Deck 9: Norms and Conformity

Question 1

Which of the following individuals is most likely to experience normative influence?

A) Mariel who is highly identified with her university.
B) Margot, who recently felt excluded by her friends.
C) Mary, who just took part in her First Communion ceremony.
D) All of the above

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following statements provides an explanation for group polarization?

A) Group members are more likely to be persuaded by novel arguments that support their position.
B) People who take time to express their views are found to be more persuasive than those who express their views faster.
C) A single group member who repeats their argument 3 times is more convincing than 3 people who voice the same opinion.
D) Information presented later in a discussion is more compelling than information presented at the beginning.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

When companies post fake positive reviews of their products online, they are hoping to harness the power of _______ to increase sales of their products.

A) groupthink
B) group polarization
C) consensus
D) minority influence

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Participants in a study by Axsom, Yates and Chaiken (1987) listened to a speech and then were asked whether they agreed with the arguments presented in the speech or not. While listening to the speech, half of the participants heard the audience applaud the speaker and half of the students heard mixed reaction (some cheers, some jeers) from the audience. In addition, some of the participants heard weak arguments and some heard strong. The results showed that:

A) When participants were motivated to pay attention, they were more likely to agree with the arguments when they heard the audience cheer during the speech.
B) When participants were not motivated to pay attention, they were more likely to agree when the speaker made weak arguments and they heard the audience cheer.
C) Regardless of motivation, participants were more likely to agree when the speaker made strong arguments as opposed to weak arguments.
D) Regardless of motivation, participants were more likely to agree with the arguments when they heard the audience cheer.

Question 5

According to your text, in which group is a consensus by the members likely to be the most persuasive to others?

A) In a group of individuals from the same team.
B) In a committee whose members each represent different neighborhoods in a large city.
C) In a group comprised primarily of out-group members.
D) In a group comprised primarily of in-group members who are so similar that they are difficult to tell apart.

Question 6

In a study by Wilder (1990), participants listened to the views of both in-group members and out-group members. Wilder found which of the following results?

A) Participants were able to accurately match the arguments made by the out-group members with their pictures.
B) Participants were more persuaded by the arguments made by out-group members.
C) Participants saw the in-group members to be similar and as putting forth homogeneous arguments.
D) Participants accurately differentiated among the argumenta made by the in-group members.

Question 7

A recently-formed student group is trying to reach consensus on a group activity, but one of the members refuses to agree with the majority. According to the study by Schachter (1951), what is likely to happen in this case?

A) The students in the majority will spend a great deal of time trying to persuade the lone dissenter to change his view.
B) The students will ignore the lone dissenter.
C) The students will try to exclude the lone dissenter from the group.
D) All of the above

Question 8

When her teacher asks if anyone has any questions, Janice almost raises her hand to express her confusion, but then stops herself because no other students raise their hands. Janice assumes that she's the only student who doesn't understand the teacher. If other students also had questions but failed to raise their hands because of the same false assumption then this is an example of _________.

A) pluralistic ignorance
B) groupthink
C) group polarization
D) private conformity

Question 9

Chris is the president of a car company and he is strongly encouraging members of his board to endorse more eco-friendly vehicles. If Chris puts a lot of pressure on the board members to reach a quick consensus on this issue, the group may fall prey to which social influence phenomenon?

A) pluralistic ignorance
B) groupthink
C) group polarization
D) private conformity

Question 10

In a study by Strass and colleagues (1989), students were given different pieces of information about various candidates for student body president. Some of this information was shared among all of the students and some of this information was only shared with one student. The results of this study showed that:

A) The students spent the most time discussing the information that they all shared.
B) The students spent the most time discussing the information that only one person initially possessed.
C) The information initially possessed by only one student was evaluated more thoroughly than the information shared with everyone.
D) When researchers told the students to discuss all of the available facts, more time was spent discussing the information that initially only one person possessed.

Question 11

According to your text, why does superficial processing lead to more extreme decisions by group members?

A) Because people are able to think carefully about both sides of an issue.
B) Because people want to be seen as the best possible members of their group.
C) Because arguments made by the majority seem more compelling than those made by the minority.
D) All of the above

Question 12

Which of the following statements about group polarization is TRUE?

A) Groups tend to make riskier decisions than individuals.
B) Groups tend to make more conservative decisions than individuals.
C) Group polarization can occur among those who are processing superficially and those who are processing systematically.
D) All of the above

Question 13

The group of people who we are most likely to use as a good source of information when making judgments are known as a(n) _______ group.

A) reference
B) experimental
C) sample
D) cohort

Question 14

Brandy is a Christian college students who is trying to decide where she stands on the abortion debate. With which group is Brandy most likely to consult for information about this issue?

