WEEK 3: OBEDIENCE, CONFORMITY AND DEINDIVIDUATION

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WEEK 3: Obedience, Conformity and Deindividuation

Obedience to Authority

Group Pressure and Conformity

The Dark Side of Deindividuation

1. Obedience to Authority

'60's research regarding obedience to authority - Astroten study nurses gave twice recommended dose - "blind obedience

when asked - people said they would never do this

Stanley Milgram most famous for Obedience research

most famous experiment shows more that even while they did object, this didn't stop them for carry through the aweful actions

Context of Milgram's Study - 1960's USA, famous for people questioning authority. Reason for study was Hitler as Milgram was Jewish, people made the Fundamental Attrbution Error and ignored context.

Zero people checked on the Learner, most who pushed through 150 volts went all the way

Ethical Issues - was the experiment ethical to the participants

Contemporary Research - in line with Milgram's results

2. Group Pressure and Confirmity

Conformity is a change in behavior or beliefs due to social pressure

Solomon Asch Study - conformity in visual test in a classroom setting, conformity seemed high as not part of a cohesive society, not penalties for wrong answers and the wrong answer was embarrassing

Meta-analysis showed woman conform more than men, conformity has steadily declined, conformity increase as the majority increases from 2-13 and conformity increases in collectivist vs individualistic countries

culture is the most important factor influencing conformity

minority influence on the majority - a consistent minority can have a significant influence, but must be consistent

3. De-Individuation

De-Individuation occurs when individuals are not seen as or paid attention to as individuals. The members do not feel that they stand out as individuals which reduces their inner constraint from doing certain things such as singing and dancing or lynchings and riots

conditions that increase the chance of de-individuation include anonymity, group size, diffused responsibility, physical and mental arousal, altered time perspective, physical involvement, sensory overload and altered states of consciousness

Quiet Rage - Phillip Zambardo - Stanford Prison Experiment

big ethical issues - informed consent and right to withdraw the outcome

main lesson - good people can be seduced/induced to behave in evil ways

main lesson - situations matter and can have a profound effect on people's behavior

consistent with conformity (Asch) and obedience (Milgram)

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