PS1030 - Conformity

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Questions and Answers

What is conformity primarily characterized by?

Changes in beliefs, opinions, and behaviours due to social pressure (correct)

Changes in attitudes due to independent decision-making

The absence of social influence

Individualism and personal belief systems

Which of the following best describes informational social influence?

Influencing others without any external pressure

Following group actions without awareness

Changing beliefs based on a desire to be correct (correct)

Conforming to avoid social disapproval

In Sherif's experiment, what was primarily measured?

Obedience to authority

Conformity in a large group setting

Individual judgment in ambiguous situations (correct)

The impact of cultural differences on conformity

Which situational factor is likely to increase conformity?

Unanimity among the group members Signup and view all the answers

What is a concept related to psychological reactance?

Resistance to conformity when personal freedoms are threatened Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does NOT correlate with increased minority influence?

Being perceived as inauthentic Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of compliance?

Submitting to a request from a supervisor at work Signup and view all the answers

Which of these scenarios is most likely to illustrate normative social influence?

An individual agreeing with a group to avoid feeling out of place Signup and view all the answers

What effect does mimicking have on prosocial behavior?

It increases prosocial behaviors like donations and helping. Signup and view all the answers

In Sherif's Autokinetic Effect experiment, what was observed when participants were placed in groups?

They converged on the group norm and adopted it as a personal guide. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'informational social influence'?

Changing opinions or behaviors based on others whom we believe have accurate information. Signup and view all the answers

How can misperceived norms impact individuals' behavior?

They can result in overestimation of behaviors like drinking. Signup and view all the answers

What was a key finding in the study regarding the depletion of self-regulatory resources?

Self-regulatory resources are depleted when others fail to mimic. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the descriptive norm play in social behavior?

It reflects what most people do in a given situation. Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of providing accurate information about drinking behavior among students?

It decreases the overall alcohol consumption. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary aim of Sherif's Autokinetic Effect experiment?

To show that people conform to group norms in ambiguous situations. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does the presence of an ally have on conformity?

It weakens both informational and normative social influence. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor primarily affects informational social influence?

The expertise of the individuals in the group. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary outcome of majority influence?

The beliefs, attitudes, and values of the larger group dominate. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of conformity experiments, what was the effect on conformity when one confederate provided the correct answer?

Conformity rates dropped to 5%. Signup and view all the answers

What role does status play in social influence?

It mainly influences normative social influence. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about minority influence is true?

It occurs when a smaller group's beliefs prevail. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to conformity levels when there is one dissenter in a group?

Conformity levels drop significantly to around 5%. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between majority influence and minority influence?

Majority influence is based on numbers, while minority influence is based on distinct beliefs. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main focus of the blue/green study conducted in 1969?

The effects of color perception on social influence Signup and view all the answers

In the consistent-minority condition of the blue/green study, how frequently did confederates give the unusual response?

On every trial Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of participants in the blue/green study said 'green' at least once?

32% Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated as a key factor for minority groups to effectively influence majority opinions?

Flexibility in responses Signup and view all the answers

In the negotiation study concerning ski-lift injury compensation, what was one of the roles of the confederate?

To provide varying opinions on compensation Signup and view all the answers

What outcome did the minority influence reportedly lead to in majority participants?

Strong and lasting attitude change Signup and view all the answers

What method did participants in the second study employ to determine compensation amounts?

Private indication following group deliberation Signup and view all the answers

According to the research, why do majorities conform to minority opinions?

They believe the minority is correct Signup and view all the answers

Which cultural trait is associated with higher levels of conformity according to the studies analyzed by Bond and Smith?

Collectivism Signup and view all the answers

In the study by Kim and Markus, which group was more likely to choose a 'unique' pen?

Americans Signup and view all the answers

What effect did the wording of the signs have in the graffiti study by Pennebaker and Sanders?

More graffiti was observed on the more authoritative sign Signup and view all the answers

What is psychological reactance primarily described as?

A motivational state resisting social influence Signup and view all the answers

According to reactance theory, when does reactance typically occur?

When behavioral options are threatened or eliminated Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary focus of the meta-analysis conducted by Bond and Smith?

Conformity across different cultures Signup and view all the answers

Which domain does psychological reactance most closely relate to?

Social influence Signup and view all the answers

What type of societal structure is indicated by a higher propensity for individual choice?

Individualistic society Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason people conform under normative social influence?

To avoid disapproval and social sanctions Signup and view all the answers

In the context of Sherif's study, what type of situation leads to informational influence?

Uneasy and ambiguous tasks Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors influences conformity according to the situational factors discussed?

Group size Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of normative influence according to Asch's findings?

It leads to superficial changes in behavior Signup and view all the answers

How does group size affect conformity?

Conformity increases with group size but diminishes at larger sizes Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of injunctive norms refer to in social contexts?

Socially accepted beliefs about what one should do Signup and view all the answers

What happens to conformity levels when a group becomes larger?

It increases initially but the effect diminishes later Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the individual's response under informational influence?

