Social influence Conformity

Weakest type of conformity

Compliance - superficial, least permanent change in attitudes. Public change of beliefs and behaviour to fit in. private = revert back once social pressure is removed. May not agree w group (NSI)

What is conformity

Changes in individuals behaviours and or beliefs because or real or imaginary group pressure

2nd weakest type of conformity

identification Private + public acceptance, Group = guidance, adjust belief & behaviour to them

membership = DESIRABLE + TAKE ON ROLE ; Comp + Inter factors. Accept adopted attitude & behaviour = right.

Purpose = accepted as a member

group X valuabe = MAY REVERT BACK

STrongest type of conformity

Internalization = deepest, most permanent public + private change (behavior + beliefs) to fit in

ACCEPT ATTITUDES INTO OUR OWN COGNITION

Still lasts when no group

ISI

ISI

Informative social influence

-Desire to be right when unsure of behaviour

-Seek info frm group ( assumes group = right)

-COGNITIVE PROCESS = INTERNALIZATION (public + priv change)

NSI

Normative social influence

-Liked go along w group = X ridicule + Gain acceptance + Fit in

-EMOTIONAL PROCESS= COMPLIANCE (public change= in line w group priv= revert)

AO3 Support

🙂 ISI Jennes ppt = no. jelly beans in jar → grp estimate → priv esitmate ∴ 2nd priv esti = closer to grp than own esti ∴ support; task = ambiguous = unsure of ans =go to group for info & changed estimate priv + public

🙂 NSI Asch = ABC closest to “x”

actors ans FIRST = X ans = 37% same wrong ans ∴ support as task UNAMBIGUOUS → ppt said they new ans but conformed to X ridicule

AO3 WEAKNESS

Ache = gender bias= only males = hard to generalize to females= conform more = concerned social relations + liked by peers, than males ∴ NSI= explain conformity for some ppl more than others LOWER EXTERNAL VALIDITY

Jennes= LACK ECO VAL = Study in lab env = Hard to generalize finding → ppl conform to be right = IRL = less conform = CONSEQUENCSES = REDUCE INTERNAL VALIDITY

Asch Conformity research + sample + findings

AIM= effect of majority opinion on ppl judgement

-Lab

-123 American Males

1) grp 7-9 actor

2) “x”+ ABC comparison card ( 1 same length 2 other clearly wrong)

3) ppt say which line ABC closest to X ( always last/2nd to)

4)12/18 = wrong ans by actors

FINDINGS= 37% WRONG ANSWER

post exp= majority = CONFORMED PUBLICLY BUT NOT PRIVATELY = X ridicule

CONC= SUPPORT NSI= CONFORM PULIC X PRIV TO BE LIKED

Variables effecting conformity

Group size- conformity ↑ = group size ↑ → plateau

(1 real)

1 actor = 3%

2 actor = 13%

3 actor = 32 %

Plateau after this ∴ size of majority has effect till a point

Unanimity

Complete agreement; original 37%

1 right answer frm actors = 5.5%

1 answer diff from majority answer but not right answer = 9%

∴ dissenter breaks unanimity = conformity ↓

Task difficulty

conformity ↑ = task difficulty ↑

-stimulus line “x” and ABC more similar = right ans less obvs = harder = CONFORMITY ↑

∴ ISI plays a role TASK = HARDER ∴ situation unclear = others for guidance

Right ans less obvs = lose cofidence in own ability MORE LIKLEY TO CONFORM

AO3 STRENGTH VARIABLES EFFECTING CONFORMITY

🙂 Lucas - easy + hard math problems

ppt given 3 other ans frm students (not real)

ppt conformed more = difficult

∴ support asch research BECAUSE task harder = conformity increases

AO3 WEAKNESS FACTORS AFFECTING CONFORMITY

☹ Lucas = conformity = complex ; ↑ confidence students had ↓ conformity w hard questions than low conf.

∴ individual level factor → effect conformity & situational variables ∴ asch research = limiting X show individual factors

☹ Ache = gender bias male = hard to generalize to females= conform more = concerned social relations + liked by peers, than males ∴ NSI= explain conformity for some ppl more than others LOWER EXTERNAL VALIDITY

☹Culture Bias= Individualistic culture conducted= X collectivist culture (china)= social grp > individual = more conformity to be liked REGARDLESS of variables affecting conformity LOWER EXTERNAL VALIDITY

ZIMBARDO AIM + SAMPLE

Aim= how freely ppl conform guard prisoner roleplay- recreate prison

Sample = 24 emotionally stable US males

Zimbardo procedure

Procedure

• role random

• Prisoner = arrested at home searched, deloused, smock fit + prison NO.

• Guard = Uniform, nightstick, mirror glasses KEEP UNDERCONTROLL NOO! PHYSICAL VIOLENCE

• Uniform = deindividuation = ppt to conform to role

• Stanford uni basement = prison; Regular cells, routine, shifts meals + visiting time, parole disciplinary board

• ZIMBARDO WAS SUPERINTENDANT = leave= parole process

Zimbaro AO3 weakness

☹ Gender bias= male X generalize to women; Guard role = Violent females X conform; stereotypically = caring for others ∴ ↓ INTERNAL VALIDITY( wanted to see brutality in US prison = mainly male guards = explains sample

☹ ETHICAL ISSUES ; LACK OF INFORMED CONSENT = X consent to arrest at home (take part in prison life exp)

PROTECTION FROM HARM = some = sign of psychological disturbances ∴ ↓ credibility ( extensive debriefing for years + X long lasting ☹effects + information> ethical issues - used to better prisons)

Zimbardo Finding + conclusoions

Finding =

-1 day = rebel rip of prison no. = guards lock in cell + X blankets

-Punishment= excalted = humiliations + X sleep by headcount

-IDENTIFICATION = prisoners call by prison NO. X names

-Prisoners rapidly = calm, depressed, some = srs stress-related reactions 5 released early, psychological disturbance symptoms

-2 weeks → 6 days

Conclusions =

• GUARDS + PRISONERS + RESEARCHERS = CONFORMED

• Social roles = extraordinary power over ppl, even most well adjusted ppl → extreme brutality

AO3 ZIMBARDO STRNGHT + THINK FURTHER

🙂 ↑ CONTROLL OVER EXTRANEOUS VARIABLES ( how ppt selected)

Assessed emotional stability B4 exp. + Random role assign If guard/prisoner behaved diff = due to role itself

Think further =

☹ Critsism - DEMAND CHARECTERISTICS = Zimbardo part of own study (Superintendent) ∴ influence how ppt acted ∴ ppt conform cus they thought thats what he wanted not cus social role of guard/prisoner due prison env.