Conformity

Question 1

What is social influence?

Answer 1

The influence of other people on our everyday thoughts, feelings, and behaviour.

Question 2

To what does the term ‘compliance’ refer?

Answer 2

To publicly acting (via behaviour and expressed attitudes) according to social pressure, while privately disagreeing.

Question 3

To what does the term ‘conformity’ refer?

Answer 3

To deep-seated, private, and enduring changes in behaviour and attitudes due to group pressure.

Question 4

To what does the term ‘obedience’ refer?

Answer 4

To the undertaking of orders demanded by a person invested with authority.

Question 5

What type of creatures are humans?

Answer 5

Social creatures

Question 6

On what does the existence of cultures (as a collection of beliefs and behaviours) depend?

Answer 6

On conformity.

Question 7

What reflects the fact that humans are conformist in nature?

Answer 7

Our following of the social conventions or norms of the group(s) in which we exist.

Question 8

What is the standpoint of Western cultures on conformity?

Answer 8

That it is important not to conform, and rather that individuals should be celebrated.

Question 9

How is conformity viewed by Western cultures?

Answer 9

As a negative concept associated with the inability to stick up for oneself and the issue of one being overly obedient to authority.

Question 10

Which myth do Western cultures buy into?

Answer 10

The myth of the “lone genius”.

Question 11

What is the standpoint of collectivist cultures on conformity?

Answer 11

That it is a positive concept that is associated with positive feelings, harmony and social connection.

Question 12

What does Deutsch and Gerald’s (1955) two-process theory argue?

Answer 12

That there are two main reasons that individuals conform, based on two core human needs.

Question 13

What are the two types of conformity according to Deutsch and Gerald’s (1955) two-process theory?

Answer 13

• Informational social influence (ISI)
• Normative social influence (NSI)

Question 14

To what does the term ‘informational social influence’ refer?

Answer 14

To conformity resulting from a desire to be accurate.

Question 15

To what does the term ‘normative social influence’ refer?

Answer 15

To conformity resulting from a desire to fit in and avoid social disapproval.

Question 16

What is the result of normative social influence?

Answer 16

Public compliance with a group’s beliefs and behaviours, but not necessarily private acceptance of those beliefs and behaviours.

Question 17

What is the common result of informational social influence?

Answer 17

Private acceptance.

Question 18

By which desire is informational social influence driven?

Answer 18

The desire to form an accurate interpretation of reality and behave correctly.

Question 19

To what does the term ‘wisdom of crowds’ refer?

Answer 19

To the belief that a group majority’s interpretation of an ambiguous situation is more likely to be correct than one’s own interpretation of it.

Question 20

When is informational social influence most likely to occur?

Answer 20

• When a situation is ambiguous.
• During times of crisis.
• When other members of the group are experts.

Question 21

What is the most crucial variable involved in becoming vulnerable to the influence of others?

Answer 21

Ambiguity

Question 22

What tends to happen the greater the uncertainty around a situation is?

Answer 22

An individual is likely to rely more on others.

Question 23

Why is informational social influence likely to occur in times of crisis?

Answer 23

Due to the time pressure that tends to be involved in critical situations.