Conformity Is A Type Of Social Behavior - 1595 Words

Conformity is a type of social behaviour which involves a change in an individuals belief/ behaviour in order to fit in with a group. This change is either due to imagined or real group pressure. Real group pressure is when there is the physical presence of others and imagined group pressure involves the pressure of social norms( expected appropriate behaviour). Conformity can be positive or negative e.g. being quiet in a library is an example of positive conformity and joining in with a group bullying someone is negative conformity. There are various factors which help determine the level of conformity including group size, individuals status within the group and unanimity. Obedience is a type of social influence which involves compliance†¦show more content†¦In 1932, Jenness carried out a study into conformity. Students were shown a jar of beans and were asked to estimate how many beans were in the jar. After estimating they were given consent to discuss their results wit h other people. The students were then asked to guess again. This time their results were much closer together. This shows that the group discussions impacted upon the students estimates and produced a group norm. The Participants would stick to this group norm even when they were on their own again. In 1935, Sherif conducted a study similar to jenness’ known as the Autokinetic Effect. This is a perceptual illusion in which a stationary point of light seen in darkness appears to move. His aim was to demonstrate that people conform to group norms when they are put in an ambiguous situation. First, the participants were shown the light individually and were asked to estimate how far and in which direction it moved. For each participant an average was calculated. The participants were then grouped together in threes and each member of the group continued to be asked to give their estimates out loud and were not told to reach a group decision. The participants were then tested on own. The results were each individuals estimate varied widely but over 100 trials they settles down to a narrow range with a consistent central value. After a few exposures the judgements of the group tended to converge. When participants again gave theirShow MoreRelatedConformity Is A Type Of Social Influence1596 Words   |  7 PagesConformity is one of the basic characteristics of human behavior. According to Saul McLeod (2016), â€Å"conformity is a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behavior in order to fit in with a group.† Humans as a species have always exhibited behavior implying that they have a desire to socially connect to some type of group. Everyone conforms at some point in some shape or form, even if it is not deliberate or drastic. 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