Conformity, Nonconformity & Influence

Forms of Social Response Agreeing with other group members is not always a sign of conformity, just as nonconformity does not always signal independence. Private Position Public Position Agree Disagree Agree Conversion, or Private acceptance Counterconformity, Or anticonformity Disagree Compliance Independence Minority Influence Occurs when a small group, defined as having a different opinion, changes the opinion of a larger group. Men, Women and Conformity Why Conform? Conformity is motivated by a desire to gain approval by others. Normative Influence -People conform to the expectation of others in order to elicit a positive reaction. -Humans are a social species and have a fundamental need for social companionship that forms the basis for normative social influence. Norms Expectations held by a group of people/society about whether behaviors or opinions are right or wrong, good or bad, acceptable or unacceptable, or appropriate or inappropriate. Informational Influence -People accept information form others as evidence of objective reality. -We conform because we believe that others interpretation of an ambiguous situation is more correct than ours and will help us choose an appropriate course of action. Prepared by: Karen Valdez Sandra Esquivel Randolf Bantayao

Conformity a. Conversion or Private Acceptance The individuals private position may have changed to match the groups position. b. Compliance Public agreement paired with private disagreement. Nonconformity a. Independence The public expression of ideas, beliefs, and judgments that are consistent with their personal standards. b. Counterconformity or Anticonformity Expressing ideas or taking actions that are opposite of whatever the group recommends.

Four Types of Social Responses

Majority Influence Means, the larger the unanimous majority facing the lone individual, the greater the rate of conformity. Ceiling Effect has two distinct meanings, referring to the level at which an independent variable no longer has an effect on a dependent variable, or to the level above which variance in an independent variable is no longer measured or estimated.