MCAT Psychological Social Foundations Flashcards: 7b Conformity Obedience Peer Influence

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This deck focuses on 7b Conformity Obedience Peer Influence, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for MCAT Psychological Social Foundations.

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Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Which concept best explains obeying harmful orders by shifting blame to authority?

Answer: Agentic state (diffusion of responsibility to authority). People see themselves as agents carrying out others' wishes.

Flashcard 2: In Asch-style line judgments, which influence (normative or informational) best fits conforming despite knowing you are right?

Answer: Normative social influence. Person conforms to avoid standing out, not for accuracy.

Flashcard 3: What did Milgram's shock experiments primarily demonstrate?

Answer: Obedience to authority even when actions conflict with conscience. Ordinary people will harm others under authority pressure.

Flashcard 4: Identify the term for changing private beliefs to match the group (not just outward behavior).

Answer: Internalization. Genuine belief change, not just behavioral.

Flashcard 5: Identify the type of influence: You copy peers' answers because the task is ambiguous.

Answer: Informational social influence. Uncertainty leads to using others as information source.

Flashcard 6: What did Asch's line study primarily demonstrate about conformity?

Answer: 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.

Flashcard 7: In Milgram-style obedience, which condition generally increases obedience: authority nearby or authority distant?

Answer: Authority nearby increases obedience. Physical proximity strengthens authority's influence.

Flashcard 8: What is social facilitation?

Answer: Improved performance on simple tasks in the presence of others. Arousal from audience enhances dominant responses.

Flashcard 9: What is group polarization?

Answer: Group discussion strengthens the group's initial average position. Groups shift toward more extreme versions of their initial views.

Flashcard 10: Identify the influence type: in an ambiguous crisis, you follow others as correct.

Answer: Informational social influence. Using others' behavior to determine correct response in uncertainty.

Flashcard 11: What is group polarization?

Answer: Group discussion strengthens the group's initial average position. Like-minded people reinforce each other's views.

Flashcard 12: What did Asch's line-judgment studies primarily demonstrate?

Answer: Group pressure can induce conformity despite clear evidence. About 75% conformed at least once to obviously wrong answers.

Flashcard 13: What is the bystander effect?

Answer: Reduced helping when other bystanders are present. The bystander effect arises from social cues that dilute individual responsibility in group settings.

Flashcard 14: What is deindividuation?

Answer: Loss of self-awareness and restraint in a group, often with anonymity. Group immersion reduces individual accountability.

Flashcard 15: What is compliance as a form of social influence?

Answer: Behavior change in response to a direct request. Unlike conformity, requires explicit asking.

Flashcard 16: What is obedience in social psychology?

Answer: Following direct orders from an authority figure. Compliance specifically due to perceived legitimate power.

Flashcard 17: What is pluralistic ignorance in the context of emergencies?

Answer: Assuming nothing is wrong because others appear unconcerned. Misreading others' calm as evidence of non-emergency.

Flashcard 18: What is private acceptance (internalization) in conformity?

Answer: Genuine belief change to match the group. Person truly adopts the group's beliefs as their own.

Flashcard 19: Which option best predicts higher conformity: unanimity or a single dissenter?

Answer: Unanimity. Even one dissenter dramatically reduces conformity pressure.

Flashcard 20: Identify the condition that increases normative influence the most.

Answer: High need for acceptance or fear of social rejection. Social approval needs override independent judgment.

Flashcard 21: Which option best predicts lower conformity: unanimous majority or presence of a dissenter?

Answer: Presence of a dissenter. One dissenter breaks unanimous pressure dramatically.

Flashcard 22: Identify the term: a group suppresses dissent to preserve unanimity and cohesion.

Answer: Groupthink. Members self-censor to maintain group harmony.

Flashcard 23: Which influence best explains conforming because the situation is ambiguous and others seem knowledgeable?

Answer: Informational social influence. Uncertainty makes us rely on others as information sources.

Flashcard 24: What is social inhibition (audience inhibition)?

Answer: Worsened performance on complex tasks in the presence of others. Arousal impairs performance on unfamiliar tasks.

Flashcard 25: What is social loafing?

