Conformity, Obedience, and Peer Influence (7B) - Psych & Soc

Which concept best explains obeying harmful orders by shifting blame to authority?

Agentic state (diffusion of responsibility to authority). People see themselves as agents carrying out others' wishes.
In Asch-style line judgments, which influence (normative or informational) best fits conforming despite knowing you are right?

Normative social influence. Person conforms to avoid standing out, not for accuracy.
What did Milgram's shock experiments primarily demonstrate?

Obedience to authority even when actions conflict with conscience. Ordinary people will harm others under authority pressure.
Identify the term for changing private beliefs to match the group (not just outward behavior).

Internalization. Genuine belief change, not just behavioral.
Identify the type of influence: You copy peers' answers because the task is ambiguous.

Informational social influence. Uncertainty leads to using others as information source.
What did Asch's line study primarily demonstrate about conformity?

People conform to group answers even when the group is wrong. Asch's study showed that social pressure from a majority can override perceptual accuracy.
In Milgram-style obedience, which condition generally increases obedience: authority nearby or authority distant?

Authority nearby increases obedience. Physical proximity strengthens authority's influence.
What is social facilitation?

Improved performance on simple tasks in the presence of others. Arousal from audience enhances dominant responses.
What is group polarization?

Group discussion strengthens the group's initial average position. Groups shift toward more extreme versions of their initial views.
Identify the influence type: in an ambiguous crisis, you follow others as correct.

Informational social influence. Using others' behavior to determine correct response in uncertainty.
What is group polarization?

Group discussion strengthens the group's initial average position. Like-minded people reinforce each other's views.
What did Asch's line-judgment studies primarily demonstrate?

Group pressure can induce conformity despite clear evidence. About 75% conformed at least once to obviously wrong answers.
What is the bystander effect?

Reduced helping when other bystanders are present. The bystander effect arises from social cues that dilute individual responsibility in group settings.
What is deindividuation?

Loss of self-awareness and restraint in a group, often with anonymity. Group immersion reduces individual accountability.
What is compliance as a form of social influence?

Behavior change in response to a direct request. Unlike conformity, requires explicit asking.
What is obedience in social psychology?

Following direct orders from an authority figure. Compliance specifically due to perceived legitimate power.
What is pluralistic ignorance in the context of emergencies?

Assuming nothing is wrong because others appear unconcerned. Misreading others' calm as evidence of non-emergency.
What is private acceptance (internalization) in conformity?

Genuine belief change to match the group. Person truly adopts the group's beliefs as their own.
Which option best predicts higher conformity: unanimity or a single dissenter?

Unanimity. Even one dissenter dramatically reduces conformity pressure.
Identify the condition that increases normative influence the most.

High need for acceptance or fear of social rejection. Social approval needs override independent judgment.
Which option best predicts lower conformity: unanimous majority or presence of a dissenter?

Presence of a dissenter. One dissenter breaks unanimous pressure dramatically.
Identify the term: a group suppresses dissent to preserve unanimity and cohesion.

Groupthink. Members self-censor to maintain group harmony.
Which influence best explains conforming because the situation is ambiguous and others seem knowledgeable?

Informational social influence. Uncertainty makes us rely on others as information sources.
What is social inhibition (audience inhibition)?

Worsened performance on complex tasks in the presence of others. Arousal impairs performance on unfamiliar tasks.
What is social loafing?

Reduced individual effort when working in a group. Individual contributions seem less identifiable in groups.
What is the key mechanism of informational social influence?

Conforming because others are seen as a source of correct info. People assume the group knows better in uncertain situations.
Identify the concept: a highly cohesive team suppresses dissent and ignores alternatives to maintain harmony.

Groupthink. Consensus-seeking overrides critical thinking.
What did Milgram's obedience studies primarily demonstrate?

Ordinary people may obey authority despite harming others. Showed situational power over individual morality.
What is group polarization?

Group discussion strengthens the group's initial attitudes. Like-minded people reinforce each other's views.
Which condition most strongly increases informational influence: ambiguous or unambiguous situations?

Ambiguous situations. Uncertainty makes people rely on others for information.
What did Asch's line-judgment studies primarily demonstrate?

Normative conformity to an incorrect majority. Participants conformed to obviously wrong answers due to group pressure.
In Asch-type settings, what happens to conformity when one ally dissents?

