Deck 7: Conformity

Question 1

Frank gets a bit anxious in social situations and tends to scratch his nose when he speaks.Which of the following people is he most likely to feel positively toward?

A) Felicia,who mimics Frank's behaviour and scratches her nose while they speak
B) Fletcher,who stares quizzically at Frank every time he scratches his nose
C) Florence,who averts her gaze and stares at the floor every time Frank scratches his nose
D) Faisal,who hands Frank a tissue

Answer 1

Felicia,who mimics Frank's behaviour and scratches her nose while they speak

Question 2

Chartrand and Bargh (1999)had experimental accomplices mimic the mannerisms of some participants but not others.What did they find?

A) Participants whose mannerisms were mimicked liked the accomplice more than participants who were not copied.
B) Participants whose mannerisms were copied by an accomplice reported being more uncomfortable during the interaction than those who were not mimicked.
C) Imitating the mannerisms of the participants tended to reduce the nonverbal behaviours exhibited during the interaction.
D) Participants who were not mimicked by their interaction partners indicated a greater willingness to interact with that person again in the future.

Answer 2

Participants whose mannerisms were mimicked liked the accomplice more than participants who were not copied.

Question 3

What do psychologists call the tendency to unconsciously mimic the nonverbal behaviour of others?

A) reciprocation wariness
B) pluralistic ignorance
C) the ally effect
D) the chameleon effect

Answer 3

the chameleon effect

Question 4

What do psychologists call the tendency to alter thoughts,feelings,and behaviour in ways that are consistent with group norms?

A) psychological reactance
B) compliance
C) obedience
D) conformity

Question 5

Sherif (1936)asked groups of participants to estimate the distance moved by a point of light.What did he find?

A) Participants were more accurate when they were alone than when they were in groups.
B) Participants were more accurate in groups than when they were alone.
C) As the study progressed,the participants' estimates began to converge with each other.
D) As the study progressed,the participants' estimates began to diverge from each other.

Question 6

How does conformity differ from obedience and compliance?

A) Conformity involves less direct pressure from others.
B) Conformity occurs primarily in response to the behaviour of a group of others.
C) Conformity requires the physical presence of at least one other person.
D) Conformity is more likely to produce destructive behaviours.

Question 7

A half dozen high school students are going to a concert.Chantal wants to wear a new colourful outfit that she just received as a gift,but she assumes that her five friends will all be wearing nothing but black leather.Chantal decides to do likewise,and leaves her colourful outfit in the closet.What is Chantal demonstrating?

A) reciprocation wariness
B) idiosyncrasy credits
C) resistance
D) conformity

Question 8

While being interviewed for a new job,Adrienne notices that her interviewer repeatedly crosses and uncrosses his legs.Without realizing it,she begins to do the same.What is Adrienne exhibiting?

A) psychological reactance
B) the chameleon effect
C) reciprocation wariness
D) idiosyncrasy credits

Question 9

You're out with friends when a talk show host walks up and asks if you'll answer a few trivia questions on camera.When he asks how many feet are in a mile,your first friend says 2000 and your second friend says 3000.You don't know the correct answer,so you say 2500.Your response is similar to the judgments made by participants in which of the following studies?

A) Langer et al.(1978)
B) Sherif (1936)
C) Asch (1951)
D) Baron et al.(1996)

Question 10

What will people mimic about others?

A) People will mimic the facial expressions of others,but not their moods.
B) People will mimic the overt behaviours of others,but not their moods.
C) People will mimic the facial expressions of others,but not their overt behaviours.
D) People will mimic moods,facial expressions,and the behaviours of others.

Question 11

What do psychologists call the research area that investigates how having others around us (even just in our imaginations)changes the ways we behave?

A) social influence
B) psychological reactance
C) pluralistic ignorance
D) the autokinetic effect

Question 12

At the end of the play,everyone else in the theatre stood up and applauded the performance,so Arturo did as well.What does Arturo's behaviour illustrate?

A) compliance
B) conformity
C) obedience
D) reactance

Question 13

How often did the participants in Asch's line judgment study conform?

