Conformity, Compliance, and Obedience
William Hill
9 min read
Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers social influence, focusing on conformity, compliance, and obedience. Key concepts include informational and normative social influence, the Asch, Milgram, and Stanford Prison experiments, the foot-in-the-door/door-in-the-face phenomena, groupthink, and roles. It explores factors influencing these concepts and provides practice questions and exam tips.
#Social Psychology: Conformity, Compliance, and Obedience
Hey there, future AP Psych master! Let's get you prepped for test day with this supercharged guide. We're diving into the fascinating world of social influence – how we're shaped by the people around us. Get ready to ace it! 🚀
#Conformity
Conformity is all about fitting in – adjusting our behavior or attitudes to match a group standard. It's a powerful force, and understanding it is key for the exam.
There are two main types of social influence that drive conformity:
- Informational Social Influence: We conform because we believe the group is more knowledgeable than we are. Think of it as "wisdom of the crowd" – we accept the group's version of reality. 🧠
- Normative Social Influence: We conform to gain approval and avoid rejection. It's about fitting in and being liked.💯
#The Asch Experiment
The classic Asch Experiment perfectly illustrates conformity. Subjects were asked to identify which line matched a standard line, but confederates (actors) deliberately gave the wrong answer. The real subject often conformed, even when the correct answer was obvious.
- Key takeaway: People conform to avoid ridicule or feeling "weird."
- Bonus: If even one person dissents, conformity drops significantly.
Think of Asch as All Subjects Conforming Heavily. It's all about the lines!
#Factors Influencing Conformity
Several factors can increase the likelihood of conformity. Keep these in mind for MCQs and FRQs:
- Feeling incompetent or insecure 😕
- Being in a group of three or more people 🤝
- Being in a group where everyone agrees 🤗
- Admiring the group's status or attractiveness 😍
- Having no prior commitment to a response 🤔
- Being from a collectivist culture (emphasizing group harmony)
#Unconscious Conformity
Conformity can happen without us even realizing it!
- Automatic Mimicry (aka the Chameleon Effect 🦎): Unconsciously imitating others' expressions, postures, and tones. This helps us empathize. 🔊
Mirroring someone's expressions can make them like you more!
#Groupthink
Groupthink is when the desire for harmony in a group overrides realistic thinking. People suppress their dissenting opinions to maintain peace. ☮️
- Example: The Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. Pressure to launch led to ignoring a warning, resulting in disaster. 🚀
- Prevention: Leaders should encourage diverse viewpoints.
Practice Question
json
{
"mcqs": [
{
"question": "In the Asch conformity experiments, what was the primary reason participants conformed to the group's incorrect answers?",
"options": [
"They genuinely ...
How are we doing?
Give us your feedback and let us know how we can improve