When encountering a new or unexpected in-group
 norm, individuals will shift their political views in the direction of conformity with
 the majority

Arizona State University

Conformity refers to a change in behavior to match the actions or responses of others in order to “fit in," despite not necessarily agreeing with the actions of others.

Conformity


  Suhay. (2015). Explaining Group Influence: The Role of Identity and Emotion in Political Conformity and Polarization. Political Behavior, 37(1), 221–251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11109-014-9269-1


Explaining Group Influence: The Role of Identity and Emotion in Political Conformity and Polarization

In-Group Conformity 

Informational social influence occurs when individuals conform because they believe the group is competent and possesses accurate information. This type of influence is particularly strong in ambiguous situations where the correct course of action is unclear and individuals rely on the group for guidance.

Informational Social Influence

The Asch effect describes the phenomenon where a group majority's opinion influences an individual's judgment.

Asch Effect

Normative social influence drives individuals to conform with group norms in order to fit in, feel good, and gain acceptance. This type of conformity is motivated by a desire for social approval and to avoid ridicule, rather than a belief that the group's actions are necessarily correct.

Normative Social Influence

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon where individuals in a group modify their opinions to align with what they perceive as the group consensus. This process often prioritizes harmony and conformity over critical analysis, which can hinder opposing viewpoints and lead to faulty or extreme decisions that individuals might not make on their own.

Groupthink

Social loafing is a psychological phenomenon characterized by a reduction in individual effort and output when working on tasks where contributions are pooled within a group. This is in contrast to the level of effort an individual would typically exert when working alone.

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