Conformity drops sharply. Breaking unanimity reduces pressure to conform.
What is identification (as a form of conformity)?

Conforming to adopt behaviors of a valued group or role model. Desire to be like admired individuals drives behavior.
Which type of conformity involves adopting behaviors to be like a specific person or group?

Identification. Motivated by desire to emulate admired individuals/groups.
What is conformity in social psychology?

Changing behavior or beliefs to match group norms. Driven by desire to fit in or be accepted by the group.
What is compliance (as distinct from obedience) in social influence?

Behavior change due to a direct request without authority. Lacks formal power, unlike obedience to authority.
What did Milgram's experiment primarily demonstrate about obedience?

Ordinary people may obey authority even when harming others. Milgram's work revealed that situational factors like authority can compel harmful actions against moral judgments.
What is diffusion of responsibility?

Assuming others will act, so personal obligation to help decreases. Each bystander thinks someone else will intervene.
Which type of conformity is private acceptance of group norms?

Internalization. Person genuinely adopts the group's beliefs as their own.
What is compliance (as distinct from obedience) in social influence?

Behavior change in response to a direct request (not authority). Differs from obedience as requester lacks formal authority.
In Asch-type tasks, what happens to conformity when there is one dissenting ally?

Conformity drops sharply. Breaking unanimity reduces normative pressure.
Identify the term: adopting behaviors primarily to be liked and accepted by peers.

Normative peer influence. Social approval motivates behavior change regardless of accuracy.
Which type of conformity occurs when behavior changes but private beliefs do not?

Compliance. Compliance reflects superficial adherence to group norms publicly while maintaining differing personal views.
Which option best predicts higher obedience: authority nearby or distant?

Authority nearby. Physical proximity increases authority's influence.
In Asch-type tasks, what group condition most increases conformity?

Unanimous majority. Even one dissenter dramatically reduces conformity pressure.
What is peer influence?

Attitude or behavior change caused by same-status others. Peers share similar social position or age group.
What is social inhibition (audience effect) on complex tasks?

Worsened performance on difficult tasks in the presence of others. Arousal impairs performance on non-dominant tasks.
Identify the term for publicly going along with the group while privately disagreeing.

Compliance (public conformity without private acceptance). Outward conformity maintains while beliefs unchanged.
Identify the concept: A person gives the "right" opinion publicly to fit in but disagrees privately.

Compliance. Compliance involves outward agreement to conform socially without altering underlying personal opinions.
What is compliance in social influence?

Publicly agreeing with a request without necessarily believing it. External behavior changes without internal attitude change.
What is compliance (as distinct from obedience) in social influence?

Behavior change due to a direct request without authority. Compliance involves yielding to explicit requests from peers without hierarchical power enforcing the change.
What is the key mechanism of normative social influence?

Conforming to gain acceptance or avoid social rejection. People conform to be liked and avoid standing out negatively.
What did Milgram's obedience experiments primarily demonstrate?

Ordinary people may obey authority even when actions conflict with morals. 65% delivered maximum shock despite victim's protests.
Identify the term: conforming publicly while privately disagreeing with the group.

Compliance (public conformity without private acceptance). Outward conformity maintains while internal beliefs unchanged.
Identify the concept: You help because you think others will judge you for not helping.

Normative social influence. Normative influence motivates actions to meet social expectations and avoid negative judgments from others.
Which factor increases obedience in a Milgram-like situation?

Authority is physically present and perceived as legitimate. Proximity and legitimacy enhance compliance.
Which type of conformity is public behavior change without private belief change?

Compliance. Surface-level conformity without genuine belief change.
In Milgram-type settings, what happens to obedience when authority is distant?

Obedience decreases. Physical proximity strengthens authority's influence.
Which option best predicts higher conformity: private response or public response?

Public response. Visibility increases normative pressure to conform.
Identify the influence type: You go along with friends to avoid being mocked, despite disagreeing.

Normative social influence. Fear of rejection drives compliance despite disagreement.
What did Zimbardo's Stanford prison study primarily demonstrate?

Role adoption and situational power can produce abusive behavior. Guards became cruel when given power over prisoners.
Identify the factor: conformity increases as group size rises, then levels off.