Answer: Reduced individual effort when working in a group. Individual contributions seem less identifiable in groups.

Flashcard 26: What is the key mechanism of informational social influence?

Answer: Conforming because others are seen as a source of correct info. People assume the group knows better in uncertain situations.

Flashcard 27: Identify the concept: a highly cohesive team suppresses dissent and ignores alternatives to maintain harmony.

Answer: Groupthink. Consensus-seeking overrides critical thinking.

Flashcard 28: What did Milgram's obedience studies primarily demonstrate?

Answer: Ordinary people may obey authority despite harming others. Showed situational power over individual morality.

Flashcard 29: What is group polarization?

Answer: Group discussion strengthens the group's initial attitudes. Like-minded people reinforce each other's views.

Flashcard 30: Which condition most strongly increases informational influence: ambiguous or unambiguous situations?

Answer: Ambiguous situations. Uncertainty makes people rely on others for information.

Flashcard 31: What did Asch's line-judgment studies primarily demonstrate?

Answer: Normative conformity to an incorrect majority. Participants conformed to obviously wrong answers due to group pressure.

Flashcard 32: In Asch-type settings, what happens to conformity when one ally dissents?

Answer: Conformity drops sharply. Breaking unanimity reduces pressure to conform.

Flashcard 33: What is identification (as a form of conformity)?

Answer: Conforming to adopt behaviors of a valued group or role model. Desire to be like admired individuals drives behavior.

Flashcard 34: Which type of conformity involves adopting behaviors to be like a specific person or group?

Answer: Identification. Motivated by desire to emulate admired individuals/groups.

Flashcard 35: What is conformity in social psychology?

Answer: Changing behavior or beliefs to match group norms. Driven by desire to fit in or be accepted by the group.

Flashcard 36: What is compliance (as distinct from obedience) in social influence?

Answer: Behavior change due to a direct request without authority. Lacks formal power, unlike obedience to authority.

Flashcard 37: What did Milgram's experiment primarily demonstrate about obedience?

Answer: 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.

Flashcard 38: What is diffusion of responsibility?

Answer: Assuming others will act, so personal obligation to help decreases. Each bystander thinks someone else will intervene.

Flashcard 39: Which type of conformity is private acceptance of group norms?

Answer: Internalization. Person genuinely adopts the group's beliefs as their own.

Flashcard 40: What is compliance (as distinct from obedience) in social influence?

Answer: Behavior change in response to a direct request (not authority). Differs from obedience as requester lacks formal authority.

Flashcard 41: In Asch-type tasks, what happens to conformity when there is one dissenting ally?

Answer: Conformity drops sharply. Breaking unanimity reduces normative pressure.

Flashcard 42: Identify the term: adopting behaviors primarily to be liked and accepted by peers.

Answer: Normative peer influence. Social approval motivates behavior change regardless of accuracy.

Flashcard 43: Which type of conformity occurs when behavior changes but private beliefs do not?

Answer: Compliance. Compliance reflects superficial adherence to group norms publicly while maintaining differing personal views.

Flashcard 44: Which option best predicts higher obedience: authority nearby or distant?

Answer: Authority nearby. Physical proximity increases authority's influence.

Flashcard 45: In Asch-type tasks, what group condition most increases conformity?

Answer: Unanimous majority. Even one dissenter dramatically reduces conformity pressure.

Flashcard 46: What is peer influence?

Answer: Attitude or behavior change caused by same-status others. Peers share similar social position or age group.

Flashcard 47: What is social inhibition (audience effect) on complex tasks?

Answer: Worsened performance on difficult tasks in the presence of others. Arousal impairs performance on non-dominant tasks.

Flashcard 48: Identify the term for publicly going along with the group while privately disagreeing.

Answer: Compliance (public conformity without private acceptance). Outward conformity maintains while beliefs unchanged.

Flashcard 49: Identify the concept: A person gives the "right" opinion publicly to fit in but disagrees privately.

Answer: Compliance. Compliance involves outward agreement to conform socially without altering underlying personal opinions.

Flashcard 50: What is compliance in social influence?

Answer: Publicly agreeing with a request without necessarily believing it. External behavior changes without internal attitude change.