A) approximately 10 percent of the time
B) approximately 20 percent of the time
C) approximately 30 percent of the time
D) approximately 40 percent of the time

Question 14

What did Sherif's (1936)research using the autokinetic effect demonstrate?

A) People often look to others as a source of information.
B) People are particularly concerned about social rejection.
C) Conformity is difficult to establish in the laboratory.
D) Only those with whom one has an existing relationship have the power to influence behaviour.

Question 15

In which of the following cases is social influence likely to be strongest?

A) when we even imagine the presence of another person
B) when at least one other is present
C) when a group of others is present
D) when a group of consistent others is present

Question 16

When were participants likely to conform in Asch's (1951)line similarity study?

A) when the correct response was ambiguous.
B) when they had no ally in the situation.
C) when they had to decide quickly.
D) when they gave their opinions privately.

Question 17

Which of the following best exemplifies automatic influence?

A) People are more likely to purchase a product if they have been given a free sample.
B) In trying to guess how much a point of light moves in a dark room,people use the estimates of others as an anchor.
C) After one student in class yawns,several others soon begin to yawn as well.
D) Adolescents often go along with the behaviour of popular others to avoid social rejection.

Question 18

What is the primary difference between the research of Sherif (1936)and Asch (1955)?

A) Sherif was able to demonstrate conformity,whereas Asch was not.
B) Asch was able to demonstrate conformity,whereas Sherif was not.
C) Sherif relied on an ambiguous task,whereas Asch used an unambiguous task.
D) Asch relied on an ambiguous task,whereas Sherif used an unambiguous task.

Question 19

How does obedience differ from compliance?

A) Obedience does not lead to attitude change but compliance does.
B) They differ with respect to the degree of influence exerted on an individual
C) They differ in that obedience refers to behaviour but compliance refers to attitudes.
D) Compliance,but not obedience,occurs automatically.

Question 20

Why does informational influence occur?

A) because people are uncertain about how to behave,so they look to others for guidance
B) because people fear the possible negative effects of acting differently from others
C) because people are motivated to appear consistent in their feelings and behaviours
D) because people respond to social norms automatically and without any thought

Question 21

Because he sees everyone else reading the newspaper while his psychology professor lectures,first-year student Oliver decides that it's okay for him to do so as well.What is Oliver exhibiting?

A) informational influence
B) normative influence
C) compliance
D) low expectational influence

Question 22

In a study by Baron et al.(1996)in which groups of three participants were asked to act as eyewitnesses,in which of the following situations did the greatest level of conformity occur?

A) when participants were motivated to be accurate and the task was quite easy
B) when participants were motivated to be accurate and the task was quite difficult
C) when participants were motivated to be accepted by their partners and the task was quite easy
D) when participants were motivated to be accepted by their partners and the task was quite difficult

Question 23

Why can we conclude that participants in Sherif's study exhibited private conformity rather than public conformity?

A) because when they were retested without their fellow group members,participants reverted to their original estimates
B) because they would report their group's normative estimate when asked to respond aloud,but not when asked to respond in writing
C) because they continued to use their group estimates when retested alone one year later
D) because they influenced others to behave in line with group estimates

Question 24

What was the most likely cause of the conformity seen in Sherif's (1936)study of group norms?

A) normative influence
B) reciprocation ideology
C) public conformity
D) informational influence

Question 25

When is normative influence most likely to occur?

A) when people are uncertain about how to behave and look to others for guidance
B) when people fear the possible negative effects of acting differently from others
C) when people are motivated to appear consistent in their feelings and behaviours
D) when people feel that their freedom to choose a particular course of action has been threatened

Question 26

Laverne conforms because of informational influence and Emily conforms because of normative influence.Compared to Emily,which of the following is Laverne more likely to do?

A) internalize the conforming behaviour
B) exhibit superficial behavioural changes
C) conform in few circumstances
D) conform publicly but not privately

Question 27

Which of the following does informational influence tend to produce?

A) obedience
B) compliance
C) public conformity
D) private conformity

Question 28

Which of the following effects does normative influence tend to produce?

