Conformity

Question 1

Define ‘conformity’

Answer 1

Changing one’s behaviour or beliefs to accord with others

Question 2

Pressure can be explicit or implicit or….

Answer 2

real or imagined

Question 3

Advantages of conforming for the individual

Answer 3

Simplifies the world. Decisions are already made for us by designated norms. For example, we don’t need to decide whether to wear clothes to class, or whether to call someone during a meeting or after.

Question 4

Advantages of conforming for society

Answer 4

Some level of conformity is essential. Ex; driving rules

Question 5

Two main types of influences

Answer 5

Normative and informational

Question 6

Normative influence

Answer 6

Produces conformity because a person fears the negative consequences of deviating from others. The goal is to be accepted.

Question 7

Informational influence

Answer 7

Produces conformity because a person believes that others are correct in their judgements. The goal is to be right.

Question 8

Two types of conformity

Answer 8

Private and public

Question 9

Private conformity

Answer 9

Change in beliefs is real and occurs when a person privately accepts the position taken by others

Question 10

Public conformity

Answer 10

Superficial change in overt behaviour without a corresponding change in beliefs, produced by real of imagined group pressure

Question 11

Sheirf’s study

_________ influence and ________ acceptance

Answer 11

informational, private

Question 12

Asch’s study

__________ influence and ________ conformity

Answer 12

normative, public

Question 13

8 factors that affect whether people conform

Answer 13

1. Group size
2. Group unanimity
3. Cohesion
4. Expertise and status
5. Culture
6. Gender
7. Task ambiguity
8. Anonymity

Question 14

1. Group size

Answer 14

As group size increases, conformity increases. Once 4 or 5 people say or do something it seems to others like that is the right or acceptable thing to do

Question 15

2. Group unanimity

Answer 15

If someone isn’t conforming to the group, people feel less pressure to comply. All it takes is one person to do something different to reduce pressure to conform

Question 16

3. Cohesion

Answer 16

The more cohesive a group, the more it seems really important to be in it, the greater demand for conformity

Question 17

4. Expertise and status

Answer 17

We are more likely to conform when we believe that the group members are experts

We overextend this sometimes and conform to experts even when their area of expertise is irrelevant to the judgement being made

Question 18

5. Culture

Answer 18

Conformity is higher in interdependent cultures because fitting in with others is a core value

Question 19

6. Gender

Answer 19

Women conform more than men but the difference is very small.

Question 20

7. Task ambiguity

Answer 20

When the task is unclear - informational influence

When the task is clear - normative influence

Question 21

8. Anonymity

Answer 21

More likely to conform when other people view our behaviour

Question 22

Obedience

Answer 22

Changes in behaviour produced by the commands of an authority.

Question 23

What did Milgram’s studies focus on?

Answer 23

Obedience to authority

Question 24

Factors that led people to administer shocks in Milgram’s study

Answer 24

1. Novel (unusual) situation
2. Perceived authority figure
3. Escalation of shocks (implicate consistency, implicate dissonance)
4. Questions of responsibility (experimenter was responsible, external justification)

Question 25

In recent replications of Milgram’s study, what percentage of people administered greater than 150 volts?

Answer 25

70%

Question 26

The more ______ a group is, the greater demand for conformity

Answer 26

cohesive

Question 27

We are more likely to conform when we believe that the group members are ______

Answer 27

experts

Question 28

When responses are anonymous, what type of influence would be relevant?

Answer 28

informational