7: Influencing and Conforming
- Page ID
- 257593
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- Conformity occurs through both passive mimicry and active social influence, driven by two primary motivations: informational conformity (conforming to be accurate) and normative conformity (conforming to be liked). Social influence research demonstrates that majority influence typically produces more conformity than minority influence, though minorities can create powerful change when they are consistent and unanimous. Key situational factors affecting conformity include group size...
- 7.3: Obedience, Power, and Leadership
- Some individuals wield influence over others through obedience, power, and leadership. Milgram's famous experiments revealed that 65% of participants administered potentially lethal shocks when ordered by authority figures, demonstrating the powerful influence of social situations over individual morality. French and Raven identified five power types: reward, coercive, legitimate, referent, and expert power, each creating different levels of compliance versus acceptance.
- 7.4: Person, Gender, and Cultural Differences in Conformity
- Research shows minimal gender differences in conformity, with situational factors being more influential than personal traits. Women may conform slightly more in public settings to maintain social harmony, while men resist conformity to demonstrate independence. Cultural differences are significant—collectivist societies show greater conformity than individualistic ones. Psychological reactance occurs when people resist forced influence attempts, sometimes producing opposite effects.
- 7.5: Thinking Like a Social Psychologist About Conformity
- Conformity's pervasive influence in daily life, from unconscious imitation to obedience to authority. Conformity serves self-concern and other-concern goals, helping make informed decisions and gain social acceptance. Understanding conformity helps explain both positive societal functioning and negative outcomes like Abu Ghraib, while improving personal relationships and leadership effectiveness.
- 7.6: Chapter Summary
- Conformity involves changing beliefs or behaviors due to social influence. Informational conformity creates private acceptance through accurate information, while normative conformity produces public compliance to gain acceptance. Majority influence dominates, but minorities can prevail through consistency. Authority figures, group unanimity, and individual characteristics like self-esteem affect conformity levels. Psychological reactance resists forced influence.