A) obedience
B) compliance
C) public conformity
D) private conformity

Question 29

Though she initially attended the pro-choice rally because all her friends were going,Marion now firmly believes in a woman's right to choose.What do Marion's new beliefs illustrate?

A) private conformity
B) public conformity
C) reciprocation ideology
D) reciprocation wariness

Question 30

Joanie and Calvin have just started to attend church.Joanie pays attention to when the rest of the congregation sits and stands because she wants to be sure to stand and sit at the appropriate times.What is causing Joanie to conform?

A) normative influence
B) informational influence
C) compliance
D) obedience

Question 31

Joanie and Calvin have just started to attend church.Calvin stands up and sits down when the rest of the congregation does because if he doesn't,the elderly couple across the aisle scowl at him.What is causing Calvin to conform?

A) normative influence
B) informational influence
C) compliance
D) obedience

Question 32

The experience of being ostracized (or left out by a group)has been found to be which of the following?

A) fleeting and relatively harmless
B) more disturbing for women than for men
C) similar in brain activation to the experience of physical pain
D) ineffective in changing behaviour

Question 33

Which of the following is most likely to occur in an ambiguous situation where the correct response is unclear,as opposed to a straightforward situation with no ambiguity?

A) public conformity
B) private conformity
C) cognitive dissonance
D) superordinate identity

Question 34

Participants in an experiment are asked to look at pictures of different infants and rate the attractiveness of each infant on a 10-point scale.The participants are tested in groups of three and indicate their ratings aloud.For almost all of the infants,the participants tend to give ratings similar to other group members.Under which of the following conditions can we be most certain that their ratings represent private conformity rather than public conformity?

A) if they exhibit much less conformity in the presence of the experimenter
B) if they give the same ratings alone as they do in the group
C) if their ratings result from their desire to fit in with the rest of the group members
D) if they are not especially motivated to be accurate in their judgments

Question 35

In a particular situation,Arlene exhibits public conformity,whereas Ron exhibits private conformity.How are Arlene and Ron likely to be influenced?

A) Both Arlene and Ron are affected strongly by informational influence,but only Ron is affected strongly by normative influence as well.
B) Both Arlene and Ron are affected strongly by informational influence,but only Arlene is affected strongly by normative influence as well.
For Arlene the reality of the situation was very unclear,whereas for Ron it was very clear.
C) Arlene will be affected strongly by minority influence,whereas Ron will be affected strongly by majority influence.
D) Arlene will conform only when others were present,whereas Ron will conform regardless of whether others were present.

Question 36

Arnold wears suits every day to his job at the bank,but when he is at home in the evening and on weekends he spends most of his time nude because that is what he finds most comfortable.What does Arnold's daytime behaviour illustrate?

A) perceptual contrast
B) informational influence
C) conversion
D) public conformity

Question 37

Imagine that some researchers conducted a study and interpreted the results of the study as indicative of normative influence.In which of the following cases are these researchers most likely to reach this conclusion?

A) if participants in their study were truly convinced that the majority was correct in their opinions
B) if participants in their study behaved in the way that would be considered normal to people in Western cultures
C) if participants in their study did what they felt was morally right,even if it violated social norms in the process
D) if participants in their study conformed because they feared the social impact of appearing different

Question 38

When is normative influence more likely to occur than informational influence?

A) when reality is uncertain
B) when people are motivated to be accurate
C) when people are motivated to avoid social rejection
D) when responses must be made privately

Question 39

What did Asch's study in which participants were asked to make judgments about the lengths of various lines demonstrate?

A) how vulnerable people are to normative social influence
B) how vulnerable people are to two-step compliance techniques
C) how vulnerable people are to informational social influence
D) how vulnerable people are to cultural influences

Question 40

Which of the following is the best example of normative influence?

A) patients adhering to doctors' recommendations
B) people estimating how far a stable dot has moved by referring to others' estimates
C) laughing with another's joke though we don't really find it funny
D) obeying a dictatorial employer

Question 41

With respect to the impact of group size on conformity,what did Asch find?