Group size effect with diminishing returns. Conformity plateaus around 3-5 members; adding more has little effect.
In Asch-style tasks, what happens to conformity when the group is unanimous versus not unanimous?

Unanimity increases conformity; any dissent reduces it. Even one dissenter breaks the majority's power.
What is internalization as an outcome of social influence?

Private acceptance of a belief that persists without group pressure. The belief becomes part of one's own value system.
What is compliance (as distinct from conformity and obedience)?

Behavior change in response to a direct request. Differs from conformity (no request) and obedience (no authority).
What is obedience in social psychology?

Following a direct order from a perceived authority figure. Obedience stems from hierarchical structures where individuals follow commands from those perceived as legitimate authorities.
Identify the influence type: You adopt a belief because the group seems better informed.

Informational social influence. You trust the group's expertise over your own judgment.
What is identification (as a type of conformity)?

Adopting behaviors to match a valued group or role model. Involves both public and private change to be like admired group.
What is identification as an outcome of social influence?

Adopting behaviors to align with a valued person or group. Motivated by desire to be like admired individuals.
What is diffusion of responsibility?

Assuming others will act, reducing personal duty to help. Diffusion of responsibility distributes the sense of duty among bystanders, lessening each person's motivation to intervene.
Which type of influence is most likely when a situation is ambiguous?

Informational social influence. Uncertainty makes people rely on others for guidance.
What is the fundamental finding of Milgram's obedience studies?

People obey authority even when it conflicts with conscience. Showed ordinary people will harm others under authority.
What is identification in the context of conformity?

Adopting behaviors to align with a valued group or role. Intermediate between compliance and internalization.
What is groupthink?

Faulty group decision-making driven by pressure for consensus. Desire for harmony overrides critical thinking.
What is group polarization?

Group discussion strengthens the group's initial attitudes or decisions. Like-minded discussion amplifies shared views.
Identify the concept: peers increase risk-taking only when watching an adolescent.

Peer influence via normative social influence (impression management). Teens want to appear daring to gain peer approval.
Which type of conformity involves private acceptance of the group norm?

Internalization. Person genuinely adopts the group's beliefs as their own.
What is social inhibition (audience effect) in social psychology?

Worsened performance on complex tasks when others are present. Arousal impairs performance on difficult or new tasks.
Identify the term: changing private beliefs to match the group's position.

Internalization. Genuine belief change, not just surface compliance.
What did Asch's line study primarily demonstrate?

Conformity to an incorrect majority in an unambiguous task. Social pressure overrides obvious perceptual evidence.
Which type of conformity occurs when private beliefs and public behavior both change?

Internalization. Internalization represents deep acceptance where group norms become integrated into one's personal belief system.
What did Milgram's studies demonstrate about obedience?

Ordinary people may obey authority even when harming others. 65% delivered maximum shock under experimenter pressure.
What is compliance (as distinct from obedience) in social influence?

Changing behavior due to a direct request without authority. Differs from obedience as requester lacks formal power.
What is groupthink?

Prioritizing group harmony over critical evaluation of ideas. Groupthink suppresses dissent to maintain cohesion, leading to flawed decision-making in cohesive groups.
Identify the concept: You copy others' actions in an emergency because you are unsure.

Informational social influence. Using others as information source in uncertainty.
Which type of conformity is private belief change to match the group?

Internalization. Deep acceptance where group beliefs become personal beliefs.
What factor in Milgram's paradigm most reliably reduced obedience?

Greater distance from the authority and closer proximity to the victim. Physical separation weakens authority's influence.
Which phenomenon best explains helping less when more bystanders are present?

Bystander effect (often via diffusion of responsibility). Responsibility spreads thin among multiple observers.
What is public compliance (public conformity) as an outcome?

Outward agreement without private acceptance. Surface-level conformity while maintaining private beliefs.
In Asch's paradigm, what is the effect of having one dissenting ally?

Conformity drops substantially when at least one ally dissents. Breaking unanimity reduces normative pressure dramatically.
What did Asch's line studies primarily demonstrate about conformity?

People conform to incorrect group answers under social pressure. Showed normative influence overrides perception.
What is public compliance (without private acceptance)?

Outward conformity while privately disagreeing. Creates dissonance between behavior and true beliefs.
What is public compliance as an outcome of social influence?