Flashcard 51: What is compliance (as distinct from obedience) in social influence?

Answer: Behavior change due to a direct request without authority. Compliance involves yielding to explicit requests from peers without hierarchical power enforcing the change.

Flashcard 52: What is the key mechanism of normative social influence?

Answer: Conforming to gain acceptance or avoid social rejection. People conform to be liked and avoid standing out negatively.

Flashcard 53: What did Milgram's obedience experiments primarily demonstrate?

Answer: Ordinary people may obey authority even when actions conflict with morals. 65% delivered maximum shock despite victim's protests.

Flashcard 54: Identify the term: conforming publicly while privately disagreeing with the group.

Answer: Compliance (public conformity without private acceptance). Outward conformity maintains while internal beliefs unchanged.

Flashcard 55: Identify the concept: You help because you think others will judge you for not helping.

Answer: Normative social influence. Normative influence motivates actions to meet social expectations and avoid negative judgments from others.

Flashcard 56: Which factor increases obedience in a Milgram-like situation?

Answer: Authority is physically present and perceived as legitimate. Proximity and legitimacy enhance compliance.

Flashcard 57: Which type of conformity is public behavior change without private belief change?

Answer: Compliance. Surface-level conformity without genuine belief change.

Flashcard 58: In Milgram-type settings, what happens to obedience when authority is distant?

Answer: Obedience decreases. Physical proximity strengthens authority's influence.

Flashcard 59: Which option best predicts higher conformity: private response or public response?

Answer: Public response. Visibility increases normative pressure to conform.

Flashcard 60: Identify the influence type: You go along with friends to avoid being mocked, despite disagreeing.

Answer: Normative social influence. Fear of rejection drives compliance despite disagreement.

Flashcard 61: What did Zimbardo's Stanford prison study primarily demonstrate?

Answer: Role adoption and situational power can produce abusive behavior. Guards became cruel when given power over prisoners.

Flashcard 62: Identify the factor: conformity increases as group size rises, then levels off.

Answer: Group size effect with diminishing returns. Conformity plateaus around 3-5 members; adding more has little effect.

Flashcard 63: In Asch-style tasks, what happens to conformity when the group is unanimous versus not unanimous?

Answer: Unanimity increases conformity; any dissent reduces it. Even one dissenter breaks the majority's power.

Flashcard 64: What is internalization as an outcome of social influence?

Answer: Private acceptance of a belief that persists without group pressure. The belief becomes part of one's own value system.

Flashcard 65: What is compliance (as distinct from conformity and obedience)?

Answer: Behavior change in response to a direct request. Differs from conformity (no request) and obedience (no authority).

Flashcard 66: What is obedience in social psychology?

Answer: Following a direct order from a perceived authority figure. Obedience stems from hierarchical structures where individuals follow commands from those perceived as legitimate authorities.

Flashcard 67: Identify the influence type: You adopt a belief because the group seems better informed.

Answer: Informational social influence. You trust the group's expertise over your own judgment.

Flashcard 68: What is identification (as a type of conformity)?

Answer: Adopting behaviors to match a valued group or role model. Involves both public and private change to be like admired group.

Flashcard 69: What is identification as an outcome of social influence?

Answer: Adopting behaviors to align with a valued person or group. Motivated by desire to be like admired individuals.

Flashcard 70: What is diffusion of responsibility?

Answer: 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.

Flashcard 71: Which type of influence is most likely when a situation is ambiguous?

Answer: Informational social influence. Uncertainty makes people rely on others for guidance.

Flashcard 72: What is the fundamental finding of Milgram's obedience studies?

Answer: People obey authority even when it conflicts with conscience. Showed ordinary people will harm others under authority.

Flashcard 73: What is identification in the context of conformity?

Answer: Adopting behaviors to align with a valued group or role. Intermediate between compliance and internalization.

Flashcard 74: What is groupthink?

Answer: Faulty group decision-making driven by pressure for consensus. Desire for harmony overrides critical thinking.

Flashcard 75: What is group polarization?

Answer: Group discussion strengthens the group's initial attitudes or decisions. Like-minded discussion amplifies shared views.

Flashcard 76: Identify the concept: peers increase risk-taking only when watching an adolescent.

