Ch 6 - Group Conformity And Influence Flashcards
Group Size
Vary in size:
Small groups 3-20 people
Big groups 20+ people
Changes in group size has more power used to dynamics - bringing someone in - the power reduces. Persuasive power drops Orr once you add more to the group. The longer a group has developed the more a new addition will have a big impact on
Norms
Expectations on how to behave
Explicit
Group - how you should behave
Implicit
Self own experiences. Group and own expectations matter
Security in numbers
One against one won’t work two or more agrees - more security. Take votes. For or against cam work.
Indoctrination
Ex: Military
Increasing commitment - limiting access of the outside information. Cults - contradictory information - be influenced by mindset of particular group - the more difficult - the more level of conformity
Identification
Peer groups and peer pressure - identity with groups - more personal connection - conform more. Down side: leads to groups who are overly concerned. Group think - leads to poor decisions not a good idea. Over identification of groups
Gender
Women are more likely to conform than men are.
Peer Pressure
Negative connotation - implication - negative. Could be positive - study groups
Personality
Self monitoring - high self monitors conform more than low self monitors - cognitive complexity:
High - see more variability. Able to make decisions and to stand up for self
Low - black and white. Do what the group says.
Low conform more than high conformity
Group Locomotion Hypothesis
Moving with group - more likely to conform - motivate with group - ego involvement and self involvement is high
Social comparison theory
Compare to others around - low levels of self esteem are easily persuaded.
High - less likely to compete to others
Consistency theory
Cognitive dissonance - suggest you do what the group does - why disagree? Conform to the behavior of group so you don’t feel dissonance
Epistemological Weighting theory
How we know what we know. Two ways:
Personal experience - own observation - trial and error
Other people - interactions and teaching
Which one gained holds more importance to you. Less likely to conform to groups - individual. Learn socially - other people - more likely to conform
Hedonistic Hyphothesis
Emotional extremes - pleasure or sadness - conform to groups to avoid the pain of rejection or alienation. Conform to seek pleasure of conform
