Conformity Pre-Reading Questions

Front

What is conformity?

Back

Conformity is the act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms or expectations.

Front

What are some reasons people conform?

Back

People may conform due to social pressure, the desire for acceptance, fear of rejection, or the belief that the group is better informed.

Front

What is social influence?

Back

Social influence refers to the ways in which individuals change their behavior to meet the demands of a social environment.

Front

What is peer pressure?

Back

Peer pressure is the influence exerted by a peer group encouraging individuals to change their attitudes, values, or behaviors to conform to group norms.

Front

What is the difference between normative and informational social influence?

Back

Normative social influence is based on the desire to be liked or accepted, while informational social influence is based on the desire to be correct or to understand the right way to behave.

Front

What is groupthink?

Back

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon where the desire for harmony or conformity in a group results in irrational or dysfunctional decision-making.

Front

How can conformity impact decision-making?

Back

Conformity can lead to poor decision-making as individuals may suppress their own opinions or beliefs to align with the group.

Front

What is the Asch conformity experiment?

Back

The Asch conformity experiment was a series of studies conducted by Solomon Asch in the 1950s to investigate the extent to which social pressure from a majority group could affect a person’s willingness to conform.

Front

What role does culture play in conformity?

Back

Culture can influence the degree of conformity, with collectivist cultures often promoting conformity more than individualistic cultures.

Front

What is the concept of social norms?

Back

Social norms are the accepted behaviors within a society or group that dictate how individuals are expected to act.