A) A group of college students
B) A group of female college students
C) A group of Christian college students
D) A group of adult community members

Question 15

The results of research on group membership and persuasion has shown that:

A) People usually process out-group messages more systematically than in-group messages.
B) In-group members need to be present in order to conform to group norms.
C) Strong out-group messages have more of an impact on decision-making than weak out-group messages.
D) Messages from in-group members can influence people at a superficial level.

Question 16

How could a father use the reference group effect to encourage his young son to eat more vegetables?

A) The father should tell his son to think about all of the starving children in the world.
B) The father should arrange for his son's vegetable-loving friends to come over and eat lunch.
C) The father should tell his son that only bad children don't eat their vegetables.
D) All of the above

Question 17

Agreement with the in-group fulfills which of the following motivational needs?

A) The need for mastery
B) The need for connectedness
C) The need for valuing me and mine
D) All of the above

Question 18

Research on jury decision-making shows that, more often than not, juries reach a final verdict that:

A) Reflects the original opinion held by a majority of the members.
B) Reflects a compromise among the dissenting opinions.
C) Is less extreme than any of the individual's opinions on their own.
D) Reflects the original opinion of a vocal minority.

Question 19

________ is the phenomenon in which a group's initial average position becomes more extreme following group interaction.

A) False consensus
B) Pluralistic ignorance
C) Group polarization
D) Groupthink

Question 20

Members of a student senate are meeting to decide which speakers to bring to campus during the next school year. Before meeting, 2/3 of the students wanted to bring in a hypnotist, whereas 1/3 of the students wanted to bring in a comedian. The hypnotists usually charge about $100 per visit and the comedians usually charge about $150 per visit. According to work on group polarization, the student senate meeting should result in which of the following decisions?

A) The students will invite a comedian who charges $250.
B) The students will invite a hypnotist who charges $200.
C) The students will invite a comedian who charges $150.
D) The students will invite a hypnotist who charges $100.

Question 21

Which of the following characteristics will lead a group to be more at risk of groupthink?

A) When the members engage in self-censorship
B) When group members are very similar
C) When leaders express their opinions.
D) All of the above

Question 22

To ensure that groupthink does not influence the decisions made by a group, what should be done?

A) Members should be asked to state their opinions publicly.
B) Members of the group should be as similar as possible.
C) Members should be asked to play ""devil's advocate.""
D) The group leader should play a large role in the discussions.

Question 23

Members of a minority group have learned that they are making less than members of the majority group for the same work. In order to achieve equal pay for equal work, the minority group members should do all but which of the following (i.e., what should the minority group members NOT do)?

A) The minority group members should show how different they are from the majority group.
B) The minority group members should agree amongst themselves.
C) The minority group members should maintain a consistent stance over time.
D) The minority group should consist of at least 2 or 3 members.

Question 24

Mario is worried that his fraternity brothers are going to put pressure on him to haze the new fraternity members. Use what you learned from the Asch line studies to describe 2 factors that would make it less likely that Mario conforms to his fraternity brothers.

Question 25

Imagine that you are trying to market a new brand of potato chips. Use what you know about the reference group effect in food preference to increase sales of this chip to college students.

Question 26

A group of community members is trying to decide whether to build a new park or a new parking lot. Before the meeting begins, most of the community members want to build a park. Explain how group polarization will influence this group's final decision. In addition, why will people who are processing superficially versus systematically still fall prey to group polarization effects?

Question 27

Why is consensus such a powerful tool of persuasion? Describe 2 situations in which consensus can lead people astray. Finally, how can groups avoid faulty consensus-seeking?

Question 28

Members of a jury are deliberating over a verdict. At the end of the first day, the jury is 11-to-1 in favor of a guilty verdict. What is likely to happen during the second day of deliberations?

Question 29

Explain how pluralistic ignorance can contribute to risky behavior.

Question 30

Imagine that you are the leader of a campus group who has been asked by a professor to explore whether your university should adopt an honor code. First, what is groupthink and when is it most likely to influence the decisions made by a group? Second, how could you make sure that groupthink does not influence the decision made by your group?

Question 31

A small group of high school students wants the theme of their school dance to be "The 80's" whereas the majority of the students want the theme of the school dance to be "The Great Gatsby." Describe 3 tactics that the members of the small, minority group can utilize to convince their peers to accept their theme for the school dance. Finally, assume that this dance is next year. If the minority group gets their way, will the change in attitudes by the majority group be long-lasting?

Question 32

Jane is 13 years old and she has just moved to a new school. Explain how both informational influence and normative influence will affect Jane's behavior at her new school.

Question 33

Explain how culture influences people's likelihood of conforming.

