CHAPTER SIX: CONFORMITY Flashcards
conformity
a change in belief/behaviour to accord with others
sherif’s studies on norm formation
- autokinetic phenomenon: people under the influence that the light is moving when it is not
- uses confederates (fake participants used to influence)
- when around confederates: they changed their original answer agreed with t\he confederates that the light was moving
- chameleon effect
- suggestibility: being open enough to other ideas
- when we know what others think, we compare our answer and adjust it to be “right” (the majority’s thought)
- the idea that in an ambiguous situation, a person will look to others assuming they know more than we know
- informational conformity
asch’s studies of group pressure
- interested in the pressure aspect of conformity
- choosing between “safe with us’ vs. risk being alone
- people conform 33% of the time
milgram’s obedience studies
- researching observing participant giving a target electric shocks for getting questions wrong
- observed we feel obligated due to commitment
- when we can’t see suffering, the deed is easier to dull out
- experimenter in the room may cause pressure
the ethics of milgram’s studies
- cruelty inflicted on participants
- potential alteration of participants’ self-concepts
- educational value
- lack of evidence of psychological harm
- participants were paid
- “knew” what they were signing up for
- the cognitive dissonance was resolved
what breeds obedience?
- the victim’s distance (depersonalization)
- closeness and legitimacy of authority
- the liberating effects of group influence (group loyalty as constructive/heroic)
reflections on the classic studies
- the relationship between behaviour and attitude weakens when external influences are overwhelming
- the power of situation: trying to break with social constraints shows us how powerful they are
- avoiding committing to the FAE: recognizing that milgram’s participants as ordinary people so we should not make FAE
what predicts conformity? (group size)
- larger group = larger % of conformity
- perception of the group is important
what predicts conformity? (unamity)
- unanimity: complete agreement/consensus
- if we think this way, others will too (only takes two people)
what predicts conformity? (cohesion)
- like members = part of the group
- more cohesive of a group = more powerful
what predicts conformity? (status)
- higher status = more influence
what predicts conformity? (public response)
- public commitment = less likely to back out
what predicts conformity? (no prior commitment)
- open to commit to something because haven’t before
what causes conformity? (normative influence “liked”)
- “going along with the crowd” to avoid rejection, stay in people’s good graces, or gain approval
- leads to public compliance (does not necessarily mean private acceptance)
what causes conformity? (informational influence “right”)
- conforming in order to be right in ambiguous situations
- leads to private acceptance
why conform?
conformity is greatest when:
- people respond after the group
- people feel incompetent, task difficulty is high, care about being “right”
who conforms?
- personality: not narcissists
- culture: collectivistic cultures
- gender: no proof
- social roles: every social roles has norms that guide conforming behaviour
reactance
a motive to protect or restore one’s sense of freedom (any kind of small differences in groups can lead to big conflicts)
asserting uniqueness
preference for being moderately unique
