Conformity Pre-Reading Questions

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What is conformity?

Back

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

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What are some reasons people conform?

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

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What is social influence?

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

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What is peer pressure?

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

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What is the difference between normative and informational social influence?

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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.

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What is groupthink?

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

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How can conformity impact decision-making?

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Conformity can lead to poor decision-making as individuals may suppress their own opinions or doubts in favor of group consensus.

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What is the Asch conformity experiment?

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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.

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What role does culture play in conformity?

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

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What is the concept of social norms?

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