5 - Conformity and Obedience

conformity that results from a concern for what other people think of us

normative influence

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: A. Mika, a 23-year old Japanese woman B. Guilermo, a 62-year old Italian man C. Sven, a 42-year old Swedish man D. Marie, a 50-year old French woman

A - Mika, a 23-year old Japanese woman

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 __________. A. conformity B. obedience C. compliance D. groupthink

A - conformity

Which of the following is true of Milgram's (1963, 1965, 1974) research on obedience to authority? A. with each increment of shock voltage, fewer participants obeyed, but about 65% still administered 450 volts (the highest level) B. with each increment of shock voltage, a similar proportion of participants obeyed until the highest level (450 volts), where about 35% complied C. approximately two-thirds of participants refused to continue participation well before the highest level (450 volts) D. approximately one-third of participants complied at the highest level of shock (450 volts)

A - 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: A. participants in the Milgram studies who believed they were shocking victims to the maximum displayed significant distress in later follow up B. female participants obediently shocked the experimental victim at a rate similar to males in the Milgram and other studies C. under conditions similar to Milgram's, about 90% of people would shock others if ordered to do so by a credible figure from a respected institution D. for the minority who resisted the shocking orders, they were more likely to resist early, and were more likely to be female participants

B - female participants obediently shocked the experimental victim at a rate similar to males in the Milgram and other studies

__________ 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. A. in-group B. informational C. normative D. culture-based

B - informational

In Asch's classic study of conformity, what were research participants asked to do? A. taste cups of coffee and figure out which cups had the same amount of sugar added B. judge the sizes of lines that were on a card held a few feet away from them C. listen to musical notes and indicate which was the loudest D. determine which colors matched and which were different

B - judge the sizes of lines that were on a card held a few feet away from them

Research on social pressure and conformity suggests which of the following factors can help individuals resist conformity in a group? A. a very large group size, which decreases pressure on individuals B. observing just one person disagreeing with the majority C. being from a collectivist society with the desire to prove one's competence D. being observed by other members, which increases individual accuracy

B - observing just one person disagreeing with the majority

Which of the following factors does NOT influence conformity? A. the collectivist culture of the group B. the age of the group C. the unanimity of the group D. the size of the group

B - the age of the group

The perception fo what most people do in a given situation is called a(n) _____________ norm. A. influential B. informational C. descriptive D. conformational

C - descriptive

Conformity that results from a concern about what others think of us is called __________ influence. A. populist B. homeostatic C. normative D. informational

C - normative

In Stanley Milgram's research examining obedience, the participant was able to discontinue the experiment only after what took place? A. the participant offered to return the check he/she had received for being part of the research B. the participant began to raise his/her voice, indicating true distress or irritation C. the participant stated that he/she did not want to continue participating 4 consecutive times D. the participant stood up from his/her seat

C - the participant stated that he/she did not want to continue participating 4 consecutive times

Which researcher produced the famous studies of obedience that involved deceiving participants into believing that they were delivering electric shocks to a helpless victim? A. hollingsworth B. leininger C. milgram D. asch

C. milgram

Which historical event led directly to Milgram's research on obedience? A. the slave trade from Africa to the United States B. the Bolshevik revolution in Russia C. the virtual eradication of Native Americans by the settlers in the United States D. German citizens' willingness to go along with Nazi leaders during the Holocaust

D - German citizens' willingness to go along with Nazi leaders during the Holocaust

Under which of the following circumstances would you expect a person to demonstrate the highest level of conformity in Solomon Asch's research protocol? A. Anquaan has to indicate his answer by pressing the associated number on a keyboard B. Yadier has to tell his selection by holding up one, two or three fingers C. Marsha has to write down her answer and submit it to the experimenter D. Orlando has to give his choice out loud

D - Orlando has to give his choice out loud

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. conformational bias B. conformity observation C. informational influence D. a descriptive norm

D - a descriptive norm

Which of the following is the best definition of conformity? A. performing a specific behavior at the direct request of an authority figure B. agreeing to a direct request to engage in a particular behavior C. communicating a direct desire to have another person alter a previously held attitude D. changing one's attitude or behavior to match a percieved social norm

D - changing one's attitude or behavior to match a percieved social norm

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? A. obedience B. normative influence C. fixed action patterns D. informational influence

D - informational influence

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? A. fixed action patterns B. obedience C. normative influence D. informational influence

D - informational influence

Asch's study on conformity, where participants had to make line-judgments, can be best explained by what concept? A. descriptive norms B. obedience to authority C. informational influence D. normative influence

D - normative influence

Which of the following statements is true of Asch's research on conformity in groups? A. participants who resisted appeared distressed, while those who conformed were calm B. participants who conformed appeared distressed, while those who resisted were calm C. about two-thirds of participants agreed with the group against their beliefs, but did appear distressed D. participants conformed with the group norm on about one-third of the total trials

D - participants conformed with the group norm on about 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? A. put a picture of the ocean in the bedroom with a note that says, "save the environment. reuse you linens" B. offer a 1% reduction in the room cost for reusing linens for more than one day C. put a card in the bathroom asking guests to reuse for the good of the environment D. put a note on the bed indicating that most of their guests reuse linens, and asking this guest to do the same

D - 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? A. she has seen the police officer ask others who have disobeyed B. the stranger who needs help is not around or close to her in proximity C. she suspects the police officer is off duty and friends with the stranger D. she views the police officer as an authority figure

D - 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 judgment of the sizes of lines? A. james carlsmith B. leon festinger C. stanley milgram D. soloman asch

D - soloman asch

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? A. Milgram conducted a follow-up survey of his participants, and most of them indicated that they were very angry at having been deceived. This means that the research was likely unethical B. Milgram's participants were paid for their participation, so there is no legitimacy to the statement that the research was unethical C. Milgram's research was certainly unethical, because he conducted it even though he was advised not to do so by his University's Institutional Review Board (IRB) D. 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

D - 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? A. very few of the research participants "fell" for the trick because the correct answer was too obvious B. more conformity was found in people who came from an individualistic society than those who were from a collectivist culture C. men were far more likely than women to conform to a group norm D. three-quarters of the participants conformed to the incorrect group norm at least one time

D - three-quarters of the participants conformed to the incorrect group norm at least one time

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

conformity

the perception of what most people do in a given situation

descriptive norms

conformity that results from a concern to act in a socially approved manner as determined by how others act

informational influence

responding to an order or command from a person in a position of authority

obedience