Studies on Conformity and Obedience

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Studies on Conformity and Obedience 0
Title: Studies on Conformity and Obedience
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Studies on Conformity and Obedience 1
Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Conformity.................................................................................................................................2
Studies....................................................................................................................................2
Evaluation of this Study.........................................................................................................3
Two Explanations...................................................................................................................3
Usefulness of Study................................................................................................................4
Obedience...................................................................................................................................4
Studies....................................................................................................................................4
Evaluation of Studies.............................................................................................................4
Two Explanations...................................................................................................................5
Usefulness of Obedience........................................................................................................5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................5
References..................................................................................................................................7
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Studies on Conformity and Obedience 2
Introduction
Social behavior can be defined as an activity performed by one individual that
modifies, alters or qualifies to influence the social act of another individual. This is a
continuous process in which society encourages a change which is followed by other
individuals and group, thus, it is a never-ending process. People have the tendency to alter or
change their behaviors and attitudes according to the people surrounding them. People start
imitating other people’s gestures, body language, their way of talking, and many other
different behaviors. The other aspect which is crucial and associated with human behavior is
obedience.
Conformity
Conformity can be defined as the predisposition of a person to adapt to a similar
attitude, belief, and behavior of the other people, with the mere motive to fit in. According to
the study conducted by Asch in the line judgment experiment, this was found that people will
follow the group opinion to the core, even if the evidence in front of their eyes presents a
different story (Buzzell, Fedota, Roberts & McDonald, 2014).
Studies
The two studies which have been taken into account are –
Solomon Asch
According to the Asch Visual Judgment experiment study, this has been found
that people tend to attain wrong habits quickly and then follow them blindly.
According to this study, the main influence on conformity happens due to people
majority and its size, the presence of dissenter, and the nature of response which can
be private or public (Chen et al., 2010).
Stanley Milgram
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Studies on Conformity and Obedience 3
According to the study of Milgram, this has been found that an individual or
group will do anything when they are commanded by a person in authority. Also,
people will follow the commands by going against their principles and beliefs.
Evaluation of this Study
In both the studies conducted by Asch & Milgram, the experiment of line segments
and electric shocks respectively, exhibited some core problems associated with people blindly
following other people’s or groups (Gibson, 2018).
In Asch’s study, the methodology adapted by individuals was that they were mainly
dependent on confederates and thus, due to the social pressure, they answered incorrectly
76% of times. According to Milgram study, the methodology adapted was that the number of
shocks offered by the individual will determine the main result.
Both these studies exhibited ethical concerns, like in Asch’s study, the societal
pressure forced the individual to go against their principles and beliefs. Also, in Milgram
study, people followed the authoritative power and 65% of the people continuously gave
electric shocks to the person tied to the chair. Both of these aspects showed ethical issues
(Gibson, 2011).
Two Explanations
In Asch’s study, people’s decision is determined mainly by Confederates, but the
main influence of conformity happens due to majority size. As more people, gave a similar
answer, thus, the remaining people are forced to follow a similar answer. But the biggest
limitation of this study was that if there is a dissenter present, then conformity reduces to
zero.
In Milgram’s study, the researchers estimated that one psychopath or sadist people
will participate in the electric shock experiment, which will be one or two percent. But, 65%
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Studies on Conformity and Obedience 4
of the people continued with the experiment it was due to the authoritative power, which was
governing the individuals.
Usefulness of Study
The study of conformity can be utilized in encouraging individuals and groups to
adapt to better social behavior and attitudes. This is a great method to bring a revolution by
transforming the attitude of a large audience for a better society.
Obedience
The other aspect of social behavior is obedience. Obedience can be defined as a more
powerful force that pushes an individual or a group to do a task with or without their wish.
Obedience is also identified as a positive trait, as from an early stage people are advised to
obey their teachers, parents, and other good people (Javarone, 2014).
