Conformity - Behavioral Assessment
Barbara Kearney
PSY/525
May 13, 2013
Dr. Corey Greenlaw
Conformity - Behavioral Assessment
Definition
“Many forms of social conformity exist but a correct definition would realize it as a phenomenon that occurs when an individual’s values, beliefs, behaviors, and attitude are influenced by either one person (minority influence), or by a group of people (majority influence) who establish norms” (Sadat, 2011, p. 2). During conformity people change the way they behave in response to social pressures. Whether it has been consciously or unconsciously, by accepting the dominant culture’s expectation, one has conformed. What people say and how they behave are vastly influenced by others (Sadat, 2011).
Another way to look at it is, “The tendency to behave in ways that comply with social norms that are contrary to one’s private beliefs is known as conformity” (Scher & Thompson, 2007, p. 1). Whether it is a college student giving in to the peer pressure and drinking or using drugs or conforming to a government or society that promotes genocide, the issue of conformity can explain behaviors. Personality traits may play a major role in affecting the level of one’s conformity (Scher & Thompson, 2007).
Situational factors such as the fear of authority are those that can be predicted from characteristics of a particular situation (Moos, 1969). Situational factors associated with higher conformity often include a reduced accountability for one’s actions (Asch, 1955), and difficulty of task or lack of individuality (Baron, Vandello & Brunsman, 1996). Some dispositional traits have also been associated with high conformity including low self-esteem (Berkowitz & Lundy, 1957; Altemeyer, 1988; Feldman, 2003).
Method of Scaling
The scale is a five item Likert scale with items responded to on a five point scale, from strongly agree to strongly disagree. More specifically, the Likert Scale is a measure of attitudes, preferences,...