Outward conformity without private acceptance. Going along publicly while privately disagreeing.
What is social inhibition (audience effects) in performance?

Worsened performance on complex tasks in the presence of others. Arousal impairs non-dominant responses.
What did Asch's line-judgment studies primarily demonstrate?

Normative conformity to an incorrect majority. People conformed to avoid social disapproval, not confusion.
Which type of conformity is public agreement without private acceptance?

Compliance. Person conforms outwardly but maintains private beliefs.
Which option best describes the bystander effect?

Helping decreases as the number of bystanders increases. Responsibility dilutes among witnesses, reducing individual action.
What is compliance (as distinct from conformity and obedience)?

Behavior change in response to a direct request. No explicit authority; person chooses whether to comply.
What is social facilitation?

Others' presence improves performance on well-learned tasks. Social facilitation enhances performance on simple tasks due to arousal from an audience's presence.
Identify the concept: You copy others' actions in an unclear situation because they seem correct.

Informational social influence. Informational influence guides behavior in ambiguous scenarios by assuming others possess accurate knowledge.
Which option best distinguishes normative from informational influence?

Normative: acceptance; Informational: accuracy/uncertainty reduction. Key distinction: social approval vs. being correct.
What is obedience as a form of social influence?

Following orders from an authority figure. Key feature is the hierarchical power relationship.
What did Milgram's obedience experiments primarily demonstrate?

Ordinary people may obey authority even when causing harm. 65% delivered maximum shock when ordered by experimenter.
What is internalization in attitude change?

Private acceptance of a belief as truly correct. Deepest level of attitude change; becomes part of value system.
What is identification in attitude change?

Adopting beliefs or behaviors to align with a valued person or group. Maintains relationship through shared attitudes/behaviors.
In Asch's paradigm, which group condition most reduces conformity?

Presence of at least one ally giving the correct answer. Breaking unanimity dramatically reduces conformity pressure.
Identify the concept: a person helps less in a crowd because they assume someone else will act.

Diffusion of responsibility. Responsibility spreads across all potential helpers.
What is the bystander effect?

Decreased likelihood of helping as the number of bystanders increases. Responsibility dilutes across multiple observers.
In Asch's paradigm, what is the effect of having one dissenting ally?

Conformity decreases substantially. Breaking unanimity empowers individuals to resist pressure.
What is compliance as a form of social influence?

Publicly agreeing with a request without internal belief change. External conformity without genuine attitude change.
What did Asch's line-judgment studies primarily demonstrate?

Group pressure can produce normative conformity to an incorrect majority. 75% conformed at least once to obviously wrong answers.
In Milgram's study, what change most decreased obedience: authority proximity or victim distance?

Greater authority distance (less proximity) decreased obedience. Remote authority reduces the immediate pressure to obey compared to close victim proximity in variations.
In Asch's paradigm, what is the effect of having one ally who dissents?

Conformity decreases substantially. Breaking unanimity empowers individual resistance.
In Asch's line studies, what did the presence of one dissenter reduce most?

Conformity to an incorrect majority. Breaking unanimity dramatically reduces conformity pressure.
In Milgram's obedience research, what key factor most increased obedience?

Perceived legitimacy and proximity of the authority figure. Closer, credible authorities elicit more compliance.
In Asch-type tasks, what change most reduces conformity?

Presence of at least one ally who dissents. Breaking unanimity reduces normative pressure to conform.
What is informational social influence?

Conforming because others are seen as a source of truth. Informational influence leads to conformity when individuals rely on the group's judgment in ambiguous situations.
What is group polarization?

Group discussion strengthens the group's initial average tendency. Risk-seeking groups become riskier; cautious groups more cautious.
What did Asch's line studies primarily demonstrate about conformity?

People conform to an incorrect majority judgment under group pressure. Showed power of normative influence on perception tasks.
Which change decreases Milgram-style obedience more: authority absent or victim distant?

Authority absent. Physical presence of authority is crucial for obedience.
What is social inhibition (the harder-task side of social facilitation)?

Presence of others impairs performance on complex or novel tasks. Arousal interferes with learning new responses.
Which type of influence is most likely when group acceptance is highly valued?

Normative social influence. Social approval becomes the primary motivation.
Which factor most strongly increases conformity: unanimity present or one ally dissenting?

