social i dentiy thoery, obedience, conformity

Conformity

Changing behavior in response to group norms or expectations.

Factors affecting conformity

Normative and informational influence, culture, group size, unanimity, deindividuation, social loafing.

Normative Influence

Conforming to be accepted by others, even if one does not share the same beliefs.

Informational Influence

Conforming because one seeks to be correct and lacks sufficient information.

Example of Normative Influence

Peer pressure to engage in risky behaviors like drug use.

Example of Informational Influence

Following expert opinions during crises for safety.

Individualistic Culture

Values individual needs, promoting independence and self-reliance; less likely to conform.

Collectivist Culture

Values group needs; individuals may feel pressured to conform to avoid selfishness.

Wedding Planning – Individualistic

Couples make decisions based on personal preferences with less family influence.

Wedding Planning – Collectivist

Family plays a major role in decisions, prioritizing traditions and expectations.

Unanimity in Groups

When all members agree, normative influence increases, leading to higher conformity.

Deindividuation

Reduced self-awareness in group settings, increasing likelihood of conforming to group norms.

Antisocial Deindividuation Examples

Behaviors such as rioting or vandalism that occur in anonymous group situations.

Prosocial Deindividuation Examples

Group behaviors like cleaning after an event, demonstrating collective effort.

Reducing Antisocial Behaviors

Making individuals identifiable can decrease antisocial behaviors caused by deindividuation.

Group Size Effect on Conformity

Conformity increases with group size until a point, typically around 3-5 members.

Social Loafing

Tendency to exert less effort in a group setting; influenced by group size and type of culture.

Sucker Effect

Individuals reduce effort if they see others not contributing; avoids the feeling of being a 'sucker'.

Freerider Effect

When individuals believe their lack of effort won't affect the group's success.

Line Judgment Task (Asch, 1951) - Aim

Explore conditions causing individuals to resist or succumb to group pressures.

Asch (1951) - Sampling Methods

Used advertisements and word of mouth to recruit participants for the study.

Asch (1951) - Variables and Design

Independent variable was group pressure; dependent variable was level of conformity measured by errors.

Asch (1951) - Procedure Overview

Participants were deceived into believing they were in a memory study, while being influenced by confederates.

Asch (1951) - Critical Trials

Confederates gave incorrect answers to observe conformity levels during participant responses.

Asch (1951) - Results

74% of participants conformed at least once; 65% obeyed fully, showing strong statistical significance.

Reasons for Conforming

Included cognitive dissonance, normative, and informational influences affecting participant choices.

Asch (1951) - Data Types

Qualitative data showed emotional responses; quantitative data measured conformity rates.

Milgram (1963) - Definition of Obedience

Changing behavior in response to commands by authority figures.

Milgram (1963) - Aim of Study

Investigate how far individuals would go to obey authority.

Milgram (1963) - Participants

40 male participants recruited from a newspaper ad, aged 20 to 50.

Milgram (1963) - Procedure Overview

Participants administered shocks to learners when incorrect answers were given under the authority's pressure.

Milgram (1963) - Findings

65% went to maximum shock level; high levels of stress and emotional responses noted among participants.

Milgram (1963) - Contributions

Significant insights into the psychology of obedience and the impact of authority figures.

Milgram (1963) - Limitations

Ethical concerns of deception and psychological harm; low generalizability due to all-male sample.

Factors Affecting Obedience

Includes situational, social, and dispositional factors influencing obedience levels.

Situational Factors - Milgram

Presence of allies, proximity to the victim, and legitimacy of authority influence levels of obedience.

Social Factors - Agency

When individuals pass responsibility to authority figures, enforcing higher obedience levels.

Dispositional Factors - Authoritarian Personality

Higher willingness to submit and respect authority figures leads to increased obedience.