9.4
Conformity
Conformity is the change in a person’s behavior to go along with the group, even if that person does not agree with the group.
Asch’s Original Study
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Individuals are undoubtedly shaped by others, and social influences—whether unconscious or overt—affect thoughts and behaviors.
For instance, at a busy street intersection, someone wanting to cross safely will wait for the correct symbol. However, when joined by a group of others—who seem to be in a hurry and start walking when they’re not supposed to—that same person follows suit to fit in rather than look out of step.
This phenomenon in which people match their behaviors to group norms is referred to as conformity.
In this case, the influence can be normative—resulting from a concern of what others might think.
Given a different dilemma, for example, when the guy is not sure what bin to put his empty coffee cup in, he watches several folks toss theirs away. Now, he’s relying on an informational influence—one in which a group provides the source of guidance and information on how to act.
The power of conformity—“everyone else is doing it”—showcases part of human nature, for better or worse, that cooperates with behaviors and values of the group or culture at hand.
Q1: What is conformity and why do people conform to group behavior?
Conformity is the change in a person's behavior to align with group norms, even when they disagree with the group. People conform due to two motivations: normative social influence, where they seek acceptance and fear ridicule, and informational social influence, where they believe the group has correct information. Both drive individuals to match group behaviors and values.
Q2: What did Asch's line experiment reveal about group pressure on individual judgment?
Asch's 1950s experiments showed that 76% of participants conformed to group pressure at least once by selecting an obviously incorrect line when confederates gave wrong answers. This phenomenon, called the Asch effect, demonstrates the influence of group majority on individual judgment, even when the correct answer is clear and unambiguous.
Q3: How does the size of a group affect conformity rates?
Conformity increases with majority size up to approximately seven people. Beyond seven members, conformity levels off and may slightly decrease. This upper limit suggests that adding more group members beyond a certain threshold does not proportionally increase conformity pressure on individuals.
Q4: What role does the presence of a dissenter play in conformity?
The presence of even one dissenter dramatically reduces conformity rates to near zero. When at least one group member disagrees with the majority, individuals are far more likely to resist group pressure and maintain their own judgment, demonstrating that social support significantly weakens conformity effects.
Q5: Why are public responses more likely to lead to conformity than private ones?
Public responses increase conformity because individuals fear social judgment and ridicule from others. When responses are private, such as writing answers anonymously, conformity decreases significantly. This distinction explains why government elections use secret voting to prevent coercion and protect individual choice from group pressure.
Q6: What is the difference between normative and informational social influence?
Normative social influence occurs when people conform to fit in and gain acceptance, driven by concern about others' opinions. Informational social influence happens when people conform because they believe the group possesses correct information, particularly in ambiguous situations. The Asch line task demonstrated normative influence since the correct answer was obvious.
Q7: How do individual characteristics affect conformity to group pressure?
Research shows that conformity rates vary based on participants' age, gender, and socio-cultural background. Additionally, overall conformity rates may have decreased since Asch's original studies, suggesting that historical context and personal demographics significantly influence how likely individuals are to yield to group pressure.