Question 34

What is the difference between public and private conformity? Give a real world example of each type of conformity.

Question 35

The study by Moscovici and colleagues (1969) in which participants were asked to make color judgments in the presence of 2 dissenting confederates showed that minority group members will be most influential when:

A) They emphasize their similarities to the majority group.
B) They emphasize their differences from the majority group.
C) They maintain a consistent stance over time.
D) They offer their own unique judgments.

Question 36

There is a vacancy for a new psychology professor at a local university. The majority of the faculty on the search committee want to hire Candidate A, but there is a small minority of the faculty who want to hire Candidate B. In which of the following situations is the minority viewpoint most likely to influence the majority viewpoint?

A) When the minority group members are from the physics department and when they initially agreed that they should hire Candidate A, but then changed their preference to Candidate B.
B) When the minority group members are also from the psychology department and when they initially agreed that they should hire Candidate A, but then changed their preference to Candidate B.
C) When the minority group members are from the physics department and when they believed from the start that they should hire Candidate B.
D) When the minority group members are also from the psychology department and when they believed from the start that they should hire Candidate B.

Question 37

According to Moscovici, why does minority dissent lead to systematic processing?

A) Because minority dissent creates uncertainty about reality.
B) Because minority dissent violates people's motive to value me and mine.
C) Because minority group members are most often part of the out-group.
D) All of the above

Question 38

Research on persuasion attempts by minority groups has shown that:

A) Compared to weak arguments, people are more persuaded by the strong arguments made by minority groups.
B) Compared to the strong arguments, people are more persuaded by the weak arguments made by minority groups.
C) People process arguments by majority groups more systematically than arguments made by minority groups.
D) Attitudes that change as a result of minority influence rarely influence people's behavior.

Question 39

Influence by ________ can trigger mastery motives, meet needs for connectedness, and may result in private acceptance.

A) the majority
B) the minority
C) both the majority and minority
D) neither the majority nor the minority

Question 40

In a study by Liljenquist, Galinsky, & Kray (2004), participants were asked to work together to solve a murder mystery. In which of the following conditions were the participants best able to identify the culprit?

A) In the condition in which the participants initially knew a lot of the same information.
B) In the condition in which some of the information was known by only a single participant.
C) In the condition in which a subset of individual group members first performed a critical thinking task.
D) In the condition in which all of the group members first performed a critical thinking task.

Question 41

At the school board meeting, Barb appears to agree with the other parents that a recent donation should go toward a new swing set on the school playground, but when a vote is called, Barb indicates on the ballot that she wants the money to go toward the teachers' salaries. What type of conformity has Barb engaged in? Briefly describe the method and results of one study in which the participants also showed this type of conformity.

Question 42

How does uncertainty influence the likelihood that people conform? Briefly describe one more recent study that shows the relation between feeling uncertain and conforming. What are the real world implications of these findings?

Question 43

Should juries be required to reach a unanimous verdict? Briefly describe one relevant study on this topic and how it relates to research on minority viewpoints.

Question 44

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

A) Daniel studies for 5 hours a night because his professor told him that studying was the best way to pass her class.
B) Although Neil broke his leg and can't play, he still wears his team colors on game day.
C) Greg gives a standing ovation at the concert, but he personally thinks that the band was sub-par.
D) All of the above

Question 45

When it comes to making decisions, more heads are always better than one.

Question 46

Group members will spend more time discussing the information that they all know rather than the information known only to a single individual.

Question 47

In a debate, it's best to present your arguments last because people are more persuaded by information that they heard most recently.

Question 48

Decisions made by groups that reach a consensus are often more accurate than decisions made by group members who do not agree.

Question 49

Public conformity is the most dangerous threat to the ideal of consensus.

Question 50

Minority views can sway the majority when the minority view is consistent over time.

Question 51

Most of the time, a lone dissenter can sway the opinions of those in the majority.

Question 52

People who hold the minority viewpoint will more successfully change the views of those in the majority if they present themselves as members of the out-group.

Question 53

Dissent by those who hold the minority viewpoint often causes systematic processing in the majority group.

Question 54

Systematic processing makes group polarization even more likely.

Question 55

Groups tend to make less extreme decisions than individuals.

Question 56

Individuals from collectivistic cultures are more likely to conform to in-group members than out-group members.

Question 57

People will conform to the behavior of others, even when the behavior is obviously incorrect.

Question 58

The type of conformity seen in the Asch line study would not happen today.

Question 59

When people feel uncertain, they are more likely to conform.

Question 60

Public conformity leads to lasting changes in people's true personal beliefs.

Question 61

People from individualistic cultures conform more than people from collectivistic cultures.

Question 62

Compared to normative influence, informational influence results in long-term acceptance of a group's norms.

