Conformity HSP 3 M Conformity l The process

Conformity HSP 3 M

Conformity l The process by which an individual's attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors are influenced by others l Occurs in both small groups and society as a whole l Influences the formation and maintenance of social norms and allows society to function smoothly and predictably

Conformity l Why do people conform? ¡A desire to achieve a sense of security within a group ¡Failure to conform may result in social rejection l Peer pressure is a way to force conformity l Can be positive or negative

Compliance l Compliance – behaviour by an individual that is contrary to his/her beliefs, but do it anyway to avoid punishment or achieve rewards

Obedience l Act or habit of doing what one is told or submitting to authority l Charles Hofling – Nurse Study – fake doctor told nurses to administer a fake drug (Astroten) to a fake patient. The bottle said maxiumum 10 mg, but Dr. Smith ordered 20 mg 21/22 nurses administered the drug

Experiments l Asch Experiment ¡Individuals will respond to group pressure and give responses they know to be wrong ¡Normative Conformity: conform b/c are apprehensive that the group will disapprove ¡Informational Conformity: are convinced what the groups says is right ¡Power in Unanimity: Power of group is greatly reduced when unanimity is broken even by 1

Milgram Experiment ¡When the “teachers” were in groups, the group could pressure the teacher to administer a shock 3 -4 times higher than they would have alone ¡ 68% of “teachers” gave the full 450 volts which would be leathal ¡ Lesson: We will obey an order, even if it will harm others, if they do not feel personally responsible

The Zimbardo Experiment l The situation people are in will affect their behaviour ¡When people are given a role that it perceived as legitimate, they can adopt roles that they would never adopt otherwise ¡Social support and group pressure will reinforce this l Basically, “normal” people will commit evil acts when put in a situation where the group legitimizes and encourages those behaviours

Questions l Is conformity essential to make society function properly? l What are the dangers and advantages of a society that conforms? l Can people be manipulated to conform to ideas and behaviours without being aware they are being manipulated? l How do you think you would have behaved if you were a guard in the Zimbardo experiment?

Scenario l June 1992, Paul Semple, a 22 year old photography student, was watching a movie with his two roommates in their Toronto apartment. They heard screams, and looked out the window to see a couple and their 11 -year old daughter being violently attacked by four men. Semple and his roommates rushed down into the street to help. They were joined by a neighbour armed with a baseball bat, and together they chased the attackers. However, Semple became separated and was cornered by the attackers. He was stabbed and beaten, and died of his injuries.

Scenario l Were Semple and his roommates right to get involved? l Do you think Semple would have acted differently if he had been alone? l Why do people sometimes try not to get involved in these types of incidents?

Kitty Genovese l On a New York City night in 1964, Kitty was attacked several times by a stranger while walking to her apartment; the first stabbing was in a stairwell that was clearly visible by neighbouring apartments—a neighbour shouted at the attacker, and he fled

Kitty Genovese l Kitty survived the first attack, but the attacker returned 10 minutes later, stabbed her repeatedly, and sexually assaulted her; while she screamed for help, 38 of her neighbours opened their windows and turned on their lights, yet did nothing to stop the attack l Why?

The Bystander Effect The term bystander effect refers to the phenomenon in which the greater the number of people present, the less likely people are to help a person in distress. When an emergency situation occurs, observers are more likely to take action if there are few or no other witnesses.

Reginald Denny l South-Central Los Angeles, 6: 45 PM on April 29, 1992, within hours after the acquittal of four Los Angeles policemen an charges of beating Rodney King. It was then and there that outrage at the verdict had erupted into a riot. l Denny was driving an 18 wheel truck when he stopped at the intersection. The window of his truck was smashed by a brick, and several black men pulled him from the truck. He was knocked to the pavement, kicked and smashed in the head to near unconsciousness. l Media helicopters that hovered over the riot torn streets broadcast the beating live on TV

Reginald Denny l Bobby Green, a black truck driver whose home was not far from the intersection, was watching television when he saw Denny being pulled from the truck. l Not saying a word to his family, he left the safety of his home and rushed to the melee. With the help of other black rescuers, another man and two women, he managed to push Denny back into the cab. l Green drove the truck to the hospital emergency room, saving Denny's life. He then returned the truck to the company lot and quietly made his way home.

Group Think l The effect of collective pressure on the decision-making abilities of individual members of a group ¡Pressure – applied to individuals who disagree ¡Self-censorship – individual keeps quiet ¡Morality – Individual does not questions group ¡Stereotypes – individuals generalize outside groups who disagree ¡Mind-guard – dismiss outside information that contradicts / threatens group

Sym

Reginald Denny l How did Reginald Denny’s situation differ from that of Kitty Genovese? l Are you surprised at the response?

Bullying Experiment l https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Eis. ZT B 4 ZQx. Y

Lessons in Leadership l https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=h. O 8 M w. BZl-Vc