Conformity

ConformityConformitycan also be simply defined as yielding to group pressures (Crutchfield, 1955). Conformity is also known asmajority influence(or group pressure).Behaving in the same way as most other people in a group.When an individual adheres to group norms and standards, it is called conformity.

Conformity

Conformity - a "change in a person's behavior or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or a group of peopleConforming is acting at odds with one's beliefs or perceptions because others are acting that way. Conformityis a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behavior in order to fit in with a group.Anti-conformity is not the same thing as non-conformity. It is acting contrary to the desires and expectations of others (norms) as a reaction to the others.

In many situations, we are uncertain how to think or to act. We use the behavior of others to help us figure out what is going on in the situation and what to do about it.Informational social influence occurs when we conform because we see other people as a source of information. We conform because we believe that others interpretation of an ambiguous situation is more correct than ours and will help us choose an appropriate course of action.

Man (1969)states that the essence of conformity is yielding to group pressure. He identified three types of conormity: Normative, informational and ingratiationalKelman (1958)distinguished betweenthree different types of conformity: Compliance, Internalization and identification .

Types of Social Conformity

Normative ConformityInformational ConformityYielding to group pressure because a person wants to fit in with the group. Conforming because the person is scared of being rejected by the group.This type of conformity usually involves compliance where a person publicly accepts the views of a group but privately rejects them.This usually occurs when a person lacks knowledge and looks to the group for guidance or when a person is in an ambiguous (i.e. unclear) situation.This type of conformity usually involves internalization where a person accepts the views of the groups and adopts them as an individual.

ComplianceInternalizationPublicly changing behavior to fit in with the group while privately disagreeing.In other words, conforming to the majority (publicly), in spite of not really agreeing with them (privately).Publicly changing behavior to fit in with the group and also agreeing with them privately.Ingratiational ConformityIdentificationWhere a person conforms to impress or gain favor/acceptance from other people.It is similar to normative influence but is motivated by the need for social rewards rather than the threat of rejection, i.e., group pressure does not enter the decision to conform.Conforming to the expectations of a social role.Similar to compliance, there does not have to be a change in private opinion.

Why conform?

A.Informational influence- Behavior of others might convince us that our original judgment was incorrect. The group's behavior provides valuable info about what is expected.B.Wish to avoid punishment(such as rejection or ridicule) or gain rewards. We are concerned about our social image and outcomes.C.Groups create barriers to independent behavior.1.Risk of disapproval from other group members. By deviating too far, individuals risk rejection.2.Lack of perceived alternatives. A member may not realize he has any other choice but conformity. (In Milgram experiments, subjects were told they had no other choice.)3.Fear of disrupting the group's operations. People fear independence will hamper the attainment of group goals.

4.Absence of communication among group members. Lacking information that others might join in the nonconforming action, they avoid going out on a limb.5.No feeling of responsibility for group outcomes. Members who conform may cause a group to fail to meet its objectives. They hesitate to take the initiative to turn the situation around, especially if they do not feel personally responsible for the group's success or failure.6.A sense of powerlessness. If a person feels that he cannot change the situation, he is unlikely to try anything new. The apathy becomes self-fulfilling. No one tries anything different, and consequently, nothing improves.

Characteristics of conformityInfluence by peers: People have the need to fit in with the societynot many people dare to be different. Psychologists have discovered that even the most independent-minded of us will conform to social pressure when we are with a group of peopleEmphasis on importance: People see being accepted by others and the sense of belonging as something much more important than actually being right or wrong in a situation. Regulates behaviour: The fact that people want to be alike and to beable to relate to others makes it easier for their personal views tobe manipulated by the group norm, sometimes, a look of disapproval canbe enough for someone to keep their viewpoints quiet and decide toagree with the majority.

