Conformity & Obedience

Definition: Social Psychology is the scientific study of how an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the real, imagined, or implied presence of others.
- Three Areas of Focus:
- Social influence
- Social cognition
- Social interaction
Sociology: Focuses on the study and classification of human societies, exploring the behavior of groups and cultures as they interact.

Definition: Conformity is the act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms.
- Prevalence: Conformity is the most common and widespread form of social influence.
- Importance: A certain amount of conformity is necessary and normal to maintain communities and coexist peacefully.
- Nature of Conformity: Conformity does not necessarily require the physical presence of others; awareness of public opinion can influence individual behavior.

Social Influence: Refers to the ways individuals are affected by the real or imagined pressures of others.
Continuum of Social Influence: Social influences vary in the degree of pressure they exert on individuals.

Study Purpose: Examine how people’s beliefs affect the beliefs of others.
Control Group: Judgments made in isolation resulted in no errors.
Results:
- Participants conformed to the majority roughly one-third of the time.
- 70% of participants conformed at least once during the study.
Factors Strengthening Conformity:
- The group’s unanimity.
- A group size of at least four people.

Definition: Unwritten rules that dictate acceptable behavior within a society or group, influencing individual actions and interactions.
Example: At a high school dance, a common social norm is for students to dress formally.
- Expected Attire: Typically, boys wear suits or dress shirts while girls wear dresses.
- Consequence of Non-conformity: Students who wear casual attire may feel out of place or receive questioning looks from peers, illustrating the pressure to conform.

Normative Influence:
- Definition: Influence leading to conformity due to fear of negative social consequences for appearing deviant.
- Consequences of Deviance: Individuals deviating from group norms may face disapproval, rejection, ridicule, or dismissal.
Informational Influence:
- Definition: The tendency to accept information from others as evidence about reality, significant when the correct action or belief is uncertain.
- Example of Influence: In uncertain situations, individuals may respond with, "Sure, everyone else is doing it."

Definition: Changing one’s behavior in response to a direct command from an authority figure, often a person with social power.
Symbols of Authority: Can include titles, uniforms, badges, or perceived success of the authority figure.

Nuremberg Trials (1945): Military and political leaders of defeated Nazi Germany faced trials for war crimes.
- Defense Used: Many defendants claimed obedience to orders, stating, "I was given an order and had to obey it."
Quote by C.P. Snow: "Far more, and far more hideous, crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have ever been committed in the name of rebellion."

Aim: To measure the willingness of participants to obey an authority figure instructing them to perform acts conflicting with their personal conscience.
Methodology: Participants were prompted with phrases such as:
- "Please continue (or please go on)…"
- "The experiment requires that you continue…"
- "It is absolutely essential that you continue…"
- "You have no other choice; you must go on…"

Obedient Participant Rate: In the initial study with 40 male participants:
- Participants administered an average of 27 out of 30 possible shocks.
- 26 out of 40 participants (65%) delivered the maximum punishment of 450 volts.

Authority: Destructive obedience typically requires the physical presence of a prestigious authority figure.
The Victim: Physical separation from the victim allows for emotional distance from the consequences of actions.
The Procedure: Removal of the sense of responsibility for the victim’s welfare enhances obedience.

Social Facilitation: A process where the presence of others enhances performance on easy tasks.
Social Impairment (Social Inhibition): Performance is poorer when individuals are observed by others.
- Reason: The presence of others increases arousal and potential response.
- Example: Skilled athletes performing better under audience observation.
Social Loafing: The tendency of individuals to exert less effort when they function as part of a group.
- Sucker Effect: Occurs when individuals withhold effort to avoid being the "sucker" who does all the work.
Deindividuation: The loss of individual identity and normal constraints on deviant behavior, typically in large crowds.
- Effects: Increased anonymity and decreased self-awareness can lead to violent or deviant behavior.
Group Polarization: The enhancement of shared beliefs through group discussions; can be both beneficial and dangerous.
- Modern Context: The Internet fuels group polarization, allowing like-minded individuals to exchange ideas and radicalize opinions while hiding their true identities.
Groupthink: A phenomenon where group cohesion is prioritized over critical assessment of facts or alternative viewpoints during decision-making.
- Prevention Strategies: Encourage group members to express dissenting opinions to minimize conflict and promote critical evaluation of decisions.