Social Psychology Ch 11 Conformity & Obedience

The perception of what most people do in a given situation is called a(n) __________ norm.

Descriptive**

Conformity that results from a concern about what others think of us is called __________ influence.

Normative

Kelly is at a college party and notices everyone is drinking. She concludes that the majority of students on campus must also drink alcohol frequently. What would we call Kelly's perception of what most people are doing?

A descriptive norm

Which of the following is the best definition of conformity?

Changing one's attitude or behavior to match a perceived social norm.

Shania notices that all of her high school friends have started wearing glitter eye shadow to school. She doesn't really like the look but she wants to fit in with the crowd, so she starts wearing it too. Shania has engaged in __________.

Conformity

Which historical event led directly to Milgram's research on obedience?

Correct German citizens' willingness to go along with Nazi leaders during the Holocaust.

In Asch's classic study of conformity, what were research participants asked to do?

Correct Judge the sizes of lines that were on a card held a few feet away from them.

Nora has decided to visit the new community recreation center for a swim. As she enters the change room she notices both of the two other people present put their shoes into a locker. Before she walks out to the pool she does the same. What concept helps explain her actions?

Informational influence

__________ influence refers to conformity that results from a desire to act in a manner that is clearly socially approved such as speaking softly in libraries.

Informational**

Based on your understanding of the research of Solomon Asch, you know that of all of the following choices, the person most likely to demonstrate conformity would be:

Mika, a 23-yaer old Japenese woman

Which researcher produced the famous studies of obedience that involved deceiving participants into believing that they were delivering electric shocks to a helpless victim?

Milgram

Hammond has just started working at a new job stacking items at the supermarket. He notices that most of his colleagues do stretching exercises before they begin their shift. Hammond assumes that this is a workplace regulation and also begins to do the stretching exercises. Which of the following concepts explains Hammond's behavior?

Normative influence

Under which of the following circumstances would you expect a person to demonstrate the highest level of conformity in Solomon Asch's research protocol?

Orlando has to give his choice out loud.**

Which of the following statements is true of Asch's research on conformity in groups?

Participants conformed with the group norm on about a one-third of the total trials.

Alice's Hotel has noticed that they spend a lot of money on water and electricity devoted to washing linens (towels, sheets, and pillowcases). In order to reduce this expense, the owner wants to encourage guests to reuse linens for more than one day. What would be the best way to accomplish this task?

Put a note on the bed indicating that most of their guests reuse linens, and asking this guest to do the same.

Walking down the street, Areanna is approached by a police officer. The police officer encourages Areanna to be a Good Samaritan and put money in a parking meter that's about to expire on a stranger's car. What factors might lead Areanna to obey this police officer's order and help pay for the parking meter?

She views the police officer as an authority figure

Which researcher is well known for having conducted a study of conformity that involved having participants express a judgement of the sizes of lines?

Solomon Arch

Which of the following factors does NOT influence conformity?

The age of the group

Ethical concerns have been raised about Stanley Milgram's obedience research. Specifically, some have suggested that the project caused too much distress in the participants, distress that could not be justified. If you were asked your opinion of this issue, which of the following would be a legitimate response?

The majority of participants reported that they were pleased to have participated in the research, so it does not seem to have been damaging to most of those who were involved.

What was one correct outcome of Asch's classic research on conformity in groups?

Three-quarters of the participants conformed to the incorrect group norm at least one time.

Which of the following is true of Milgram's (1963, 1965, 1974) research on obedience to authority?

With each increment of shock voltage, fewer participants obeyed, but about 65% still administered 450 volts (the highest level).

Stanley Milgram's studies on obedience (1963,1965,1974) and more recent replications have shown that:

female participants obediently shocked the experimental victims at a rate to makes in the Milgram and other studies.

Asch's study on conformity, where participants had to make line judgements, can be best explained by what concept?

normative influence

Research on social pressure and conformity suggests which of the following factors can help individuals resist conformity in a group?

observing just one person disagreeing with the majority