Myers Chapter 7: Conformity and Obedience Questions and Answers 2023 (Level A+)

conformity - --changing ones attitude and behavior to match a perceived social norm -tendency to act and think like the people around us -a change in behavior or belief as a result of real or imagined group pressure -normative influence - --conformity caused by concern of what others think of us -we dont want to be the odd one out (fitting in brings rewards such as camaraderie and compliments) -Solomon Asch line judge experiment - --example of normative influence -college student conformed to groups incorrect answer despite the fact that they knew it was wrong -increase in conformity when there is more confederates -conformity is less when confederates dont hear the response -Asch findings - --Asch varied the size of the unanimous majority in his study and found that once the majority numbered four, adding more people had little influence on conformity (4) -different cultures and conformity - --more conformity in japan/china than US (collectivist culture vs individualistic) -informational influence - --conformity that results from a concern to act in a socially approved manner as determined by how others act -people are a source of information -we go off what society has set as norms -descriptive norms - --perception of what most people do in a given situation/ how people actually behave -used when we dont know society's expectations -can be negative since we dont always know how others act (ex. binge drinking) -can be positive (ex. reducing energy use when informed that neighbors use less) -obedience - --responding to an order or command from a person in a position of authority -can be good (obey parents) -can be bad (violate ethical principles, break laws) -behavior changes as a result of commands and authority -Milgram Experiment (shock test) - --wanted to know why so many Nazis followed Hitler -experiment where one was commanded to give lethal doses of shocks -obedience decreased when learner was in the same room as experimenter and even further when teacher had to physically touch learne