Behaviour similarities to peers: Often with people within the samesocial section, such as of the same age, gender, race, or religion, tend to act like and behaviour by a member of these social groups thatdoesnt fit in with the tendencies it would be frowned upon withintheir social group.Psychological need to be accepted: If someone persistently refuses toagree with the group, he or she is frequently rejected and ignored.Humans have the need to be in groups and have people to relate to, weall need some form or companionship, and for this reason most of ustend to tweak our attitudes slightly if these cause people to not wantto be around us.

When Will People Conform to Normative Social Influence?1. When the Group Size is Three or More: conformity does not increase much after group size reaches 4 or 5 other people (Figure 8.6).2. When the Group is Important: Normative pressures are much stronger when they come from people whose friendship, love, or respect we cherish. 3. When One Has No Allies in the Group: when only one other person gave the right answer, the level of conforming to the group dropped to only 6% (from 32%). This influence explains how members of cults or other groups can maintain beliefs that seem ridiculous to most others.

4. When the Groups Culture is Collectivistic: Differences in cultures individualist vs. collectivist orientation have implications for conformity. Berry (1967) suggested that hunting cultures will favor independence while agricultural cultures will favor cooperation and conformity. 5. The Effect of Low Self-Esteem: Some evidence suggests that people with low self-esteem are more likely to conform. 6. Gender Differences in Conformity: The difference between men and women appears most in group-pressure situations where conformity occurs in public; in private the difference virtually disappears.

What increases or decreases conformity?A.Unanimity Conformity was most likely when all the confederates agreed. If one of the confederates disagreed, even if it was also an incorrect answer, the participant was significantly less likely to conform.

B.Group size- i) With only one confederate- 3% of participants conformed ii) With two confederates- 14% of participants conformed iii) With three confederates- 32% of participants conformed iv) Larger group- did not increase the rate of conformity v) Very large group- decreased the level of conformity

C.Cohesiveness. The more attracted individuals are to the group, the more likely they are to conform to its dictates.

D.Status(of the person who is being asked to obey). George C. Homans takes the view that both high and low status individuals conform less than those intermediate in status. He reasons that one deviation is unlikely to risk the position of a high status person, and that low status people have little to lose by nonconformity. E.Self esteem. Individuals who have a generally low opinion of themselves are far more likely to yield to group pressure than those with high self-esteem. Participants with hight self-esteem were less likely to confrom to incorrect responses.F.Culture. Norwegians conform more than the French. Japanese students are more willing to take a minority position than American Students.

G.Publicity and surveillance. The greater the publicity and surveillance associated with the behavior, the greater the conformity. H.Prior commitment. Once people have given an answer, they are much more likely to stick with it than when they hear others first. Those who state own opinions first are much less open to influence. I.Legitimacy of authority. We have been conditioned to believe that scientists are responsible, benevolent people of high integrity. J.Closeness of authority. When orders were given by telephone, the number of fully obedient subjects dropped to 25%.

K.Personality. Studies have tended to look at similar people in strong situations. Dissimilar people in weak situations may show more differences. i.e. put Mother Theresa and Charles Manson together in an everyday situation, and personality may play a more prominent role.L.Difficulty and ambiguity. The more difficult the task or the more ambiguous the stimulus, the greater the conformity. Where the task is difficult, we are more likely to look to others as sources of information regarding appropriate courses of action.M.Allocation of resources. Equitable sharing of resources heightens people's tendency to comply and requires less surveillance to produce compliance.N.Guilt. When we commit a wrong, we feel guilty. We seek to atone by complying with another person's wishes.

O. Confidence When individuals feel that they are more competent to make decisions with regard to a field of expertise, they are less likely to conform. P. Dissent As soon as there's someone who disagrees, or even just dithers or can't decide, conformity is reducedQ. Self-presentation if one is trying to present himself as intelligent, he will be perceived as more intelligent if he does not conform (when the influence attempts are obvious to the audience)R. Need for individuation the desire to maintain ones uniqueness makes individual less conformingS. Desire for personal control People who have desire to make their control on group will not conformT. Conformity and mood Moods can have complex effects on conformity, but there's some evidence that we're more likely to conform when we're in a good mood than a bad mood