Conformity

Question 1

Why are group processes important?

Answer 1

To

1. Accomplish objectives that may be more difficult to meet individually, and
2. Fulfil basic human needs due to the innate need to belong to groups.

Question 2

Social Norms

Answer 2

A powerful determinant of our behaviour and may include norms about implicit or explicit rules about what behaviours are acceptable varied from group to group.

Question 3

Social Roles

Answer 3

Shared expectations in a group about how particular people are supposed to behave.

Question 4

Group Cohesiveness

Answer 4

Qualities of a group that bind members together and promote mutual liking.

Question 5

Group Diversity

Answer 5

Diversity of group composition based on age, sex, beliefs and opinions, and diversity often predicts improved performance in group creativity, information sharing and flexible problem solving. This is often limited as similarity typically predicts group cohesiveness.

Question 6

Conformity

Answer 6

Tendency to change behaviours or thoughts in ways that are consistent with group norms, with real or imagined presence of others

Question 7

How does conformity occur?

Answer 7

Through

1. Informational influence, or
2. Normative influence

Question 8

Informational Influence

Answer 8

(Sherif’s 1936 autokinetic study, Baron’s 1996 eyewitness identification)
Due to the need to be accurate, we rely on other people as a source of information to guide our behaviour and we conform because we believe that others’ interpretation of an ambiguous situation is correct and can help us choose an appropriate course of action. We privately accept the group’s motives especially when:
1. The situation is ambiguous,
2. The task is highly important, or
3. Others are experts relative to self.

Question 9

Normative Influence

Answer 9

(Asch’s 1951 line judging experiment)
Due to the need to be liked and be accepted by other people, we publicly comply with social norms but may not privately accept them. We are more likely to conform to normative pressures when
1. The size of a smaller group increases (up to 4),
2. There is a strong identification with the group,
3. Group members live in close proximity,
4. There are no dissenting allies, and
5. The culture is collectivistic.
The relationship between conformity and individual differences is weak.

Question 10

Social Impact Theory

Answer 10

(Latane’s 1981)
The idea that conforming to social influence depends on the group’s importance, immediacy and the number of people in the group.

Question 11

Minority Influence

Answer 11

A minority of group members influences the behaviour or beliefs of the majority when

1. Idiosyncrasy credits are available
2. Type of influence is informational
3. Minority members express the same view over time, and
4. Minority members agree with one another.

Question 12

Idiosyncrasy Credits

Answer 12

Tolerance points a minority member earns from the group for having conformed in the past, allowing them to deviate from group norms without retribution.

Question 13

Injunctive Norms

Answer 13

People’s perceptions of what behaviours are approved or disapproved of by others. Injunctive norms motivate behaviour by promising rewards or punishment for behaviour, and can be used to creative positive behavioural change.

Question 14

Descriptive Norms

Answer 14

People’s perceptions of how people actually behave in given situations rewardless of whether the behaviour is approved or disapproved of by others. Descriptive norms motivate behaviour by informing people about what is effective or adaptive behaviour.

Question 15

Boomerang Effect

Answer 15

People continue performing the undesirable behaviour when their initial level is below-average when the message used descriptive norms. Boomerang effect can be reduced when descriptive norm is used together with injunctive norm, where we are given motivational feedback alongside with the benchmark.

Question 16

Foot in the Door Technique

Answer 16

Social influence strategy in which getting people to agree first to a small request makes them more likely to agree later to a second, larger request. This works as people see themselves as agreeable people and desire to reduce any uncomfortable feelings of dissonance.

Question 17

Door in the Face Technique

Answer 17

Social influence strategy in which first asking people for a large request that they will probably refuse makes them more likely to agree later to a second, smaller request. This works due to the feelings of reciprocity where people see the requestor as having compromised.

Question 18

Propoganda

Answer 18

A deliberate, systematic attempt to advance a cause by manipulating mass attitudes and behaviours, often through misleading or emotionally charged information. This may initiate social influence processes by both informational and normative conformity.

Question 19

Obedience to Authority

Answer 19

(Milgram’s 1963 shock experiment)
Performance of action in response to the direct orders of an authority or person of higher status.
Obedience may decrease when
1. The environment is more informal and less commanding,
2. There are dissenting allies - reduced normative pressure,
3. Person giving the command has no expertise - reduced informational pressure, or
4. Victim is in close proximity or have come into contact with us - we face conflicting norms.

Question 20

Why do we obey?

Answer 20

We obey because

1. The decision to be made quickly forces us to rely on source credibility (peripheral persuasion) when we determine which conflicting norm to follow,
2. We self-justify the increments in commands followed,
3. The loss of a sense of personal responsibility for our actions reduces self-awareness and comparison with our individual values.