Social Topic 5 Flashcards
Conformity
A deep-seated, private, and enduring change in behaviour and attitudes due to group pressure.
Types of Conformity
- Compliance: Superficial, public change in behaviour without internal agreement (e.g., laughing at a joke you don’t find funny).
- Identification: Adopting behaviours of a group due to a desire to belong (e.g., dressing like a sports team you support).
- Internalisation: Deep, genuine acceptance of group norms (e.g., adopting a new political ideology).
Normative vs. Informational Influence
- Normative Influence: Conforming to be liked and accepted.
- Informational Influence: Conforming because we believe others have accurate knowledge.
Asch’s Line Study (1956)
- Participants were asked to match line lengths. Confederates gave wrong answers, leading to normative conformity.
- Findings: 75% conformed at least once, 32% conformed on critical trials.
Factors Affecting Conformity
- Group Size: Conformity increases with group size (up to ~4 people).
- Unanimity: One dissenting voice reduces conformity.
- Task Difficulty: Harder tasks lead to more informational influence
Social Norms and Conformity
Implicit rules that guide behaviour within a group (Cialdini & Trost, 1998).
Minority Influence
When a smaller group influences the majority’s beliefs or behaviours.
Moscovici’s Study (1969)
- Confederates insisted blue slides were green.
- Findings: A consistent minority led to conversion in 8.4% of cases.
Factors for Minority Influence
- Consistency: Repeating the same message.
- Commitment: Dedication to the cause (e.g., hunger -strikes).
- Flexibility: Willingness to negotiate.
- Unbiased Presentation: No personal gain involved.
Real-World Examples of Minority Influence
- Civil Rights Movement (Rosa Parks).
- Greta Thunberg and climate activism.
- LGBTQ+ rights movements.
Obedience
Following direct orders from an authority figure, often without questioning.
Milgram’s Obedience Study (1963)
- Participants administered shocks to a “learner” under pressure from an authoritative experimenter.
- Findings: 62.5% administered the highest shock (450V).
Factors Affecting Obedience
- Proximity of Authority: Obedience dropped when orders were given over the phone.
- Legitimacy of Authority: Higher obedience when experimenter wore a lab coat.
- Presence of Dissenters: Two disobedient peers reduced obedience to 10%.
Agentic State (Milgram, 1974)
When individuals see themselves as agents carrying out orders, shifting responsibility to an authority figure.
Hollander’s (1985) Idiosyncrasy Credit Model
Individuals who first conform can later challenge group norms after gaining credibility.
Real-World Examples of Obedience
- Military Orders (e.g., Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse).
- Corporate Scandals (e.g., Volkswagen emissions scandal).
- Medical Hierarchies (e.g., following outdated procedures).
Ethical Issues in Milgram’s Study
- Deception: Participants misled about study aims.
- Psychological Distress: Participants believed they harmed others.
- Right to Withdraw: Experimenter pressured participants to continue.
Ethical Improvements in Replications
Burger (2009) Replication:
- Stopped shocks at 150V.
- Participants reminded they could withdraw.
- Pre-screening for mental well-being.
Sherif’s Autokinetic Effect Study (1935)
- Participants estimated the movement of a stationary light in a dark room.
- Findings: Participants converged to a common group estimate.
Compliance vs. Conversion
- Compliance (Majority Influence) = Temporary, public agreement.
- Conversion (Minority Influence) = Permanent, private agreement.
Key Differences: Majority vs. Minority Influence
Situational vs. Individual Factors in Social Influence
- Situational: Group size, unanimity, authority.
- Individual: Personality, culture (collectivist vs. individualist).