Answer: Peer influence via normative social influence (impression management). Teens want to appear daring to gain peer approval.

Flashcard 77: Which type of conformity involves private acceptance of the group norm?

Answer: Internalization. Person genuinely adopts the group's beliefs as their own.

Flashcard 78: What is social inhibition (audience effect) in social psychology?

Answer: Worsened performance on complex tasks when others are present. Arousal impairs performance on difficult or new tasks.

Flashcard 79: Identify the term: changing private beliefs to match the group's position.

Answer: Internalization. Genuine belief change, not just surface compliance.

Flashcard 80: What did Asch's line study primarily demonstrate?

Answer: Conformity to an incorrect majority in an unambiguous task. Social pressure overrides obvious perceptual evidence.

Flashcard 81: Which type of conformity occurs when private beliefs and public behavior both change?

Answer: Internalization. Internalization represents deep acceptance where group norms become integrated into one's personal belief system.

Flashcard 82: What did Milgram's studies demonstrate about obedience?

Answer: Ordinary people may obey authority even when harming others. 65% delivered maximum shock under experimenter pressure.

Flashcard 83: What is compliance (as distinct from obedience) in social influence?

Answer: Changing behavior due to a direct request without authority. Differs from obedience as requester lacks formal power.

Flashcard 84: What is groupthink?

Answer: Prioritizing group harmony over critical evaluation of ideas. Groupthink suppresses dissent to maintain cohesion, leading to flawed decision-making in cohesive groups.

Flashcard 85: Identify the concept: You copy others' actions in an emergency because you are unsure.

Answer: Informational social influence. Using others as information source in uncertainty.

Flashcard 86: Which type of conformity is private belief change to match the group?

Answer: Internalization. Deep acceptance where group beliefs become personal beliefs.

Flashcard 87: What factor in Milgram's paradigm most reliably reduced obedience?

Answer: Greater distance from the authority and closer proximity to the victim. Physical separation weakens authority's influence.

Flashcard 88: Which phenomenon best explains helping less when more bystanders are present?

Answer: Bystander effect (often via diffusion of responsibility). Responsibility spreads thin among multiple observers.

Flashcard 89: What is public compliance (public conformity) as an outcome?

Answer: Outward agreement without private acceptance. Surface-level conformity while maintaining private beliefs.

Flashcard 90: In Asch's paradigm, what is the effect of having one dissenting ally?

Answer: Conformity drops substantially when at least one ally dissents. Breaking unanimity reduces normative pressure dramatically.

Flashcard 91: What did Asch's line studies primarily demonstrate about conformity?

Answer: People conform to incorrect group answers under social pressure. Showed normative influence overrides perception.

Flashcard 92: What is public compliance (without private acceptance)?

Answer: Outward conformity while privately disagreeing. Creates dissonance between behavior and true beliefs.

Flashcard 93: What is public compliance as an outcome of social influence?

Answer: Outward conformity without private acceptance. Going along publicly while privately disagreeing.

Flashcard 94: What is social inhibition (audience effects) in performance?

Answer: Worsened performance on complex tasks in the presence of others. Arousal impairs non-dominant responses.

Flashcard 95: What did Asch's line-judgment studies primarily demonstrate?

Answer: Normative conformity to an incorrect majority. People conformed to avoid social disapproval, not confusion.

Flashcard 96: Which type of conformity is public agreement without private acceptance?

Answer: Compliance. Person conforms outwardly but maintains private beliefs.

Flashcard 97: Which option best describes the bystander effect?

Answer: Helping decreases as the number of bystanders increases. Responsibility dilutes among witnesses, reducing individual action.

Flashcard 98: What is compliance (as distinct from conformity and obedience)?

Answer: Behavior change in response to a direct request. No explicit authority; person chooses whether to comply.

Flashcard 99: What is social facilitation?

Answer: Others' presence improves performance on well-learned tasks. Social facilitation enhances performance on simple tasks due to arousal from an audience's presence.

Flashcard 100: Identify the concept: You copy others' actions in an unclear situation because they seem correct.

Answer: Informational social influence. Informational influence guides behavior in ambiguous scenarios by assuming others possess accurate knowledge.