Conformity Flashcards
(22 cards)
Define conformity.
A type of social influence where an individual changes their thoughts and behaviours so they are the same as the majority of others in a group.
Define compliance as a type of conformity.
When a person publicly changes their behaviour to agree with others but privately continues to believe their own values.
Define identification as a type of conformity.
When an individual adopts the behaviours and attitudes of a group tbh they identify with and want to be associated with. They demonstrate the same behaviours as the group in public and in private for as long as they value membership in that group.
Define internalisation as a type of conformity.
When you change and adopt a new set of beliefs and behaviours that become part of your own personal values that are not dependent on being part of a group. The beliefs and behaviours are now internalised.
Define informational social influence as an explanation of conformity.
The result of wanting to be right and not wanting to seem wrong or foolish. For example, when a person doesn’t know what to do so they do the same as others around them.
Give a strength of informational social influence as an explanation of conformity.
Supporting evidence - students were asked to answer easy and difficult math questions and were shown incorrect responses and there was greater conformity to difficult questions than easier, especially w people who were bad at maths.
Give a criticism of informational social influence as an explanation of conformity.
Challenging evidence - research with science and engineering students showed they were less likely to agree with wrong answers to the length of lines. Other research found students were less likely to conform than non students.
Define normative social influence as an explanation for conformity.
The process of wanting to be liked and accepted by a group and to behave in a way that is typical for that group. For example, If a friendship group all smokes an individual may start smoking to fit in.
Give 2 strengths of normative social influence as an explanation of conformity.
Supporting evidence 1 2003: adolescents given the message that adolescents their age didn’t smoke were less likely to start smoking than those not given the message.
Hotel guests that were told that 75% of guests reused the same towels were more likely to reuse their towels.
Give a criticism of normative social influence as an explanation of conformity.
Not everyone is similarly affected by normative social influences bc some people are less concerned with fitting in than others so don’t feel the pressure to conform as much. Those who do care a lot are affiliated. Research has shown that those who particularly need to affiliate and establish relationships are more likely to conform.
Briefly explain the procedure for Asch’s research.
- 123 male american students
- each naive participant judged independently with 6-8 confederates
- task was to call out loud which line of 3 was the same length as the target line (shown separately) and it was clear which one was correct
- at the beginning confederates gave the correct answer but they gave the wrong answer in 12/18 trials
Briefly explain the results and conclusions of Aschs study.
- on 12 critical trials conformity rate was 33% (pps gave the wrong answer on a third of trials)
- when debriefed most said they conformed so they didn’t attract disproval
- privately believed own judgement but gave wrong answer to fit in (compliance)
- 25% never agreed, 5% conformed on all
- people feel strong pressure to do same as others even when they know it’s wrong but there is considerable individual variation
Give two criticisms of Aschs research
Agreeing with length of lines is unimportant with no real life consequences so doesn’t reflect real life
Conformity levels might have been high due to demand characteristics ie people agreeing bc they thought that’s what they’re supposed to do
Give 2 issues of Aschs research.
Ethnocentric and androcentric because only
Male American pps generalised to everyone
Unethical because they were deceived and could’ve felt embarrassed and stressed
Explain group size as a variable affecting conformity.
- 1-2 confederates had a small effect w pps conforming on 5-10% of trials but 3 confederates have 30% conformity and increasing confederates had little effect on this %.
- majority view from less than 3 people doesn’t create much pressure on them but 3 people is enough to exert conformity pressures.
Explain unanimity as a variable affecting conformity.
- when one confederate gave the correct answer through the trials conformity rates fell to 5% and even when they gave an answer that wasn’t correct but different to others it was still low at 9%.
- majority has influence largely because of unanimity and when it is reduced conformity pressures reduce and an individual acts more independently
Explain task difficulty as a variable affecting conformity
- when lines made more similar so task was harder conformity increased
- if the situation is ambiguous people begin to look for others for correct answers and assume they’re right
- individual differences and their self belief has an effect on conformity; people confidence in maths skill remained independent and didn’t conform to wrong answers on maths problems
- nature of task and individual differences in confidence affect conformity
Define social roles and conformity so social roles.
Social roles are the different positions people occupy as members of society in general or through having positions within organised groups like parent teacher nurse etc. These roles carry expectations such as nurse = kind. Conformity to social roles is how much we go along with and perform the expected behaviour once we adopt a social role.
Briefly explain zimbardo’s procedure.
- mock prison at stanford uni
- advert asked for student volunteers for prison role play for 2 weeks
- volunteers assessed and the most emotionally stable selected
- randomly allocated to prisoner or guard
- prisoners inexpertly arrested, blindfolded, strip searched, deloused, given uniform and number
- guards given complete control, uniform, clubs, handcuffed keys and dark mirrored glasses
Briefly explain the results and conclusions from Zimbardos research
- guards became controlling and abusive quickly
- woke prisoners up at night, made them clean toilets with hands and made them perform degrading and humiliating tasks
- prisoners rebelled, tore uniforms, shouted and swore but guards responded with severe behaviour and used prisoners against each other
- prisoners became depressed and anxious and 5 left early due to extreme response - one asked for parole, another went on Huber strike
- study terminated after 6 days
- problem readily conform to social roles they occupy, behaviour strongly influenced by social situations and people who behave badly aren’t necessarily bad people
Give 2 strengths of Zimbardo’s research
Participants randomly allocated and the most emotionally stable were picked so behaviour can confidently be attributed to role and not individual differences
Argue that the prison experience was genuine and seemed like a prison to them as 90% of conversations were about prison life. One said it was a real prison but run by psychologists and not government.
Give one issue of Zimbardo’s research.
Serious ethical issues regarding psychological harm and distress
