Conformity Fall 2006

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Conformity (Chapter 8) : 

Conformity (Chapter 8)

Conformity : 

Conformity How sensitive are people to social forces?

Conformity : 

Conformity Sherif’s studies of norm formation Examined whether people will conform in absence of direct pressure

Slide 4: 

Sherif’s Study 10 8 6 4 2 0 trial 1 trial 2 trial 3 trial 4 Guess (in inches) Participant 1 Participant 2

What did Sherif’s study demonstrate? : 

What did Sherif’s study demonstrate? Informational influence Conformity that results from accepting evidence about reality provided by other people Motivated by desire to be correct Leads to acceptance – conforming because you truly believe in the behavior

Informational Influence : 

Informational Influence When does it occur? When the situation is ambiguous When others appear to be experts Mass suggestibility

Slide 7: 

Conformity Asch’s Classic Conformity Studies (1955) standard comparisons 1 2 3

Asch’s Classic Conformity Study : 

Asch’s Classic Conformity Study Again, people conformed in absence of direct pressure! 75% conformed at least once 37% of all responses were conforming

What did Asch’s study demonstrate? : 

What did Asch’s study demonstrate? Normative influence Conformity based on a person’s desire to gain approval or acceptance from others Leads to compliance – publicly conforming even though privately you don’t believe in the behavior

Normative Influence : 

Normative Influence When does it occur? When membership in the group is important When the group has at least three group members

Normative Influence : 

Normative Influence When there is unanimous consensus among group members If confederate gives non-conforming, wrong answer, conformity decreases When response is public When no prior commitment If you answer 1st, you stick to your non-conforming answer

Asch and Social Impact Theory : 

Asch and Social Impact Theory Number As number in group goes up, so does conformity (to a point) Strength As status and importance of others goes up, so does conformity Jaywalkers study Immediacy not manipulated

Compliance Techniques : 

Compliance Techniques Foot-in-the-door Technique people who have agreed to a small request are more likely to comply later with a larger, related request

Foot-in-the-Door : 

Foot-in-the-Door Drive Safely Study Some people asked first to put small sticker in window Will you put ugly billboard in yard? 65% in sticker condition said yes 20% in billboard-only condition said yes Why does this work? People don’t want to be inconsistent

Compliance Techniques : 

Compliance Techniques Low-balling Technique After getting people to agree to a small request, the requester changes the terms of the agreement Car salespeople

Low-Balling : 

Low-Balling Extra Credit Study Students asked to participate in study If told upfront study was at 7am – 31% complied If told after agreed to participate – 56% complied Why does this work? Once people make a decision, they feel committed to it

Compliance Techniques : 

Compliance Techniques Door-in-the-face Technique After a person turns down a large, unreasonable request, people are more likely to comply when the requester offers a more reasonable request.

Door-in-the-face : 

Door-in-the-face Volunteer Counseling Study Some asked first to volunteer 2 hours per week for 2 years Take kids on 2 hour trip to zoo? If refused first request – 50% complied If only asked the small request – 17% complied Why does this work? Reciprocity: requester made a concession, so we should comply

Resisting Conformity : 

Resisting Conformity Reactance: A motive to protect or restore one’s sense of freedom. Arises when someone threatens our freedom of action. Graffiti Study

Where does all this get us? : 

Where does all this get us? Explains (but does not condone!) how negative behaviors may come about