Socinfl

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

CONFORMITY ■

Changed behavior to be similar to others. may or may not involve belief change

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Conformity, Compliance, Obedience

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Conformity is not the only cause of similarity among group members. Selfselection, and response to common situations can also produce similar behavior and beliefs.

Sherif Autokinetic Effect

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Sherif Autokinetic Effect ■

Judgments are initially different, but they converge---Subjects Conform

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People are uncertain about the extent of movement

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Both public and private judgments are affected

Asch lines

A

B

C

Asch lines Subject hears responses of 4 confederates and responds publicly ■ Confederates are often wrong Most subjects (76%) conformed on some occasions ■ Extent of conformity varied a lot--5% always conformed , 24% never conformed Overall, 1/3 of all responses were conforming responses ■ Correct answer is obvious ■ Only public conformity ■

Two Reasons For Conformity ■

INFORMATIONAL SOCIAL INFLUENCE

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NORMATIVE SOCIAL INFLUENCE

INFORMATIONAL SOCIAL INFLUENCE ■

Behavior of others provides convincing information (After test discuss test questions--relieved if others agree with your answer)

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Uncertainty

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Results in both public and private behavior change

NORMATIVE SOCIAL INFLUENCE ■

Based on internal or external pressures to act according to social norms

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Expectation that norms will be enforced, deviations will be punished in some way

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Conform to be liked, treated better, not make waves, end disagreement

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Affects public behavior, but not private attitudes

REACTIONS TO A DEVIATE SCHACTER-- Discussion of how to treat a young delinquent. ■ Almost everyone thinks kid needs love & attention, but one confederate consistently advocates strong punishment. ■ Deviant gets lots of pressure, ◆ is given low-status assignments, and is rejected. ■

Milgram Shock Study Subjects thought they were teachers & had to shock a learner ■ Each error resulted in a higher shock: From mild (15 volts) to extremely dangerous (450 volts). ■ Confederate was not really shocked, but the subjects believed the shocks were real. ■ When subjects resisted giving shocks, experimenter insisted that they give the next shock. ■

Milgram Shock Study 65 % of Subjects fully complied with the experimenter--gave 450 volt shocks. ■ Conformity varied with circumstances ◆ pounding only ◆ yelling ◆ proximity-learner in same room ◆ touch-had to force learner’s hand onto shock plate ◆ supporting role ■

CONFORMITY VARIES

PERCENT FULLY CONFORMING

70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

65% 62.5% 40% 30%

POUND YELL PROXIMITY TOUCH

CONFORMITY VARIES 100.00% 90.00% 80.00% 70.00%

RECORDER

60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00%

TAKE OVER

FACTORS AFFECTING CONFORMITY ■

STATUS--more likely to yield to a high status other (pilots 94%, gunner 63% with correct answer), high status people are given more freedom to deviate from the group norms

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SIZE--Increases conformity, but levels off quickly (4-6 PEOPLE), at least when there is no ally

SIZE AND CONFORMITY PERCENT CONFORMING

40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

AN ALLY REDUCES CONFORMITY ASCH LINES 40

PERCENT CONFORMING

35 30 25 NO ALLY ALLY

20 15 10 5 0 4 PERSON

8 PERSON

FACTORS AFFECTING CONFORMITY ■

COHESION --more conformity in a cohesive group more yielding more pressure

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CONFIDENCE ◆ -more self-confidence less conformity ◆ more group confidence more conformity

3

Confidence & Conformity

Conformity

2.5 2 1.5 Low Self Confidence 1 High Self Confidence 0.5 0 3 Low

2 Low

2 High

3 High

Confidence in Other Group

FACTORS AFFECTING CONFORMITY ■

SECURITY ◆ Marginally accepted conformed the most

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ANONYMITY ◆ More conformity in public than private

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AMBIGUITY ◆ More conformity on difficult quiz items (r = .58 to .89)

Factors Affecting Conformity ■

COMMITMENT--less conformity if previously committed to personal belief which differs from the group (written answers to Asch lines)

Commitment 7

Conformity

6 5 4 3 2 1 0 No Commitment

Magic Pad

Paper

Factors Affecting Conformity ■

COMMITMENT--can ALSO be used to increase conformity

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FOOT-IN-THE-DOOR ◆ SMALL

REQUEST FOLLOWED BY LARGE REQUEST (COMMITMENT, SELF-PERC) ◆ 17% control & 74% who displayed a 3”window sign agreed to have a yard sign

MINORITY INFLUENCE CONSISTENT ■ CONFIDENT ■ EXPERTISE ■ DEFENSIBLE ■ NOT RIGID ■ SIMILAR TO MAJORITY ■