Studies
Stanley Milgram
The main aim of the shock experiment of Milgram was to test the extent to
which a person obeys a command. The result obtained from this study highlighted that
an ordinary person will go to the extent of killing a person, by obeying the commands
of authoritative power.
Zimbardo’s Prison Experiment
With the help of his prison experiment, Zimbardo was able to find that people
though have the habit of obeying the commands of an authoritative person, but the
various different environmental factors and the personality traits play a crucial role in
pushing an individual or group to obey (Russell, 2011).
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Studies on Conformity and Obedience 5
Evaluation of Studies
From the studies, this can be formulated that one crucial factor that governs obedience
is the level of responsibility. The shocking truth associated with obedience is that if the level
of responsibility is less, then the person will tend to obey more, it is due to the fact that they
are not much concerned about the repercussions. This also impacts social behavior
immensely, providing shocking results.
The methodology used by Milgram was an electric shock, which will intensify after
every shock. In this experiment, the experimenter stopped after a while when the electric
shock raised to 300 volts. The methodology adapted by Zimbardo has to be stopped in six
days as the role played by prisoners intensified and resulted in physical and mental abuse
(Xie et al., 2016).
Thus, both the stories have a certain limitation which includes the unethical behavior
of the people who are obeying the command and causing huge pain to the people.
Two Explanations
In the experiment conducted by Milgram, the teacher stopped the electric shock, as it
was getting painful for him to follow the command and was feeling responsible for the
student.
In the prison experiment by Zimbardo, the guards have very less responsibility, thus,
they increased their abuse on the prisoners. As with less responsibility, the chances of
obeying are higher, was showcased in this experiment.
Usefulness of Obedience
According to the studies, obedience can be used for facilitating a strong leadership
quality in individuals, this will also increase the level of responsibility on the individuals,
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Studies on Conformity and Obedience 6
helping in managing the social behavior more appropriately (Zeigler-Hill, Southard, Archer
& Donohoe, 2013).
Conclusion
Thus, this can be formulated from the two aspects of social behavior, conformity and
obedience that blindly following people can be a dangerous task. Also, it should be noted that
there are many other factors that govern social behavior of individuals to follow or obey a
person. Thus, both these aspects should be utilized effectively by appropriately managing
their limitations.
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Studies on Conformity and Obedience 7
References
Buzzell, G., Fedota, J., Roberts, D., & McDonald, C. (2014). The N2 ERP component as an
index of impaired cognitive control in smokers. Neuroscience Letters, 563(1), 61-65.
Chen, M., Ma, Q., Li, M., Lai, H., Wang, X., & Shu, L. (2010). Cognitive and emotional
conflicts of counter-conformity choice in purchasing books online: An event-related
potentials study. Biological Psychology, 85(3), 437-445.
Gibson, S. (2011). Milgram's obedience experiments: A rhetorical analysis. British Journal
Of Social Psychology, 52(2), 290-309.
Gibson, S. (2018). Obedience without orders: Expanding social psychology's conception of
‘obedience’. British Journal Of Social Psychology, 58(1), 241-259.
Javarone, M. (2014). Social influences in opinion dynamics: The role of conformity. Physica
A: Statistical Mechanics And Its Applications, 414(1), 19-30.
Russell, N. (2011). Milgram's obedience to authority experiments: Origins and early
evolution. British Journal Of Social Psychology, 50(1), 140-162.
Xie, Y., Chen, M., Lai, H., Zhang, W., Zhao, Z., & Anwar, C. (2016). Neural Basis of Two
Kinds of Social Influence: Obedience and Conformity. Frontiers In Human
Neuroscience, 10(51), 20-50. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00051
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Studies on Conformity and Obedience 8
Zeigler-Hill, V., Southard, A., Archer, L., & Donohoe, P. (2013). Neuroticism and Negative
Affect Influence the Reluctance to Engage in Destructive Obedience in the Milgram
Paradigm. The Journal Of Social Psychology, 153(2), 161-174.
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