Conformity Flashcards
Social influence
The ways in which ppl are affected by the real and imagined pressures of others
- Depends on perception
- Influence varies on degree of pressure exerted on an individual
The Chameleon Effect
People mimic each other’s behaviours and moods to smooth social interactions
Study:
A confederate in a waiting room with the participant either rubs their face or shakes their foot every few seconds. What happened to the participant?
They copied the confederate’s action
What are bystander effects?
- Apathy vs Altruism
When we’re influenced by what people are doing around us
Apathy - The more ppl present, the less likely any one person will attempt to help
Altruism - Self-sacrificing behaviour carried out for the benefit of others w/ no expectation of anything in return
Diffusion of responsibility
Deindividuation
We’re less likely to assist in a large group bcuz responsibility to help is shared
Loss of self-awareness and individual accountability in a group
- Often causes ppl to behave badly
Bystander intervention study:
Participants talked to each other on the phone from diff rooms or are in a room together
- What happened when smoke was sensed?
Ppl alone were more likely to go out and check others are okay
Ppl in a group often stayed still and did nothing
What are the 5 steps of intervening?
1) Notice event
2) Interpret event as emergency
3) Feel personal responsibility for acting
4) Consider what form of assistance is needed
5) Implement action
What is group action/social facilitation? Social loafing?
- Cockroach maze study
- Ringelmann farmer workmen study
If you’re trained for something, presence of others will pressure us to perform better (and do worse if we’re not trained)
Ppl reduce effort when working in a group compared to working alone
The more complex the maze was, the more the cockroach audience hindered the time on getting out
Farmer workmen did less work as a team than alone
When are you less likely to loaf? (3)
(Social loafing)
Believe you will get credit/blame for your work
Believe your contribution is important/meaningful
Part of a cohesive, desirable group
Zimbardo electric shock study:
A female confederate provoked participants by insults. Participants were assigned to wear cloaks/hoods or nametags and shock the confederate. What happened?
(Deindividuation)
Deindividuated participants gave much greater shocks
- More likely to act on their impulses when ppl don’t know who they are
Groupthink
- What are its predictors? (4)
When pressure to agree in a group leads to inadequate appraisal of options and poor decisions
- Cohesive group
- Directive leader (One person telling everyone what to do)
- Isolated group (no interaction with other groups)
- Feelings of superiority (Feel group is better than others)
Group polarization effect
After group discussions, positions become more extreme (Ex: In favour becomes more in favour)
Conformity
Tendency for people to change their perceptions, opinions, behav to be consistent w/ group norms
- Caused by real or imagined perceptions from others
Sherif spot of light study:
Participants estimated how much a small spot of light moved in a dark room. In reality, the autokinetic effect occurred (light appears to move but doesn’t). What happened when individually tested and in groups of three (w/ two other ppl having diff answers)?
Individually - Answers varied
Groups - Person with diff answer eventually had same answer as other two
- After going back to do the test again themselves, their answer stayed the same
Asch line-judgment task:
Participants asked which line the one they were shown was most similar to. Confederates in the same room all agreed to the incorrect answer. What happened to the participant?
Majority of participants conformed to incorrect answer at least once
- Most went along in fear of being ridiculed but didn’t actually agree
- But some actually ended up believing that the group’s answer was correct
