7B - Obedience and Conformity

Question 1

What is obedience?

Answer 1

Adhering to the instructions of authority figures or the rules or laws of society.

Question 2

What are 3 key factors influencing obedience?

Answer 2

1. Proximity
2. Legitimacy of an authority figure
3. Group pressure

Question 3

Social proximity

Answer 3

Proximity between two or more people can have a huge effect on their level of obedience. The closer you are, the more of a connection you may have, which impacts obedience.

Question 4

Proximity definition

Answer 4

Closeness between an individual and an authority figure, both physically and emotionally (e.g. their relationship)

Question 5

Legitimacy of an authority figure definition

Answer 5

When the individual who genuinely has power in a given situation, or according to the law.
- an individual is also more likely to be obedient when the authority figure is perceived as being legitimate and having power.

Question 6

Group pressure definition

Answer 6

Any direct or indirect social pressure that can be placed on an individual, which can influence their choices or behaviour.
- individuals being more likely to obey authority figures when they observe others obeying the commands of the authority figure, as well as being less likely to obey the authority figure if they observe others not obeying.

Question 7

What is conformity?

Answer 7

Conformity is the tendency to adjust one’s thoughts, feelings or behaviour in ways that are in agreement with those of a particular individual or group, or with accepted standards about how a person should behave in certain situations (social norms).

Question 8

Example of conformity

Answer 8

An individual buying new clothes after being told that their clothes are unusual. In this situation, when someone has been clearly singled out and made to feel different from others, they are likely to feel uncomfortable and may feel embarrassed or distressed.

Question 9

What are 7 key factors that influence conformity?

Answer 9

1. Group size
2. Unanimity
3. Normative influence
4. Informational influence
5. Culture
6. Social loafing
7. Deindividuation

Question 10

Group size definition

Answer 10

Group size is the number of people within a group
- important factor influencing conformity, but only up to a certain point.

Question 11

Unanimity definition

Answer 11

Complete agreement among group members.
- Unanimous, when a group is unanimous about something then that is the decision you follow

Question 12

Ally effect definition

Answer 12

Presence of an ally who shares one’s view, or at least does not accept the views of the majority.

Question 13

Example of unanimity - Asch’s findings

Answer 13

Asch found that it takes only one person to disagree with the group’s judgement to significantly affect conformity.

Question 14

Normative influence definition

Answer 14

The influence of social norms on an individual, influencing a person to act in certain ways which align with social norms.

Question 15

Example of normative influence
- Mean Girls, the movie

Answer 15

Mean Girls has examples of normative influence everywhere. For example, ‘On Wednesdays we wear pink!’

Question 16

Informational influence definition

Answer 16

The influence of observable behaviours and information on an individual, influencing their behaviour in certain situations or environments.

Question 17

Example of informational influence

Answer 17

You’re buying a car, but are unsure about what the best features are. So you take the advice of a friend, or family member who recently bought a car.

Question 18

How does culture impact conformity?

Answer 18

• Individualistic and collectivist cultures have been shown to have significantly different levels of conformity.
• Overall, individuals from collectivist cultures has been shown to be much more likely to conform than individuals from individualistic cultures.

Question 19

Social loafing definition

Answer 19

The tendency of an individual to make less effort when involved in a group activity than when working alone.
- based on their belief that conforming (or not conforming) will not make much of a difference in what the group decides, so they just go along with whatever the group agrees to do.

Question 20

Deindividuation definition

Answer 20

The tendency for individuals to lose their sense of identity and individuality within a group.
- when individuals experience deindividuation they lose their sense of identity and individuality in a group. Therefore they are less likely to conform.