Unanimity present (no dissenting ally). Even one dissenter dramatically reduces conformity pressure.
Identify the concept: A person changes attitudes to reduce inconsistency after publicly agreeing with a group.

Cognitive dissonance. Discomfort from inconsistency motivates attitude change.
What did Asch's line-judgment studies primarily demonstrate?

Normative influence can produce conformity to an incorrect majority. Showed people conform even when answer is obviously wrong.
What is social inhibition (audience effects)?

Worsened performance on complex tasks in the presence of others. Arousal interferes with tasks requiring concentration.
Which type of conformity is public change without private acceptance?

Compliance. Person outwardly conforms but maintains original beliefs.
Identify the influence type: you copy others' answers because you think they know better.

Informational social influence. Seeking accuracy through perceived expertise of others.
Which option best describes diffusion of responsibility?

Perceived personal obligation to act decreases in a group. Each person assumes others will take action instead.
Identify the influence type: you agree with friends to avoid being excluded.

Normative social influence. Social approval needs override personal beliefs.
What is compliance (as distinct from obedience) in social influence?

Behavior change in response to a direct request from another person. Unlike obedience, no authority figure is involved.
What is normative social influence?

Conforming to gain approval or avoid social rejection. Driven by need to belong rather than being right.
What did Asch's line-judgment studies demonstrate about conformity?

Group pressure can induce public conformity to wrong answers. About 75% conformed at least once despite obvious errors.
Which influence is most likely when a task is ambiguous: normative or informational?

Informational social influence. Uncertainty makes people look to others for guidance.
Which change typically increases obedience in Milgram-type situations: authority nearby or distant?

Authority nearby. Physical proximity enhances authority's influence.
Identify the condition that increases informational influence the most.

Ambiguous situation (uncertainty about the correct response). People look to others when unsure of correct answer.
Which influence is most likely when a task is ambiguous: normative or informational?

Informational social influence. Uncertainty makes people seek guidance from others.
Which concept best explains not helping because others are present?

Diffusion of responsibility. Shared responsibility reduces individual action.
What is pluralistic ignorance in group settings?

Privately rejecting a norm while assuming others accept it. Creates false consensus through mutual misperception.
What is compliance as distinct from obedience?

Changing behavior due to a request without formal authority. No power dynamic exists, unlike obedience.
What is pluralistic ignorance in emergencies?

Misreading others' calm as a sign no help is needed. Pluralistic ignorance occurs when individuals interpret others' inaction as evidence that no emergency exists.
What is compliance (as distinct from obedience)?

Publicly changing behavior in response to a direct request. Differs from obedience as no authority is involved.
What is compliance (as distinct from obedience)?

Behavior change due to a direct request without authority. Differs from obedience as requester lacks formal power.
Identify the concept: In a crowd, a person feels anonymous and acts impulsively or aggressively.

Deindividuation. Deindividuation diminishes self-control due to anonymity, enabling atypical aggressive or impulsive actions.
Which influence is most likely when public evaluation is salient: normative or informational?

Normative social influence. Fear of judgment motivates conforming to fit in.
What is informational social influence?

Conforming because others are viewed as a source of correct information. Assumes others know better in ambiguous situations.
What did the Stanford prison experiment primarily demonstrate?

Situational roles can drive abusive or submissive behavior. Normal people adopted cruel behaviors matching assigned roles.
What did Milgram's experiments primarily demonstrate about obedience?

Ordinary people may obey authority even when harming others. Revealed situational power over individual morality.
What did Milgram's experiments primarily demonstrate about obedience?

Ordinary people may obey authority even when harming others. Revealed power of situational forces over morality.
In Asch studies, how does group size affect conformity (general pattern)?

Conformity rises with size up to about $3$ – $4$ , then levels off. Minimal groups still exert pressure; larger adds little.
In Asch's paradigm, which factor most reduced conformity: unanimity or group size?

Breaking unanimity (presence of a dissenter) reduced it most. Unanimity strongly influences conformity; a single ally disrupts the group's consensus pressure.
Identify the concept: a person helps only after seeing others help first.

Pluralistic ignorance (social proof guides interpretation). Others' actions serve as cues for appropriate behavior.
In Asch-style tasks, what is the effect of having one ally who dissents from the majority?

Conformity decreases substantially. Breaking unanimity empowers individual judgment.
Which type of conformity is private acceptance of group norms?

