- 3 questions
o 1. where is the
individualism?
o 2. are we more susceptible
than we believe?
o 3. is conformity bad?
§ negative connotation?
· individualism
· collectivism
§ how do we decide?
· behavior away from group
- conformity
o
changing due to real/imaged group pressure
o
types
§ compliance
· private disagreement
§ obedience
· command from authority
§ acceptance
· sincere
o
control condition = 99%
correct
o
experimental condition
§ 37% of critical trials
§ 75% conformed once
o
65% complied
o
heart condition
· 63% complied
o
ethical concerns
· excessive stress
· alter self-concept
o
what breeds obedience?
· emotional distance from
victim
o
current examples
· authority figure
o
physical presence
o
legitimate
o
in health field
· institutional authority
o
Yale vs. downtown
· effects of the group
o
liberating effect
- compliance overtakes
morality
- behavior and attitudes
o
behavior doesn’t follow attitude
o
foot-in-the-door
o
reduce dissonance by devaluing subject
- power of the situation
o
normative pressures
- fundamental attribution
error
o
anyone can be destructive, evil
- group size
o
3 to 5
o
“packaging” of group
· 2 grps
of 2 vs. 1 grp of 4
o
2 grps more credible
- unanimity
o
one dissenter deflates social power
§ deny influence of dissenter
- cohesion
o
“we” feeling
o
“own group conformity pressure”
- status
o
high have more impact
o
Milgram study
- public response
- no prior commitment
o
stick to public commitment
o
hung juries
Why
Conform?
- normative influence
o
going along
o
avoid rejection
o
social concern
o
compliance
- informational influence
o
use info provided from others
o
desire to be correct
o
acceptance
Who
Conforms?
- read on own
o
pages 235-238
- reactance
o
act to protect sense of freedom
o
offer choices
- asserting uniqueness
o
feel better if a little unique
o
assert individuality
o
distinctive attributes
o
rivalry intense with those like ourselves