A) that there was greater conformity with ten confederates than with five confederates
B) that conformity increases as an exponential function of group size
C) that one group of six confederates produced more conformity than two groups of three confederates
D) that there were negligible increases in conformity after three or four confederates

Question 42

Mary has just heard five friends say that Ontario is the largest province in Canada,when she knows it is Quebec.Rob,the next friend in line,says that Alberta is the largest province.In this situation,Mary is now less likely to conform to the first five friends than if Rob had said which of the following?

A) that Quebec is the largest province
B) that Ontario is the largest province
C) that he isn't sure
D) that Manitoba is the largest province

Question 43

Conan participates in an experiment where he and three other participants are asked to judge the quality of a series of abstract paintings.Under which of the following circumstances is Conan least likely to exhibit informational influence?

A) if each painting is shown for only a few seconds
B) if he is motivated to be very accurate in his judgments
C) if there is no objective criteria by which to make such judgments
D) if there is a clear and unambiguous response for each painting

Question 44

What reduces the normative pressure to conform to a majority?

A) primarily credible allies
B) most allies,except for non-credible allies
C) primarily allies of the same sex
D) any ally

Question 45

According to research on the subject,which of the following factors is the most important influence on the relationship between gender and conformity?

A) familiarity with the issue at hand
B) the experimenter's expectations
C) reciprocation ideology
D) whether the prevailing social norm is salient

Question 46

What did Cialdini and colleagues (1992)find in their study examining norms about littering?

A) They found that similar levels of littering occurred in every parking lot studied.
B) They found that littering was more common when the parking lot was clear of debris.
C) They found that littering was more common when the parking lot had some limited debris on the ground.
D) They found that littering was more common when the parking lot was covered in debris.

Question 47

When are social norms are most likely to lead to conformity?

A) when they are behavioural
B) when they are salient
C) when they are complex
D) when they are subtle

Question 48

Reuben notices a group of eight people littering in the park.Rachel sees four different pairs of people littering in the park.Which of the following is the best prediction of likelihood that Reuben and/or Rachel will follow the group norms?

A) Reuben is more likely to conform to the behaviour of the litterbugs than is Rachel.
B) Rachel is more likely to conform to the behaviour of the litterbugs than is Reuben.
C) Reuben and Rachel are equally likely to conform to the behaviour of the litterbugs.
D) Reuben is more likely to conform because of informational influence,but Rachel is more likely to conform because of normative influence.

Question 49

How does group size affect conformity?

A) As the number of group members increases,they are more likely to be perceived as acting independently.
B) Large majority groups have a greater effect on conformity than smaller majority groups due to the perception that they have more accurate knowledge.
C) Each additional group member exerts less influence than previous members.
D) When there is a clear leader,group size no longer affects conformity.

Question 50

Stuart works for an energy company.He thinks the company's money should be invested in developing solar energy.However,in a meeting of his co-workers,it becomes evident to Stuart that his co-workers support the company's continued investment in fossil fuel,the typical source of energy for residents in their community.Which of the following would make Stuart less likely to conform to the opinion of his co-workers?

A) if the group decreases in size from 15 to 10
B) if supporting continued investments is consistent with the norms of the company
C) if Joyce,one of his co-workers,voices her support for investing the company's money in developing nuclear energy
D) if Stuart is younger than his co-workers

Question 51

How do men and women differ in conformity?

A) Men exhibit greater conformity than women in face-to-face interactions.
B) Men exhibit greater conformity than women regardless of the situation.
C) Women exhibit greater conformity than men in face-to-face interactions.
D) Women exhibit greater conformity than men regardless of the situation.

Question 52

Why do conformity levels NOT continue to increase dramatically as the group size gets bigger and bigger?

A) because additions to the group are subject to the law of diminishing returns
B) because additions to the group are subject to low-balling
C) because additions to the group are subject to the silence of norms
D) because additions to the group are subject to perceptual contrast

Question 53

Jeff is asked what main dish was served for lunch at the cafeteria yesterday.He thinks it was roast beef but,before responding,he observes six other students who say the main dish was pizza.Under which of the following circumstances is Jeff most likely to say the main dish was pizza?