Internalization. Person genuinely adopts the group's beliefs as their own.
What did Milgram's experiments primarily demonstrate?

High obedience to authority even when harming others. 65% delivered maximum shocks when ordered by experimenter.
Which factor most increases obedience: authority nearby or authority absent?

Authority nearby (high legitimacy and surveillance). Proximity increases perceived legitimacy and monitoring.
Identify the concept: In a crowd, a person vandalizes property due to anonymity and arousal.

Deindividuation. Loss of self-awareness enables antisocial behavior.
What is compliance as a form of social influence?

Behavior change in response to a direct request. Unlike obedience, no authority figure is involved.
In Milgram's paradigm, what change reliably reduced obedience?

Authority absent or giving orders by phone. Distance reduces authority's psychological power and monitoring.
What did Milgram's obedience experiments primarily demonstrate?

Ordinary people may obey authority even when causing harm. Revealed power of situational forces over moral judgment.
Identify the concept: After discussion, a cautious group decision becomes even more cautious.

Group polarization. Group polarization intensifies shared inclinations through reinforcing discussions within like-minded groups.
Which term fits: people exert less effort on a group rope-pull than alone?

Social loafing. Individual effort decreases when pooled with others.
Which option best predicts higher conformity: ambiguous task or clear task?

Ambiguous task. Uncertainty increases reliance on others' judgments.
In Milgram's findings, what situational factor increased obedience most?

Greater perceived legitimacy/proximity of the authority. Physical presence of credible authority maximizes compliance.
Identify the concept: group members take riskier positions after discussion.

Group polarization. Initial tendencies become more extreme in groups.
What is public compliance in conformity?

Outward conformity without internal belief change. Person acts conformist but maintains private disagreement.
In Asch line studies, what did the critical trials measure?

Conformity to an incorrect majority judgment. Participants judged obvious line lengths incorrectly.
Which influence is most likely when group acceptance is salient: normative or informational?

Normative social influence. Fear of rejection motivates conforming to group norms.
Which type of conformity involves outward change without private acceptance?

Compliance. Person conforms publicly but maintains private beliefs.
What is internalization as an outcome of social influence?

Private acceptance of a belief that persists without group pressure. Belief becomes part of one's value system permanently.
What is deindividuation?

Loss of self-awareness and restraint in groups or anonymity. Deindividuation reduces personal accountability, fostering impulsive behavior in anonymous group contexts.
What is identification as an outcome of social influence?

Adopting behaviors to align with a valued person or group. Motivated by desire to be like an admired group or person.
What is group polarization?

Group discussion strengthens the group's initial leanings. Group polarization amplifies preexisting attitudes through persuasive arguments and social comparison during discussions.
What is conformity in social psychology?

Adjusting behavior or beliefs to match group norms. This process occurs when individuals align with group standards due to social pressure or uncertainty about correct behavior.
What is normative social influence?

Conforming to be liked or accepted and avoid rejection. Normative influence drives conformity to gain social approval and avoid disapproval from the group.
What did Milgram's studies primarily demonstrate?

High obedience to authority even when harming others. 65% delivered maximum shock despite victim protests.
Which condition increases obedience in Milgram-type settings: authority nearby or authority remote?

Authority nearby (physically present). Physical proximity enhances authority's influence.
In Asch studies, what is the effect of unanimity on conformity?

Unanimity increases conformity; one dissenter sharply reduces it. Breaking unanimity empowers independent judgment.
Identify the concept: You change your answer because "everyone else chose it."

Normative social influence. Conforming for social approval, not accuracy.
Which factor increases conformity more: unanimous majority or nonunanimous majority?

Unanimous majority. Even one dissenter breaks the pressure to conform.
What is social loafing?

Reduced individual effort when working in a group. Social loafing happens because individuals feel their contributions are less noticeable in collective efforts.
Identify the influence type: you publicly agree with peers but privately disagree.

Normative social influence (public compliance without belief change). Conforming to avoid rejection while maintaining private beliefs.
Which change reduces conformity the most in an Asch-type task?

Having at least one ally who dissents. Breaking unanimity empowers independent judgment.
What is the Asch conformity paradigm primarily designed to measure?

Conformity to group judgments in an unambiguous task. Tests normative influence using clearly wrong answers.

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