Module 75 REVIEW

• 75-1 What is social contagion, and how do conformity experiments reveal the power of social influence?

• Social contagion (the chameleon effect), our tendency to unconsciously imitate others’ behavior, expressions, postures, inflections, and moods, is a form of conformity. Social networks serve as contagious pathways for moods, both good and bad.
• Solomon Asch and others have found that we are most likely to adjust our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard when (a) we feel incompetent or insecure, (b) our group has at least three people, (c) everyone else agrees, (d) we admire the group’s status and attractiveness, (e) we have not already committed to another response, (f) we know we are being observed, and (g) our culture encourages respect for social standards.
• We may conform to gain approval (normative social influence) or because we are willing to accept others’ opinions as new information (informational social influence).

• 75-2 What do Milgram’s obedience experiments teach us about the power of social influence?

• Stanley Milgram’s experiments—in which people obeyed orders even when they thought they were harming another person—demonstrated that strong social influences can make ordinary people conform to falsehoods or give in to cruelty.
• Obedience was highest when (a) the person giving orders was nearby and was perceived as a legitimate authority figure, (b) the research was supported by a prestigious institution, (c) the victim was depersonalized or at a distance, and (d) there were no role models for defiance.

• 75-3 What do the social influence studies teach us about ourselves? How much power do we have as individuals?

• These experiments have demonstrated that strong social influences can make people conform to falsehoods or capitulate to cruelty. The power of the individual (personal control) and the power of the situation (social control) interact.
• A small minority that consistently expresses its views may sway the majority, as may even a single committed individual.

Multiple-Choice Questions

1. Which of the following is an example of conformity?
   1. Malik has had a series of dogs over the years. Each has learned to curl up at his feet when he watches television.
   2. Renee buys the same brand of sweatshirt that most of the kids in her school are wearing.
   3. Jonah makes sure to arrive home before his curfew because he knows he will be grounded if he doesn’t.
   4. Yuri makes sure to arrive home before her curfew because she does not want her parents to be disappointed in her.
   5. Terry cranks it up a notch during volleyball practice because the team captain has been on her case for not showing enough effort.
2. Jon does what his friends are doing and throws eggs at houses on Halloween, even though he knows that he should not. Jon’s egg throwing is most likely due to
   1. obedience.
   2. normative social influence.
   3. social contagion.
   4. informational social influence.
   5. the chameleon effect.
3. In Milgram’s classic study on obedience, approximately what percentage of people delivered what they believed to be the maximum shock level?
   1. One-tenth
   2. One-half
   3. One-third
   4. One-fourth
   5. Two-thirds
4. In Milgram’s studies, obedience to authority was highest when
   1. the person receiving orders witnessed others defying the authority figure.
   2. the person receiving orders wondered whether the person giving orders had legitimate authority.
   3. the person supposedly receiving the shocks was physically near the person receiving orders.
   4. the authority figure was from a prestigious institution.
   5. the person receiving the orders was female.

Practice FRQs

1. Pedro’s high school has a dress code that prohibits the wearing of hoods, such as with sweatshirts or jackets. The principal stands in the hallway and tells kids wearing their hoods up to take them down. Most students, including Pedro, comply. One day, Pedro sees a group of older boys he admires sneak past the principal with their hoods up, and Pedro does the same. Explain the terms obedience and conformity in this scenario.

Answer

1 point: Obedience is following the orders of an authority figure. When Pedro does what he is told by the principal and puts his hood down, he is demonstrating obedience. Page 778

1 point: Conformity is adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard. When Pedro leaves his hood up, he is conforming to the standard set by the older boys. Page 776

2. Explain two specific reasons why Milgram’s study would not pass the ethical guidelines of an institutional review board today. (See Module 7 if you need a reminder.)

(2 points)