A key question arising from conformity research is what variables determine the extent to which an individual will yield to group pressure. Identifying the factors that increase or decrease conformity is a central problem in social psychology.

Factors Influencing Conformity

Deindividuation is a psychological state that can occur in group settings, characterized by a person feeling a sense of anonymity. This feeling leads to a diminished sense of self and a reduction in personal accountability for one's actions.

Deindividuation

The mass conformity and obedience observed in Nazi Germany during World War II serves as a stark historical example of the negative potential of social influence. It demonstrates how unquestioningly following malevolent authority figures and conforming to immoral group norms can lead people to commit extreme acts of harm, including atrocities against humanity and mass murder.

Example of Destructive Conformity and Obedience: Nazi Germany

A new employee joins a team that is deciding on a logo for a project. The employee privately thinks Logo A is the most effective. However, during the meeting, every other team member passionately argues in favor of Logo B. When it's the employee's turn to speak, they state that they also believe Logo B is the best choice. Which of the following statements best analyzes the employee's behavior?

Compliance is the act of going along with a request or demand, even if one privately disagrees with it. For example, changing a public vote to match peers while secretly holding a different preference is an instance of compliance. It often manifests as a specific form of conformity.

Compliance

Conformity is the change in a person's behavior to go along with the group, even if he does not agree with the group.

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Ohio State University, Columbus

5 different terms created by Merton to describe how people view the means to achieve agoal and how they feel about a goal

Goals and Means Disjuncture

Schmalleger, F. (2014). Criminology (The Justice Series). Criminology (2nd ed.). Pearson. https://archive.org/details/criminology0000schm. 

Criminology (The Justice Series)

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

People in this category accept societies' goals but use socially unapproved or unconventional means to strive for them.

Innovation

Do not believe the goals of society are legitimate or real but the opportunity to do them are

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