Sherif (1936) studied responses of the auto-kinetic effect on both groups and individuals. By placing participants in a darkened room with a minute source of light at the far end he discovered that participants were eluded and saw the light moving - this was because there was no other point of reference for them to focus on. Participants were asked how far the light was moving, when alone they would state many different answers but when groups were tested the answers of the last participants were taken as a reference for the next answer this created a group norm, this group influence was to be so powerful that when participants of the group test were to proceed as individuals those answers had become internalised and a lack of individuality was now seen amongst group. This shows that group norms still tend to influence even after the group is split. <Introductory Psychology, Malim and Birch, Macmillan press, 1998> Unfortunately this study lacks ecological validity due to its lab based conditions,(Success in Psychology, 2nd Edition, Twining, 1998) and it's focus on artificial stimuli, another factor that needs to be considered in the evaluation of this experiment is the date and time in which it was conducted, this study will only show conformity levels at the time and in the place where the study was conducted and therefore would now and here be irrelevant.(Social influence - class handout, Deborah Breithweight, 2004)
A short while after Sherif, Solomon Asch tested the perceptual abilities of a group of students, in a more realistic environment, his test involved showing each student "card A" (card A was blank apart from an 8 inch line drawn down the middle) and asked to memorise this line, then card A was replace...
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Unfortunately The word conformity has a lot of negative connotations for people in our society, To conform is on the one hand seen as being able to distinguish and act in accordance with the pro-social norms of a group and can be seen as tolerance and flexibility, but when these norms are seen by another group to be reprehensible or unacceptable the conformity will be seen as weak and feeble. (McDermott 1993, Psychology, A European Text, Zimbardo, McDermott, Jansz and Metall, 1993)
In conclusion, something happens to individuals when they collect in a group, they act differently to the way they would on their own, regardless of whether the group has gathered to solve problems, make decisions or have fun, and regardless of whether the members know each other. (Psychology in perspective, third edition, Tavris and Wade, 2001)
“Social conformity has been practiced in societies around the world since ancient times,” and the reason it is so effective is that humans have an inherent need to be accepted as part of a group (Sadat). Furthermore, Hossna Sadat reports that:
Groupthink was coined by Janis and is defined as “a psychological phenomenon in which people strive for consensus within a group”(Cherry). So people will essentially forgo their beliefs to conform to the group to obtain harmony or if they don’t agree with a group idea they will simply keep quiet about it rather than challenge ideas. Janis classified eight different “symptoms” of groupthink. They are Illusions of invulnerability, which leads the members of the group to take part in risk-taking and become overly optimistic. Unquestioned beliefs, leads the members to ignore the possible aftermath that their decisions can make. Rationalizing, hinders members from recognizing warning signs and from reexamining their own beliefs. Stereotyping, leads the members of the group to criticize or write off any other group who may have differing opinions. Self-censorship, makes group members who may have differing opinions not disclose them to the group. "Mindguards",certain members of the group who are self-appointed censors that withhold information they find may disrupt group consensus. Illusions of unanimity, leads the members of the group to think that everyone believes the same things. Direct pressure, this is put on members to conform when they do end up expressing their own opinions or the rest of the group feels as if they are having differing opinions. Janis’s work was influential because it helped us examine the
Another conformity that may hit closer to home for myself and my peers is social acceptance. As I walk through the hallways of school I see nothing more then sheep. There is not one person that stands alone in this school that truly thinks for him or herself. In some way or another every person here cares about what people may say about them. They wear the clothes that are in "style", and listen to the top 40 music selections. Even those that oppose the majority are in themselves conforming to each other.
Collective behavior is less organized but effective forms of behavior that happens spontaneously. Le Bron's contagion theory crowds have trance over the members by emerging group mind. Collective behavior reaction to event that takes place. Such as example when radio announced invasion aliens the crowd took over chaos become motivation in group. Collective behavior is push everyone towards common purpose. With hypnotic state of th...
Society is ever changing and the people are just the same. Throughout history, it is shown that people change and mold to their surroundings. But when a deeper look is taken it is revealed that there is a minority that is unwilling or unable to fit these standards as most people do. These people tend to be forced into seclusion or made to fend for themselves. This is shown through the colonization of America and up into more recent times. The Native Americans are the first to make a life on this land, and when the English set up a new society, the Natives are forced onto smaller and smaller plots of land until forced to conform or to live on a reservation. The idea of this societal conformity is shown in “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” by Sherman Alexie, a short story author. Society's pressure to improve an individual living differently is hurting more than it is helping.
Conformity is defined as the occurrence of people yielding to social pressures as a result of pressure from a group of their peers; when faced by the pressure to conform, people will alter their behaviour and actions to fit the norm demonstrated by their peers (Lilienfield et al., 2012). Conformity is studied so that is can be understood and used in society to facilitate positive outcomes, and help avoid situations where peoples’ predisposition to conform leads to negative consequences (Lilienfield et al., 2012). By understanding conformity and other social processes society as a whole is able to understand themselves better and motivates them to work on improving as a whole (Lilienfield et al., 2012).
The size of a group is considered to be a restrictive condition on the quantity and quality of connection that can transpire amongst particular members. Kephart (1950) established that as group size increases the number of relationships that exist among member’s increases greatly. He suggests that as a result of this increase in relationships among members there will be an increased tendency towards divisions into subgroups in which participants relate to one another.
As I was contemplating these questions, I began to think about examples of conformity that I had seen or read about. One text that jumped to mind was Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”. This short story takes place in an unnamed, small rural town. All of the townspeople, including men, women and children of all ages, are heading towards the town square to participate in a yearly lottery. All of them are joking and gossiping and seem to be generally good people.
Gilovich, T., & Gilovich, T. (2013). Chapter 12/ Groups. In Social psychology. New York, NY: W.W. Norton.
Conformity is defined as behavior in accordance with socially accepted conventions or standards. This is not a good or bad thing, this just is. It exists as a compliment to earlier humans congregating into larger groups, using agriculture and domestication to create sustenance. Also, conformity is essential for life. We need people to share the same ideas, ideologies and a way of thinking in order to work efficiently and effectively. There many examples that exist like, at work or in your house and even within yourself. Sigmund Freud has explained the phenomena of group psychology in a piece titled, Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego. Using Freud’s theory of conformity I will explain the self, what we call “me”,and its different constituents using The Principles of Psychology by
Conformity has its’ place, and there are many advantages to utilizing it at specific times and in specific places. For example, Logan Feys, the author of the essay, The Sociology of Leopard Man, offers, “nevertheless, being around people and their creations can be worthwhile… Most of the time you should be an active and contributing member of society,” (9 - 10). This quote expresses that conformity is necessary, for the sake of being around people, and even
According to the article “In Groups we shrink” by Carol Tavris, she contrasts the nature of groups and the nature of individuals. If one person is in a dangerous situation, he or she will seek safety on their own or go to someone for help. However when a group of people are in a bad situation, they will most likely panic and hold back on solving the problem. This is called “diffusion of responsibility” or “social loafing,” according to psychologists (Tavris 151). Carol Tavris concludes that when people are in groups, they respond differently than when they are on their own.
Diener, E. “Deindividuation: The Absence of Self-Awareness and Self-regulation in Group Members.” Psychology of Group Influence (1980)
Because I remember that one member of our team were excluded and did not really allow her to play that day because she was the only one who disagreed with my team and my coach. I cannot really tell if my teammates do that too, like compliance, conversion, independence, anticonformity, or congruence. But, I think most of the time, my team and I agreed with our group, (congruence). I personally think that the dynamic social impact theory has been demonstrated in the group is clustering. In the textbook, Forsyth wrote, “Clustering is more likely when (a) group members communicate more frequently with members who are close by and less frequently with more distant group members, and (b) if members can change locations to join similar others” (Forsyth, pg. 220). Because I do communicate frequently with some of my team members and I felt close to them but not others. I feel distant from other team member and I do not feel that I am close to them compared to other team members that I communicate with them frequently. My group exemplified French and Raven bases of power which are coercive and expert. In the textbook, the author Forsyth wrote, “coercive: the capacity to
Several experiments and researches have been conducted that have focused on how people behave in groups. The findings have revealed that groups affect peoples’ attitudes, behavior and perceptions. Groups are essential for personal life, as well as in work life.