Conformity & Norms

Question 1

What are the two types of conformity?

Answer 1

Normative Social Influence (NSI), Informational Social Influence (ISI)

Question 2

What is the key motivation, thought/behaviour profile, and key study demonstrating support for NSI

Answer 2

Conforming in order to be liked and accepted by others, public compliance (doing what others do) NOT private acceptance (genuine belief that thoughts, beliefs or actions are correct), Asch Line study

Question 3

Asch Line Study (methods)

Answer 3

7 confederates and 1 real participant, participant told study on perceptual judgement. Asked if comparison line matches standard line. Answers told out loud. Clear correct answer

Question 4

Asch Line Study (results)

Answer 4

Confederates gave clear wrong answer and participants conformed. 76% conformed at least once. Unlikely & alone, 99% accuracy

Question 5

Asch Line Study (reason)

Answer 5

People didn’t want to disagree but risked isolation & embarrassment. Displaying public compliance but not private acceptance

Question 6

What is the key motivation, thought/behaviour profile, and key study demonstrating support for ISI

Answer 6

Follow other’s to gain information, more important outcome more we follow others, (private acceptance) 1930’s ISI study

Question 7

1930’s ISI Study (methods)

Answer 7

Participants sit alone, dark room with white dot on wall (not moving but appears to be). Invited back but in group and agree on estimate

Question 8

1930’s ISI Study (results)

Answer 8

alone their paths were different, but when together their estimates converged came back at later date and had similar answer

Question 9

1930’s ISI Study (reason)

Answer 9

Both public compliance and private acceptance. Used each others information to come to a conclusion

Question 10

What is Social Impact Theory? What does it suggest? (3 things)

Answer 10

Strength (how important the group is to you), Immediacy (proximity in time and space), Number of people (the size of the group)

Question 11

What are the two types of norms? (name & describe)

Answer 11

Injunctive (rules about how people are supposed to behave), Descriptive (how people actually behave)

Question 12

How can someone overcome NSI?

Answer 12

1. Be aware
2. Find an ally (or group) to resist with you
3. cash in your idiosyncrasy credits (credits earned from conforming to group norms before)

Question 13

Describe the Door-In-The-Face Technique

Answer 13

request something big (expecting refusal) then present small, reasonable request.

Question 14

Describe the Door-In-The-Face Technique (experimental evidence)

Answer 14

chaperone 2 hour trip (17% agree), 2yr unpaid volunteer, reject, chaperone 2 hour trip (51% agree)

Question 15

Describe the Foot-In-The-Door Technique

Answer 15

Presenting small request first, most agree, then ask for larger request

Question 16

Describe the Foot-In-The-Door Technique (experimental evidence)

Answer 16

large request only (drive safely sign), small request -> large (petition to support safe driving, 2 weeks later, drive safely sign)

Question 17

Which lasts longer? (Door-In-The-Face or Foot-In-The-Door) Why?

Answer 17

Foot-In-The-Door Technique. Changes self-perception where Door-In-The-Face fulfills reciprocity norm, no drive or reason to help in future

Question 18

Describe the design and findings of Milgram’s obedience study?

Answer 18

Design: Participant “teacher”, confederate “learner”, told to shock learner every time he gets wrong answer (shock increases with each wrong answer), learner complains of heart trouble demands release.
Findings: 80% continue after learner screams, 62.5% delivered maximum shock