They change their opinion internally based on others’ responses Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Conformity

Conformity is a change in beliefs, opinions, and behaviours that occurs in response to real or imagined pressure from others.
Social influence is how people affect each other, including changes in attitudes, beliefs, feelings, and behaviors.
Compliance is responding favorably to an explicit request by another person.
Obedience involves submitting to demands of an authority figure in an unequal power relationship.
Everyday conformity involves adopting the actions and attitudes of those around us.

Different Types of Conformity

Automatic mimicry is when people unconsciously adopt the behaviors and beliefs of others. This often happens in spontaneous and automatic ways without any clear intent to change one another.
- An example study found participants mimicked confederates' behaviour, e.g., rubbing their face or shaking their feet.
- This mimics the behaviors of others and is linked to the phenomenon of ideomotor action, which states that thinking about something increases the likelihood of actually performing the behavior

Informational social influence is a process in ambiguous situations where individuals look to others for guidance to gain accurate knowledge.
Individuals tend to conform, believing others’ opinions carry more weight and are more accurate.
This often happens in heightened uncertainty.
It can lead to a descriptive norm where the perception of what most people do in a situation guides one's own behavior.

Misperceived Norms

Individuals can misperceive norms and misjudge the behavior of others, especially concerning norms like excessive drinking.
Overestimating these norms can lead to engaging in similar behaviors.
Feedback about accurate behaviors can affect overall drinking behavior.

Asch's Conformity Experiment

This experiment tested visual abilities of male college students to match a line to a comparison line.
Confederates manipulated the responses, providing incorrect answers on some trials to see if the participant would follow suit.
Results showed significant conformity, as 75% of participants gave at least one incorrect answer; 37% went along with the group.
Key findings indicated that the presence of a single dissenter reduced conformity significantly.
- A modified version of the experiment demonstrated that decreasing uncertainty and minimizing group pressure reduced the occurrence of conforming behaviors, particularly when responses were made privately .

Asch's (1951) experiment: Post-experiment answers

Participants were more likely to conform when they felt uncertain and had doubts about their answers and judgments.
Some participants reported believing the majority was wrong, but followed the group to avoid ridicule.
Many believed the majority must be right, as the participant was the only one who thought differently.

Individuals conform to avoid disapproval or social sanctions such as rejection or isolation.
Injunctive norms are widely held social beliefs for acceptable behavior within a context.

Informational vs. Normative Influence

Informational influence happens when individuals are unsure and need to gain accurate information from others.
Normative influence occurs when individuals conform to avoid disapproval and fit in.
Informational influence often leads to internalizing the opinions or beliefs obtained, whereas normative influence mostly leads to superficial conformity without changing inner beliefs.

Majority Influence

Majority influence occurs when the beliefs, attitudes, and values of the larger social group prevail.

Minority Influence

Minority influence occurs when the beliefs, attitudes, and values held by the smaller group within a social group prevail and are adopted.

Moscovici et al. (1969) Blue/Green Study

This experiment investigated how minorities could influence a majority's views regarding color perception, using blue and green.
Consistent vs inconsistent minority behaviors were studied and the findings indicate that a consistent minority elicits more conformity among a majority.

The Power of the Minority

Consistent and unanimous responses from minorities can influence majorities, leading to lasting attitude changes and impacting private acceptance, not just public compliance.

Minority Influence: Flexibility is Key

Key takeaways involve compromise, especially when the majority engages in either early or late concessions that can impact the group's beliefs.

Situational Factors Affecting Conformity

Group size: As group size increases, conformity also increases but this diminishes as the group size grows larger.
Group unanimity: Consistency in a group's responses is even more impactful than size and the presence of a "dissenter" reduces conformity
Expertise and status: High status individuals and experts exert heightened informational influence due to their presumed accurate knowledge.

Individual Differences in conformity

Several personal characteristics affect a person's tendency to conform, such as low self-esteem, a strong desire for social approval, low IQ, heightened anxiety and feelings of inferiority/low status.

Cultural Differences in conformity

Collectivistic cultures generally demonstrate higher levels of conformity than individualistic cultures, as seen in studies using Asch's line-judging task.
In other experiments, cultural backgrounds influenced preferences for unique choices in design and theme.

Psychological Reactance

Psychological reactance is a motivational state opposing social influence due to threats or elimination of freedom/choice.
This often increases resistance to conformity.
Results can be observed from experiments with varied signs on toilet stalls, producing more graffiti on signs suggesting prohibitions.

Is conformity a good or bad thing?

Conformity can be both beneficial and detrimental, depending on the context.

Feed Forward

Understanding social influence factors is pivotal to comprehending many aspects of human behavior (e.g., obedience, group psychology).
This is particularly relevant for understanding and critiquing instances of propaganda or persuasion.

What did we learn?

Conformity can be impacted by many factors such as situational characteristics, individual differences, and cultural background.
These impact how one engages in majority and minority norms while conforming.

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Description

Test your knowledge on conformity and social influence with this quiz based on key concepts in social psychology. Explore the intricacies of informational influence, compliance, and the factors that affect group behavior. Perfect for students studying social psychology.