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Conformity
The tendency for
people to adopt
the behaviors and
attitudes of others
in a group.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
The Asch Effect
Tendency for people to conform, even if they are
aware they are incorrect.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Conformity:
The Asch Studies
Which line matches the line on the left?
A
Standard line
1
2
3
Comparison lines
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Conformity:
The Asch Studies
What would you say if you were in a
room full of people who all picked line
number three?
A
Standard line
1
2
3
Comparison lines
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Conformity
Correct estimated (percent)
No opposition (control)
100
With partner
80
60
Alone against majority
40
20
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Critical trials
8
9
10
11
12
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Heroic Defiance
Those who are able to resist
the group conformity in the
Asch Experiment
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Group Characteristics That
Produce Conformity
Ashe identified three factors that
influence whether a person will yield
to pressure:
• The size of the majority
• The presence of a partner who dissented
from the majority
• The size of the discrepancy (between the
correct answer and the majority position)
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Groupthink
In “groupthink,” members of the group
attempt to conform their opinions to what
each believes to be the consensus of the
group.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Conditions Likely to Promote
Groupthink
•
•
•
•
•
Isolation of the group
High group cohesiveness
Dictating leadership
Lack of norms requiring methodical procedures
Homogeneity of members’ social background
and ideology
• High stress from external threats with low hope
of a better solution than that of the group leader
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
What is Bad About Groupthink
The group agrees without critically testing,
analyzing, and evaluating ideas.
Individual creativity, uniqueness, and
independent thinking are lost.
This has led to things as the
Challenger Disaster and Pearl
Harbor
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007