What is Conformity?

Question 1

Define conformity in the context of social influence.

Answer 1

Conformity is a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behavior in order to fit in with a group.

Question 2

Describe the types of pressure that can lead to conformity.

Answer 2

Conformity can occur in response to real group pressure, which involves the physical presence of others, or imagined group pressure, which involves the pressure of social norms and expectations.

Question 3

Explain why people might conform to group behavior.

Answer 3

People conform to fit in with a group, often due to the influence of social norms and the desire for acceptance.

Question 4

Identify examples of conformity in everyday life.

Answer 4

Examples of conformity can include changing one’s opinion to match a group’s view, dressing similarly to peers, or adopting behaviors that are popular within a social group.

Question 5

Discuss the concept of non-conformity.

Answer 5

Non-conformity refers to the refusal to conform to established customs, attitudes, or norms, often resulting in individualism or independence from group influence.

Question 6

How does conformity relate to psychological research?

Answer 6

Psychological research on conformity examines the factors that influence individuals to change their beliefs or behaviors in response to group pressure.

Question 7

Define conformity in the context of social psychology.

Answer 7

Conformity is defined as yielding to group pressures, which can manifest in various forms such as bullying, persuasion, teasing, and criticism.

Question 8

Describe the two main motivations behind conformity.

Answer 8

Conformity can be motivated by a desire to fit in and be liked (normative influence) or by a desire to be correct (informational influence).

Question 9

How did Jenness study conformity in his experiment?

Answer 9

Jenness studied conformity by having participants estimate the number of beans in a bottle individually, then discussing their estimates in a group, and finally asking them to re-estimate individually to see if their guesses changed.

Question 10

What was the outcome of Jenness’s conformity experiment?

Answer 10

Almost all participants changed their individual guesses to be closer to the group estimate after discussing it.

Question 11

Identify the most famous conformity experiment and its researcher.

Answer 11

The most famous conformity experiment was conducted by Solomon Asch in 1951, known as the line judgment experiment.

Question 12

Define compliance in the context of conformity.

Answer 12

Compliance occurs when an individual accepts influence to achieve a favorable reaction from a group, adopting the induced behavior publicly while not necessarily agreeing with it privately.

Question 13

What happens to compliance when group pressures are removed?

Answer 13

Compliance ceases when there are no group pressures to conform, indicating that it is a temporary behavior change.

Question 14

Explain internalization as a type of conformity.

Answer 14

Internalization occurs when an individual genuinely accepts group norms because the behavior is intrinsically rewarding and aligns with their value system.

Question 15

What did Kelman distinguish in his study of conformity?

Answer 15

Kelman distinguished between three types of conformity: compliance, internalization, and identification.

Question 16

How does conformity relate to social roles?

Answer 16

Conformity can also occur as a means to conform to a social role, where individuals adjust their behavior to fit societal expectations.

Question 17

Describe the deepest level of conformity.

Answer 17

The deepest level of conformity is when the beliefs of the group become part of the individual’s own belief system, resulting in a permanent change in behavior.

Question 18

How does Sherif’s autokinetic experiment illustrate conformity?

Answer 18

Sherif’s autokinetic experiment demonstrates conformity by showing how individuals adjust their perceptions in ambiguous situations based on group influence.

Question 19

Define identification in the context of conformity.

Answer 19

Identification occurs when an individual accepts influence to establish or maintain a satisfying self-defining relationship with another person or group.

Question 20

What is the difference between identification and compliance?

Answer 20

Identification involves conforming to social roles without necessarily changing private opinions, while compliance involves publicly accepting group views but privately rejecting them.

Question 21

How does ingratiational conformity differ from normative influence?

Answer 21

Ingratiational conformity is motivated by the desire for social rewards and acceptance, rather than the fear of rejection that characterizes normative influence.

Question 22

Explain the concept of normative conformity.

Answer 22

Normative conformity is yielding to group pressure to fit in, often driven by the fear of rejection from the group.

Question 23

What is informational conformity and when does it occur?

Answer 23

Informational conformity occurs when a person lacks knowledge and looks to the group for guidance, especially in ambiguous situations.

Question 24

Describe the outcome of the Asch Line Study.

Answer 24

The Asch Line Study illustrates normative conformity, where individuals publicly accepted the group’s incorrect answers to avoid rejection.

Question 25

How does internalization relate to conformity?

Answer 25

Internalization is when a person accepts the views of the group and adopts them as their own, leading to a permanent change in beliefs.

Question 26

What type of conformity is demonstrated in Zimbardo’s Prison Study?

Answer 26

Zimbardo’s Prison Study demonstrates identification, as individuals conformed to the expectations of their assigned social roles.

Question 27

Identify the two reasons why people conform according to Deutsch and Gerrard.

Answer 27

The two reasons are normative conformity, which is driven by the desire to fit in, and informational conformity, which occurs when individuals seek guidance from the group.

Question 28

What is the significance of Sherif’s 1935 Autokinetic Effect Experiment?

Answer 28

Sherif’s 1935 Autokinetic Effect Experiment is significant as it provides evidence for informational conformity, showing how individuals conform in ambiguous situations.

Question 29

Describe the aim of Sherif’s 1935 experiment.

Answer 29

Sherif aimed to demonstrate that people conform to group norms when placed in an ambiguous situation.

Question 30

How did Sherif conduct his experiment on conformity?

Answer 30

Sherif used a lab experiment involving the autokinetic effect, where a small spot of light in a dark room appears to move, to study conformity.

Question 31

Define the autokinetic effect as used in Sherif’s experiment.

Answer 31

The autokinetic effect is a visual illusion where a stationary spot of light appears to move in a dark room.

Question 32

What were the results of Sherif’s experiment regarding group estimates?

Answer 32

Sherif found that over numerous trials, the group converged to a common estimate of the light’s movement, with individuals conforming to the views of others.

Question 33

How did Sherif interpret the findings of his experiment?

Answer 33

Sherif concluded that people tend to conform rather than make individual judgments, especially in ambiguous situations.

Question 34

What is informational conformity as described in Sherif’s study?

Answer 34

Informational conformity occurs when individuals look to others for guidance in ambiguous situations, adopting the group norm due to a lack of information.

Question 35

Describe the concept of non-conformity in relation to social pressure.

Answer 35

Non-conformity refers to the tendency of some individuals to resist social pressure and maintain independence from group norms.

Question 36

How do cultural differences affect conformity according to Smith and Bond’s findings?

Answer 36

Smith and Bond found that Western cultures tend to be more individualistic and value independence, leading to higher rates of non-conformity, while Eastern cultures prioritize group needs.

Question 37

What characterizes individuals from Western cultures in terms of conformity?

Answer 37

Individuals from Western cultures, such as America and the UK, are more likely to be individualistic and prefer to be seen as distinct from the group.

Question 38

Contrast the values of Western and Eastern cultures regarding conformity.

Answer 38

Western cultures value individualism and independence, while Eastern cultures prioritize the needs of the family and social groups.