Chapter 6: Conformity and Obedience Flashcards
What is meant by “conformity?”
A change in behavior or belief as the result of real or imagined group pressure
What is meant by “obedience?”
A type of compliance involving acting in accord with a direct order or command
What is meant by “acceptance?”
Conformity that involves both acting and believing in accord with social pressure
Sherif’s studies on norm formation
Sherif observed that others’ judgements influenced people’s estimates of the movement of a point of light that actually did not move.
Norms for “proper” answers emerged and survived both over long periods of time and through succeeding generations of research participants.
Asch’s studies on group pressure
Asch had people listen to others’ judgements of which three comparison lines was equal to a standard line and then make the same judgement themselves. When the others unanimously gave a wrong answer, the participants conformed 37% of the time.
Milgram’s obedience studies.
Milgram’s studies of obedience elicited an extreme form of compliance. Under optimum conditions - a legitimate, close-at-hand commander, a remote victim, and no one else to exemplify disobedience - 65% of his adult male participants fully obeyed instructions to deliver what were supposedly traumatizing electric shocks to a screaming, innocent victim in the adjacent room.
What factors predict conformity?
Group size:
– People conform most when 3 or more people model the behavior or belief
Unanimity:
– Conformity is reduced if the modeled behavior or belief is not unanimous - if one or more people dissent
Cohesion:
– Conformity is enhanced by group cohesion
Status:
– The higher the status of those modeling the behavior or belief, the greater likelihood of conformity
Public response:
– People also conform most when their responses are public (in the presence of a group)
Prior commitment:
– A prior commitment to a certain behavior or belief increases the likelihood that a person will stick with that commitment.
How does personality, culture, and social roles influence conformity?
– People who seek to please others and are comfortable following social roles (those high in agreeableness and conscientiousness) are most likely to conform
– Although conformity and obedience are universal, different cultures socialize people to be more or less socially responsive
– Social roles involve a certain degree of conformity, and conforming to expectations is an important task when stepping into a new social role
What factors influence obedience (e.g., victim’s distance, etc.)?
The victim’s distance:
– Milgram’s participants acted with greatest obedience and least compassion when the “learners” could not be seen (and could not see the teachers). When the learned was in the same room, full compliance was lower.
Closeness and legitimacy of the authority:
– When the one making the command is physically close, compliance increases. The authority must be perceived as legitimate.
Institutional authority:
– Obedience may be higher when the prestige of the authority is greater (e.g., Yale vs. Bridgeport)
The Liberating effects of Group influence:
– One may be encouraged by the actions of others (e.g. heroic firefighters, students speaking up about unfair practices)
What is meant by “reactance?”
A motive to protect or restore one’s sense of freedom. Reactance arises when someone threatens our freedom of action.
What is normative influence?
Conformity based on a person’s desire to fulfill others’ expectations, often to gain acceptance
What is informational influence?
Conformity occurring when people accept evidence about reality provided by other people
What is the difference between normative influence and informational influence on conformity?
Normative influence springs from our desire to be liked and the Informational influence from our desire to be right.
The tendency to conform more when responding publicly reflects normative influence and the tendency to conform more on difficult decision-making tasks reflects informational influence
