Conformity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnAyr0kWRGE

Video task What is conformity? How did the group (Audience) react to the order of ‘ find your own walk’?

The assessment Covers 1.1 2.1 2.2 Difference between conformity and obedience Minority influence

Conformity basics Conformity definition: In conformity it is the whole group that has the power, which differs from Obedience which the power is centralised on the authority figure. Example of conformity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPobACr9oL4 Conformity is a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behaviour in order to fit in with a group (McLeod, 2007)

Solomon Asch : Elevator experiment Originally conducted as part of the 1962 candid camera episode ‘Rear faces’

First study of conformity: Minds and models handout Jenness (1932)- Glass bottle filled with beans Aim Method Results Conclusion Since then we have identified other types of conformity

Types of conformity Normative- Asch’s line study Informational- Sherif’s study Ingratiational- Identification- Zimbardo’s prison study Types of conformity

Normative Conformity The person wants to fit in with the group The motivation is fear of rejection and public shaming Publicly accepts the views of a person but privately disagrees- Don’t get confused with Obedience here!! Asch’s line experiment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyDDyT1lDhA

Last Lesson We looked at Types of conformity Introduced Normative conformity Ashe’s line experiment

This lesson: Conformity and minority influence Identification/ Deindividuation Informational Normative Sherif (1935) experiment Asch Line Study Zimbardo prison study

Identification- deindividuation Conforming to the expectations of a social role When people lose their own identity and fall back on perceived roles What other examples can we use? Zimbardo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=760lwYmpXbceicher BBC Prison study Reicher and Haslam – handout 74/ 163

Informational conformity If you are in an unfamiliar situation and you don’t know the correct way to behave. You look to others for information about how to behave Sherif (1935) experiment- Handout page 73

Criticisms of research into conformity: page Cultural differences : a product of time and culture Handout page 76 Personality may influence independent behaviour Handout page 77

First part of assignment Distinguish between conformity and obedience Pick two types of conformity Define, and explain these two types Use two key studies to help you explain them Evaluate these studies –what is good about the study and relating to day to day) what is not so good (criticisms of the study Criticsims of conformity being situational

Minority Influence Definition Evidence to support it (studies) Further evidence to support- day to day Criticisms of minority influence

1: Definition Deviant subgroup rejects the established group norms and persuades the majority to conform to the minority attitude, belief, and behaviour pattern This thereby changes the norm Oxford Psychology Dictionary (2006)

3. An Example to support definition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_q2Aw464KI Could these be classed as Terrorists? Are there any more examples? Task: But how does the minority influence work? What does the minority group have to do?

2How does it work: Consistency: Moscovici et al 1969 handout 164 Consistency- must be consistent in their beliefs in order to change the majority This consistency leads to internalisation and lasting social norm change Wood et al (1994) –meta-analysis 97 studies found that minorities perceived as being consistent were particularly influential in changing the views of the majority For example the suffragettes in USA Their fight for the vote continued for 15 years, even when some were imprisoned.

2.Informational social influence Aiming for converting people They don’t want to scare people into conformity Imagine you are selling an idea.. How would you go about it?

2. The snowball effect Research: Clark 1994- Jury decision making Handout Page 165 Once a few majority begin to move towards the minority position, then the influence of the majority begins to gather momentum as more people gradually pay attention to the minority

4. Criticisms of the minority influence Criticise the studies what is wrong in Moscovici et al- Consistancy Clark - Snowball

Handout page 166 Other explanations: The Group Membership The Dissociation model