Question 63

As shown in the Asch line studies, as more and more people agree with the group, the rate of conformity increases exponentially.

Question 64

Finding out that you disagree with members of a valued group can lead people to experience a decrease in self-esteem.

Question 65

When juries are required to reach a unanimous verdict the jurors spend more time deliberating, they remember more of the evidence, and they seem more confident in their verdicts.

Question 66

In Sherif's (1936) experiment, participants were asked to judge how far a light on a wall was moving. The participants first made the estimates by themselves and then in the presence of others. The results showed that:

A) The participants' estimates were close at first and then they became more dissimilar over time.
B) The participants' estimates became almost identical over time, but when asked to make the estimates when they were alone again later, the participants went back to their own original estimates.
C) The participants' estimates became almost identical over time, but when asked to make the estimates again one year later, the participants went back to their own original estimates.
D) The participants' estimate became almost identical over time, and then never changed.

Question 67

Unlike attitudes, social norms are:

A) Mental representations of appropriate ways of thinking and feeling.
B) An individual's positive or negative evaluations.
C) Shared group evaluations of what is appropriate or inappropriate.
D) Mental representations of appropriate ways of and acting

Question 68

Research on social neuroscience and conformity has shown which of the following results?

A) People's perceptions of faces are influenced by the judgments of others.
B) Conformity impacts our brain activity.
C) Social influence can impact our unconscious processing of information.
D) All of the above.

Question 69

Which of the following statements about culture and conformity is true?

A) Conformity does not occur in individualistic cultures.
B) People primed with a collectivistic mindset are more likely to conform.
C) Conformity is seen much more negatively in collectivistic cultures.
D) All of the above.

Question 70

Jane assumes that every reasonable person agrees that the toilet lid should be put down after every use. This assumption of Jane's reflects _________.

A) groupthink
B) group polarization
C) the false consensus effect
D) pluralistic ignorance

Question 71

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

A) Jill listens to the same kind of music that her sorority sisters do because she wants to fit in with them.
B) Meghan agrees with what her new coworkers say about her boss because she wants them to like her.
C) Amy decides to start a low-carb diet because the dieticians from her weight loss group recommended that she do so.
D) When she is with them, Anna agrees with her family about where to go on their next vacation, but then when she's alone again she changes her mind.

Question 72

Which of the following is TRUE about informational influence?

A) It is most likely to occur when the stakes are low.
B) It occurs when people feel little pressure to see the world accurately.
C) It occurs because people conform in public but not private.
D) It occurs because people believe that a group's norms reflect reality.

Question 73

In which of the following scenarios is informational influence most likely to occur?

A) A group of friends is trying to decide which movie to see.
B) An eyewitness to a burglary is describing the suspect to a sketch artist.
C) A jury is deliberating over the verdict in a murder trial.
D) A student just joined the drama club and wants to fit in with the other members.

Question 74

Asch conducted many different variations of his famous line study. He showed that conformity was first at its highest when:

A) 1 confederate gave the wrong answer.
B) 2 confederates gave the same wrong answer.
C) 3 confederates gave the same wrong answer.
D) 10 confederates gave the same wrong answer.

Question 75

In the line study, Asch measured the extent to which the real participant conformed after a group of confederates gave the same wrong answer. He showed that the rate of conformity decreased when:

A) One of the confederates went against the rest of the group and gave the correct answer.
B) One of the confederates went against the rest of the group and gave a different wrong answer.
C) Two confederates went against the rest of the group.
D) All of the above

Question 76

At work, George agrees with his fellow coworkers that they should go on strike, but when he gets home that night, he tells his wife that he thinks going on strike is a bad idea. At work, George is engaging in _______.

A) private conformity
B) public conformity
C) false consensus
D) pluralistic ignorance

Question 77

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of public conformity?

A) People truly believe what the group members say.
B) People go along with other group members when they are around them, but not when they are by themselves.
C) This type of conformity occurs when people respond to real pressure from others.
D) This type of conformity occurs when people respond to imagined pressure from others.

Question 78

_______ conformity was shown in the _______ study because the participants gave the same answer as the rest of the group up to a year later.

A) Private; Sherif light
B) Private; Asch line
C) Public; Sherif light
D) Public; Asch line

Question 79

__________ social norms are what a group of people think, feel or do. In contrast, __________ social norms are what a group of people should think, feel or do.

A) Descriptive; injunctive
B) Injunctive; descriptive
C) Informational; normative
D) Normative; informational

Question 80

Maggie knows that, in order to get good grades, she should study 2 hours for every credit hour she takes. This knowledge of what she should do is known as a(n):

A) Descriptive social norm
B) Injunctive social norm
C) Informational social norm
D) Normative social norm