Conformity

Question 1

Normative influence

Answer 1

The impact of an established behaviour of the group “group norms” that you are likely to conform to. E.g. take off shoes at home, you are likely to conform to that influence

Question 2

Following group norms

Answer 2

Avoid being ridiculed by our family and friends

Question 3

Defining social influence

Answer 3

Social influence is the process by which attitudes, perceptions and behaviours can be influenced by the real or implied presence of others (Kassim et al 2002). May involve compliance where one publicly acts according to perceive norms while privately disagreeing with such norms

Question 4

Public conformity

Answer 4

• (Ache line experiment) Only in the presence of others

Question 5

Private conformity

Answer 5

• Private conformity - A behaviour that you would display even if people weren’t watching

Question 6

Influences on conformity

Answer 6

• Group Size - Conformity increases with group size up to four persons in the group, and then levels off
• Awareness of Group Norms - Conformity increases when the norm is “activated” or brought to the person’s attention
• An Ally In Dissent - The presence of a single confederate who disagrees with the majority reduces conformity
• Cultures - Collectivist cultures show a high level of conformity and unanimity throughout the entire population, Individualist cultures conform led to group norms

Question 7

Sherif Experiment

Answer 7

• In a classic experiment Sherif (1935) showed participants a single pinpoint of light in a dark room
• Participants were asked to estimate individually how far the light moved from it’s original position
• After the initial individual attempt participants worked in pairs and then groups to try agreed consensus
• Group consensus was reached by establishing an agreed point

Question 8

Criticism of Sherif’s work

Answer 8

• The group used consisted of three people. They may not have considered themselves as part of a group
• There was no wrong or right answer, it was an ambiguous task, and Sherif told them that he was going to move the light, so there were more likely to changes their minds anyway

Question 9

Factors of deindividuation

Answer 9

• Anonymity - People are not afraid of the consequences of their actions
• Increases Awareness/Pressure of Social Norms - As people are surrounded they may feel more pressure to conform to the “social norms” around them
• Shift of attention to external factors - People may be reacting to their environment more than their internal beliefs

Question 10

Zimbardo Prison experiment (1973)

Answer 10

• Phillip Zimbardo based the standard prison experiment on social power, i.e. the forces available to motivate attitude/behaviour change
• In this experiment, some individuals were given greater power by being allowed to decide when to reward and/or punish others

Question 11

Zimbardo Prison experiment strengths

Answer 11

• Zimbardo showed that situation factors, such as, the power of structure of an organisation, can greatly impact the way we behave
• Even stable individuals, like the student participants of the experiment will often abuse the social power they possess behaving in unacceptable ways

Question 12

Zimbardo prison experiment weaknesses

Answer 12

• There are serious ethical issues here in exposing the participants to degrading and humiliating hostility
• While the mock guards may have pretended to be aggressive, the physical abuse and harassment they showed we beyond more than pretending
• It is possible that middle-ages people would have been less affected by the mock prison than the young college students