A) if he hears the response from the six other students in three pairs of two
B) if he hears the response from all the students at once
C) if he hears the response from the six students at six different times in six different places
D) if he hears the response from the six other students in two pairs of three

Question 54

Which of the following does pluralistic ignorance about alcohol use on campus illustrate?

A) normative influence
B) the effects of group size on conformity
C) compliance
D) how perceptions of social norms are usually accurate

Question 55

Cialdini et al.(1990)observed participants in a clean or cluttered parking garage.In which of the following situations did they find that participants were most likely to litter?

A) when the participants observed a confederate litter in the cluttered garage
B) when the participants observed a confederate litter in the clean garage
C) when the participants observed a confederate place trash in the proper receptacle in a cluttered garage
D) when the participants observed a confederate place trash in the proper receptacle in a clean garage

Question 56

According to research on the subject,which of the following factors affects whether men conform more than women,or vice versa?

A) socioeconomic status
B) whether the individuals think they are being observed
C) whether the individuals have earned idiosyncrasy credits
D) the number of people in the majority

Question 57

According to research by Neighbours et al.(2006),under which of the following circumstances are university students likely to have more positive attitudes toward drinking on campus and consume more alcohol?

A) if they attend universities that strictly forbid drinking on campus
B) if they participate in workshops designed to increase their personal responsibility for drinking
C) if they overestimate the favourability of their peers' attitudes toward drinking
D) if they believe such attitudes and behaviour are inconsistent with social norms

Question 58

A study found that most students overestimate how comfortable their peers are with alcohol on campus.What does this misperception illustrate?

A) pluralistic ignorance
B) psychological reactance
C) mass psychogenic illness
D) the chameleon effect

Question 59

Ashley and two others witness a crime that takes place in a very short amount of time.Kate and Beth are both suspects.The two other witnesses indicate that it was Beth who committed the crime.Under which of the following circumstances is Ashley most likely to conform to the others?

A) if she stands to be rewarded for accuracy
B) if it is a very minor crime
C) if she is the first person to be asked to identify the culprit
D) if she is shown a videotape of the crime that happens to be available

Question 60

As group size increases,what happens to conformity?

A) It will increase.
B) It will decrease.
C) It will increase,as long as each additional member of the group is perceived as an independent source of influence.
D) It will decrease,as long as each additional member of the group is perceived as an independent source of influence.

Question 61

According to Moscovici,from what do minorities derive their power to influence?

A) their sheer numbers
B) their social standing
C) their style of behaviour
D) their normative influence

Question 62

Why does a consistent behavioural style increase minority influence?

A) because a consistent minority will be more likely to generate many counter-arguments
B) because a consistent minority challenges the majority in a positive way
C) because the position advocated by a consistent minority is more likely to be perceived as valid
D) because a consistent minority is easier for the majority to dismiss

Question 63

According to the dual-process approach,how do minorities exert influence?

A) by producing normative influence effects
B) by producing public conformity effects
C) by producing obedience effects
D) by producing conversion effects

Question 64

According to the dual-process approach,how do majorities exert influence?

A) by producing informational influence effects
B) by producing public conformity effects
C) by producing reactance effects
D) by producing conversion effects

Question 65

Which of the following is most consistent with the idea that minority influence works in the same way that majority influence?

A) the interpersonal relations model
B) research comparing normative and informational influence
C) the single-process approach
D) research comparing private and public conformity

Question 66

How do individuals from Eastern cultures usually differ from those from Western cultures in their responses to social influence?

A) Those from Eastern cultures are more likely to have an independent orientation.
B) Those from Eastern cultures are more likely to conform to a public norm.
C) Those from Eastern cultures are more likely to disobey an authority.
D) Those from Eastern cultures are more likely to possess greater heterogeneity.

Question 67

In Asch's conformity study,approximately how often did participants refuse to conform?

A) 25 percent of the time
B) 37 percent of the time
C) 63 percent of the time
D) 75 percent of the time

Question 68

How are minority and majority influence understood by the dual-process view of social influence?

A) Majority and minority influence are two processes that occur for similar reasons.
B) Majority and minority influence are two processes that occur in very different ways.
C) Majority influence is most likely to produce private conformity.
D) Minority influence is most likely to result in public conformity.

