What is Conformity? Flashcards
(38 cards)
Define conformity in the context of social influence.
Conformity is a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behavior in order to fit in with a group.
Describe the types of pressure that can lead to conformity.
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.
Explain why people might conform to group behavior.
People conform to fit in with a group, often due to the influence of social norms and the desire for acceptance.
Identify examples of conformity in everyday life.
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.
Discuss the concept of non-conformity.
Non-conformity refers to the refusal to conform to established customs, attitudes, or norms, often resulting in individualism or independence from group influence.
How does conformity relate to psychological research?
Psychological research on conformity examines the factors that influence individuals to change their beliefs or behaviors in response to group pressure.
Define conformity in the context of social psychology.
Conformity is defined as yielding to group pressures, which can manifest in various forms such as bullying, persuasion, teasing, and criticism.
Describe the two main motivations behind conformity.
Conformity can be motivated by a desire to fit in and be liked (normative influence) or by a desire to be correct (informational influence).
How did Jenness study conformity in his experiment?
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.
What was the outcome of Jenness’s conformity experiment?
Almost all participants changed their individual guesses to be closer to the group estimate after discussing it.
Identify the most famous conformity experiment and its researcher.
The most famous conformity experiment was conducted by Solomon Asch in 1951, known as the line judgment experiment.
Define compliance in the context of conformity.
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.
What happens to compliance when group pressures are removed?
Compliance ceases when there are no group pressures to conform, indicating that it is a temporary behavior change.
Explain internalization as a type of conformity.
Internalization occurs when an individual genuinely accepts group norms because the behavior is intrinsically rewarding and aligns with their value system.
What did Kelman distinguish in his study of conformity?
Kelman distinguished between three types of conformity: compliance, internalization, and identification.
How does conformity relate to social roles?
Conformity can also occur as a means to conform to a social role, where individuals adjust their behavior to fit societal expectations.
Describe the deepest level of conformity.
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.
How does Sherif’s autokinetic experiment illustrate conformity?
Sherif’s autokinetic experiment demonstrates conformity by showing how individuals adjust their perceptions in ambiguous situations based on group influence.
Define identification in the context of conformity.
Identification occurs when an individual accepts influence to establish or maintain a satisfying self-defining relationship with another person or group.
What is the difference between identification and compliance?
Identification involves conforming to social roles without necessarily changing private opinions, while compliance involves publicly accepting group views but privately rejecting them.
How does ingratiational conformity differ from normative influence?
Ingratiational conformity is motivated by the desire for social rewards and acceptance, rather than the fear of rejection that characterizes normative influence.
Explain the concept of normative conformity.
Normative conformity is yielding to group pressure to fit in, often driven by the fear of rejection from the group.
What is informational conformity and when does it occur?
Informational conformity occurs when a person lacks knowledge and looks to the group for guidance, especially in ambiguous situations.
Describe the outcome of the Asch Line Study.
The Asch Line Study illustrates normative conformity, where individuals publicly accepted the group’s incorrect answers to avoid rejection.
