Conformity theories
Conformity theories explore the phenomenon of individuals yielding to group pressure, often adopting behaviors and attitudes similar to those around them without explicit requests. This tendency can arise from a desire for social acceptance or as a means of discerning what is considered normal or acceptable behavior. In the context of prejudice, these theories suggest that individuals may adopt prejudiced attitudes by observing others within their cultural or familial environments. For instance, children may replicate the prejudices expressed by parents, which can be reinforced through peer interactions at school.
One classic study illustrating conformity is Solomon Asch's 1956 experiment, where college students were influenced by group consensus to provide incorrect answers to simple visual tasks. The findings highlighted how social norms impact decision-making and can lead individuals to conform, even in the face of clear evidence to the contrary. It was observed that conformity rates increased when individuals felt isolated in their opinions, while the presence of even one dissenting voice could empower others to maintain their own views. Understanding these dynamics offers insight into how prejudicial attitudes can be perpetuated and the conditions under which they might be challenged.
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Conformity theories
Conformity is yielding to group pressure to act as others do, even when no direct request has been made. People conform because they want to be liked by others or because they are simply using other people’s behavior as a guide to what is normal or acceptable. Conformity theories of prejudice assert that people notice that others have prejudices and they then adopt these attitudes.
Many prejudices appear to be handed down from an individual’s parents. This transmission of prejudice across generations presumably depends to some extent on observational learning. For example, if a child hears her parents ridiculing Martians, she is likely to conform to the same attitude toward Martians. If she then goes to school and makes disparaging remarks about Martians that are reinforced and approved by peers, her prejudice will be strengthened. In this way, prejudice is passed from generation to generation and reinforced by culture.
In some quarters of society, people may be pressured to express agreement with racist or sexist remarks. Even if they tell themselves that they are merely going along with others to avoid arguments, overtly agreeing with prejudicial attitudes can lead to subtle shifts in their attitudes because people tend to adopt attitudes that are consistent with their behavior. In this way, prejudice is further maintained.
A classic study of conformity was conducted by social scientist Solomon Asch in 1956. He asked college students to participate in an experiment involving visual perception. The students (the real subjects) were placed in groups with other student “subjects,” all of whom were actually Asch’s confederates. Each of the groups was shown four straight lines, and the students were asked to tell which of the three lines on the right side matched the line on the left. The confederates answered first, one by one choosing the wrong answer in this intentionally easy task. The real subject, the last one in line to answer, became distressed and, in an amazing 74 percent of cases, conformed to the pressure of the group and gave the wrong answer at least part of the time. Asch showed that social norms can be important not only in matters of style but also in matters of hard physical reality, and he illustrated the difficulty that people have in overcoming prejudicial attitudes in a group.
Other work by Asch and others shows that conformity is highest when people believe that they are the sole deviant in the group. When someone else disagreed, subjects were more likely to stick with their own opinions. When a minority of individuals gave a consistent but wrong answer, they were treated respectfully. When people holding minority views are consistent in and certain of their position, they can induce members of a majority to rethink their views and see issues in a new way.
Bibliography
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Cherry, Kendra, MSEd. "What Is Conformity?" Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW. Verywell Mind, 22 June 2024, www.verywellmind.com/what-is-conformity-2795889. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
Coleman, Stephen. Popular Delusions: How Social Conformity Molds Society and Politics. Youngstown: Cambria, 2007. Print
Jetten, Jolanda, and Matthew J. Hornsey. "The Line between Conformity and Resistance." Psychologist 28.1 (2015): 72–74. Print.
Jetten, Jolanda, and Matthew J. Hornsey, eds. Rebels in Groups: Dissent, Deviance, Difference and Defiance. Malden: Blackwell, 2011. Print.
Jones, James M., John F. Dovidio, and Deborah L. Vietze. The Psychology of Diversity: Beyond Prejudice and Racism. Malden: Blackwell, 2014. Print.