Conformity

A parent-toddler group meets for a trip to a soft play centre. They choose to go to MiniWorld. Julie, one of the parents, thinks MiniWorld is overpriced and would rather go to Kids’ Cave. She doesn’t say anything though, as all the other parents seem keen on MiniWorld.

Anthony always used to take his twins to Kids’ Cave. He has since joined the parent-toddler group. Anthony has heard the other parents talk about the play area at Miniworld as being better than the one at Kids’ Cave. He now takes his twins to Miniworld on the days the group does not meet.

Discuss two explanations for conformity. Refer to Julie and Anthony in your answer.

Charlie has just started at a new school. He has become friendly with a group of boys in his year group. Charlie thinks they are ‘cool’.

One day, one of the more popular boys in the group suggests they all wear their school jumpers inside-out for a week, ‘just to see what will happen’. Charlie worries about this all night but still goes to school the following day wearing his jumper inside-out.

Use your knowledge of conformity to explain Charlie’s behaviour.

Which one of the following is most associated with informational social influence?

Shade one box only.

A It is an emotional, rather than cognitive, process.

B It is based on a desire to be liked, rather than a desire to be right.

C It is more likely to lead to a permanent, rather than temporary, change in attitude.

D It occurs in unambiguous situations, rather than those where there is no obvious answer.

Researchers have identified different features of science, including:

replicability

theory construction

hypothesis testing.

Explain how Asch’s conformity research illustrates one of these features of science.

Psychologists investigating social influence have discovered several reasons why people conform.

Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform.