Conformity and Social Influence Lecture Notes

Introduction to Conformity

• Conformity involves changing behavior or belief due to real or imagined group pressure (Aronson's definition).
• Individuals change how they behave or think because of perceived pressure from a larger group.
• Conformity differs from obedience; it involves peer groups, not authority figures.

Types of Conformity

1. Compliance

   • Superficial change in behavior or expressed beliefs.
   • Motivated by desire for social approval or avoidance of disapproval.
   • Driven by normative social influence.
   • Example: Partaking in social media trends for acceptance.

2. Identification

   • Intermediate level of conformity.
   • Behavior aligns with the group to create/strengthen social identity.
   • Influenced by relationship with the group rather than agreement with norms.
   • Example: Adopting group behaviors in social clubs or workplaces.

3. Internalization

   • Deepest level of conformity.
   • True adoption of group’s beliefs and norms.
   • Driven by the desire for correctness (informational social influence).
   • Example: Becoming an environmental advocate after group influence.

Explanations for Conformity

• Normative Social Influence (NSI):

  • Motivated by fear of social rejection.
  • Results in public conformity without private acceptance.
  • Example: Peer pressure leading to risky behaviors.

• Informational Social Influence (ISI):

  • Assumes group has more knowledge, especially in ambiguous situations.
  • Driven by the desire to make correct choices.
  • Example: Following others’ actions during emergencies.

Solomon Asch’s Conformity Study

• Conducted with male students; involved confederates giving wrong answers.
• Demonstrated NSI with participants conforming on obvious tasks.
• Key Findings:
  • 75% conformed at least once.
  • Mean conformity rate was 32%.

Variables Affecting Conformity

• Group Size: Conformity increased with group size but plateaued.
• Unanimity: Social support (an ally) significantly reduced conformity.
• Task Difficulty: Increased ambiguity led to higher conformity rates.

Evaluating Asch’s Research

• Positives: High control and internal validity due to standardized procedures.
• Critiques:
  • Lacks temporal validity (outdated study context).
  • Cultural bias with all-American samples.
  • Lacks mundane realism (not reflective of real-life conformity situations).

Dispositional Factors

• Some people have a personality that influences their likelihood to conform.
• Affiliators: Strong need to be liked, leading to higher conformity.
• Internal Locus of Control: Less likely to conform due to feeling in control.

Conformity in Real Life

• Real-world conformity is often a mix of NSI and ISI due to complex motivations and social dynamics.

Conclusion

• Understanding conformity helps in recognizing how social influence shapes behaviors and decisions.
• Future lectures will cover more on obedience and resistance to social influence.