Ch 6 - Conformity Part 2: Feb 23

Ethics of Milgram’s Study Effects on subjects? What did Milgram argue about the benefits? What did participants report 1 yr later? For more info, see

Lessons on Obedience from Milgram Other studies showed limits of obedience 4 factors determined obedience: 1) Victim’s emotional distance - Examples? 2) Closeness & legitimacy of authority – –Examples? 3) Institutional authority –Examples?

Lessons (cont) 4) Back-up from others – –How did it affect obedience? Follow up study by Levy of dissenters –What were the results?

Obedience & Attitudes Link with behavior - attitudes Remember that Milgram’s subjects started off giving small shocks, built up their compliance. How is this linked to cognitive dissonance?

FAE & Obedience Most people make the FAE when reading Milgram’s studies –How so? Importance of doing experimental research (not scenario studies)

Groups and Conformity Group size – when is conformity highest? Another Milgram experiment – social validation 1 to 5 researcher(s) on NYC sidewalk looking up at sky –What were the results? If a lot of people are doing something, must be value to it?

Why people conform Cohesive/tight group - more conformity Normative vs informational influence –What is the distinction? –How do these relate to public conformity v. private acceptance?

Who conforms? Personality – need for social approval slightly predicts conformity. –Strong v. weak situation Language of requests –Langer study shows automaticity of compliance –What were the results? Overall conclusion about personality v situational influence on conformity?

Who conforms? 1978 mass suicide at “Jonestown” as compliance People’s Temple with Jim Jones as leader moved from SF to S. American jungle. – 910 people killed themselves on Jones’ command Many explanations focus on Jones’ charisma. Situational explanations?

Who conforms? Culture – similar obedience rates as Milgram in other countries, but... To whom do collectivists conform?

Chapter Summary Classic conformity studies taught us a lot about what people are willing to do. We’ve also learned about situations that make people likely to conform (group size, culture) Can learn a lot from non-conformists