence is based on the need to avoid social rejection
What is the primary motivation behind normative social influence?
Desire to be liked and accepted by others
What is the main difference between compliance and obedience?
Compliance is due to a direct request, while obedience is due to an authority figure
What was the result of Sherif's study on the autokinetic effect?
Participants' estimates of the light's movement converged over time
What is the primary characteristic of informational social influence?
Desire to be correct and understand the right way to act
What is the key factor that affects conformity?
Group pressure
What is the main difference between social influence and obedience?
Social influence is due to group pressure, while obedience is due to an authority figure
Study Notes
Social Influence I: Conformity
Social Influences
- Social norms: expectations of a group regarding acceptable and appropriate attitudes and behaviors
- Social roles: socially defined patterns of behavior expected of a person in a given setting or group
Conformity
- Definition: the tendency for people to adopt the behaviors, attitudes, and values of other members of a reference group
- Types of social influence:
- Compliance: a change in behavior or expressed attitudes consistent with a direct request
- Conformity: adopting behaviors, attitudes, and values of other members of a reference group
- Obedience: compliance with an authority figure/leader in which the request is perceived as an order or command
Informational Social Influence
- Occurs when individuals desire to be correct and understand the right way to act in a given situation
- Examples:
- Sherif's (1935) conformity experiment: autokinetic effect study
- Individuals look to others for information and believe others' interpretation is more correct than their own
Normative Social Influence
- Occurs when individuals desire to be liked and accepted by others
- Examples:
- Asch's (1956) conformity experiments: line studies
- Individuals look to others for appropriate norms of behavior and want to fit in
Factors Affecting Conformity
- Ambiguity
- Need to be accurate
- Crisis/emergency
- Unanimity
- Gender
- Expertise
- Status and attractiveness of the group
Cultural Differences
- Definition of culture: the set of cognitions and practices that identify a specific social group and distinguish it from others
- Conformity is higher in collectivist cultures (e.g., 37% in collectivist cultures vs. 25% in individualist cultures)
- Examples of individualism scores: Australia (90), Canada (80), China (20), etc.
Real-World Applications
- Conformity field experiment: Milgram, Bickman, and Berkowitz (1969) study on stopping and staring at a window on a NYC street
Learn about social norms, social roles, and forms of social influence, including compliance, conformity, and obedience. Explore laboratory and field research on informational and normative social influence.
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