Conformity Flashcards
What is Normative Social Influence?
An influence to conform in order to be accepted or liked by others.
- This is often driven by the desire to avoid disapproval and to fit in socially.
What is Informational Social Influence?
An influence to conform because we believe others are correct and we want to be right.
- This is especially prevalent in ambiguous situations.
Why do people conform according to Normative Social Influence?
To appear normal and avoid looking foolish.
- This is particularly true in the presence of friends.
Why do people conform according to Informational Social Influence?
To use the group as a source of information in uncertain situations.
- This is a cognitive process where people seek correctness.
What did Asch (1951) find about conformity?
- Participants conformed due to self-consciousness and fear of disapproval.
- 75% of participants conformed at least once.
- Conformity dropped to 12.5% when participants wrote their answers.
What effect did task difficulty have on conformity in Asch’s variations (1955)?
Task Difficulty: Conformity increased when lines were closer in length.
- This suggests that ambiguity heightens conformity.
What was found regarding group size in Asch’s variations?
Conformity increased with more confederates: 3% with 1, 12% with 2, and 32% with 3.
- This indicates that larger groups can exert more social pressure.
What was the effect of having an ally in Asch’s conformity study?
Conformity dropped to 5% if participants had a confederate ally who gave the correct answer.
- This highlights the importance of unanimity in the majority.
What did Perrin and Spencer (1980) find about conformity in engineering students?
Conformity was low among engineering students.
- This suggests individual differences can affect the influence of Informational Social Influence.
- AO3 weakness of Asch’s study.
What is a limitation of both explanations of conformity?
They rely on inference, making it hard to determine an individual’s true reasons for conformity.
- Individuals may not be aware of their own motivations.
What is compliance in the context of conformity?
Compliance is where the individual changes their behaviour to fit in with the group.
- Public agreement, privately disagrees.
What type of social influence best explains compliance?
Normative social influence.
- This influence is based on the desire to fit in with the group.
How long does compliance last?
It lasts only as long as the group is present.
What distinguishes internalisation from compliance?
Internalisation is the most permanent form of conformity as it becomes part of how a person thinks, even in the absence of the group.
What type of social influence is linked to internalisation?
Informational social influence.
What is identification in the context of conformity?
People change their behaviours and sometimes beliefs to fit in with a group they like/value and ‘identify’ with.
Is identification a permanent or temporary from of conformity?
It is temporary conformity if they leave the group and identify with others.
What types of social influence explain identification?
A combination of normative social influence and informational social influence.
In internalisation, how do individuals regard the group’s beliefs?
They publicly and privately value the beliefs of the group.
Fill in the blank: Internalisation is the most _______ form of conformity.
permanent
What was the aim of Zimbardo’s experiment?
To find out if participants will conform to their social roles if given uniforms and roles.
- The experiment focused on understanding how situational factors influence behavior.
What was the sample size and demographic of Zimbardo’s study?
24 healthy male university students in the US.
- Participants were randomly allocated to roles as either guards or prisoners.
What uniforms did the guards and prisoners wear in Zimbardo’s experiment?
Guards wore reflective sunglasses and khaki uniforms; prisoners wore smocks and were referred to by number.
- The uniforms were designed to enhance identification with their roles.
What were the findings of Zimbardo’s experiment?
Had to be stopped after 6 days; 1/3 of guards became aggressive and sadistic; prisoners rebelled and took the prison as real.
- The rapid escalation of behavior highlighted the power of situational factors.
What conclusion was drawn from Zimbardo’s experiment?
People will conform to social roles if given the right cues.
- This suggests that environment and assigned roles can significantly influence behavior.
What was a major strength of Zimbardo’s study?
Real world applications - has helped in prison reform.
- The study’s insights have informed changes in prison policies and practices.
What type of data was collected during Zimbardo’s experiment?
Hours of footage and observational data - not just a snapshot of behavior.
- This extensive data collection allowed for a more comprehensive analysis of participant behavior.
What was a significant weakness related to investigator effects in Zimbardo’s study?
Zimbardo acted as superintendent and influenced guards to be aggressive.
- His dual role may have compromised the objectivity of the study.
What ethical concern was raised regarding participants in Zimbardo’s experiment?
Prisoners were discouraged from leaving.
- This raises questions about informed consent and the right to withdraw.
What are demand characteristics, and how were they evident in Zimbardo’s study?
Demand characteristics are certain behaviours/actions carried out due to an expectation of what the experimenter wants to see.
One guard in particular played to his expected role.
- This indicates that participants may alter their behavior based on perceived expectations.