Question 69

Keith is a member of a jury trying to decide whether the accused is guilty of the terrible murder for which she has been charged.All of the members of the jury wish to convict except Keith,who believes she is innocent.Under which of the following circumstances will Keith have the best chance at having the others seriously consider his position?

A) if he appears confident in his view that she is innocent
B) if he only considers the evidence supporting his point of view
C) if he stands up while presenting his view to the group
D) if he presents his view after all the other members have stated their views

Question 70

Brenda and Eddie are the only two people in a group of 12 to oppose a particular proposal.In which of the following cases would they have the best chance of influencing the majority?

A) if they present their arguments in a consistent,forceful style
B) if they try to exert normative influence on the rest of the group
C) if they emphasize the social norms created within the group
D) if they present themselves as an outgroup rather than as part of the ingroup

Question 71

Women conform more and men conform less when they believe they are being observed.According to Eagly (1987),why does this occur?

A) because being watched makes people self-aware,which brings out their underlying personalities
B) because women are easier to manipulate,whereas men tend to be more independent
C) because women and men tend to be knowledgeable about different kinds of topics
D) because people feel greater pressure in public to behave in ways consistent with their gender-role

Question 72

The residents on Northgate Road have convened to discuss whether their private road should be paved.The majority are in favour of having the road paved.However Nicholas,a long-time resident,expresses his opposition.Which of the following is least likely?

A) The residents will think more carefully about the issue of paving the road because Nicholas presented a dissenting opinion.
B) Nicholas's status of being a long-time resident and its accompanying idiosyncrasy credits will help him influence the group.
C) Nicholas will not gain private conformity to his opinion,only public conformity.
D) Nicholas will be more influential if he repeatedly expresses his opposition as the group discusses the benefits of paving the road.

Question 73

Compared to individualist cultures,which of the following are collectivist cultures more likely to exhibit?

A) greater conformity in nearly all contexts
B) greater conformity in some contexts but not others
C) greater non-conformity in nearly all contexts
D) greater non-conformity in some contexts but not others

Question 74

Differences between individualist and collectivist cultures in conformity can be partially explained by differential emphasis on which of the following?

A) personal goals
B) number of people
C) ranks of authority
D) number of group associations

Question 75

How does a collectivist culture usually differ from an individualistic one?

A) A collectivist culture tends to have greater complexity.
B) A collectivist culture tends to have greater affluence.
C) A collectivist culture tends to have greater cultural diversity.
D) A collectivist culture tends to have greater conformity.

Question 76

According to the dual-process view of social influence,which of the following best describes the workings of majority and minority influence?

A) A majority influences people to change their private views.
B) A majority influences by informational influence.
C) A minority influences people to change their private views.
D) A minority influences by normative influence.

Question 77

Which of the following is the best explanation of the "minority slowness effect"?

A) Members of minority groups are often slow to change their minds during group discussion.
B) It takes longer for minority group members to change the minds of majority group members than vice versa.
C) People with minority opinions are slower to respond to questions about the topic than people with majority opinions.
D) People who hold unpopular opinions may be slower to process incoming information.

Question 78

If Australian children were placed in the same classroom as Canadian and Venezuelan children,which of the following would most likely happen?

A) The Canadian children would conform more than the Venezuelan children
B) The Canadian children would conform more than the Venezuelan children.
C) The Venezuelan children would conform more than the Australian children.
D) The three groups of children would probably conform to the same extent.

Question 79

According to Moscovici,from what do majorities derive their power to influence?

A) their sheer numbers
B) their social standing
C) their style of behaviour
D their informational influence

Question 80

Lee attends a pre-screening of a new romantic comedy with a group of four people,and then participates in a focus group where the group is asked several questions about the film.The group is asked,"How funny is the film?" Each member of the group responds to the question.Lee responds last,after hearing the rest of the group say that the movie was very funny.In which of the following cases would Lee be most likely to agree with them?

A) if Lee is female
B) if Lee is from an individualistic culture
C) if Lee is elderly
D) if Lee's group had seven people instead of four