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Social Conformity

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Social conformity and role expectations are crucial in understanding how individuals adapt their behavior to align with societal norms. This adaptation is influenced by informational and normative social influences, as well as identification and internalization processes. Seminal research like the Stanford Prison Experiment and the BBC Prison Study highlight the complex dynamics of social role conformity. While adherence to social roles can promote order, it may also suppress individuality and innovation.

The Concept of Social Conformity and Role Expectations

Social conformity refers to the process by which individuals adapt their behavior to meet the expectations of a social group or society at large. This adaptation is often guided by social norms, which represent the implicit rules that govern behavior within a group. These norms can be explicit, such as laws and regulations, or implicit, like customs and etiquette. When individuals conform to social roles, they are adhering to the behaviors and attitudes expected of them in certain positions within a social hierarchy, such as those of a student, teacher, or parent. For instance, society typically expects children to exhibit curiosity and obedience, while parents are anticipated to demonstrate responsibility and nurturing.
Group of people sitting in a semicircle wearing gray and blue clothes, a central individual in a red shirt stands out for his relaxed attitude.

Psychological Mechanisms of Conformity to Social Roles

The psychological underpinnings of conformity to social roles can be attributed to two main types of social influence: informational and normative. Informational influence occurs when individuals conform because they believe the group's behavior is the correct way to respond, while normative influence involves conforming to avoid social sanctions or exclusion. Deutsch and Gerard's dual-process theory (1955) highlights these influences as central to understanding conformity. Additionally, identification with a group, where an individual adopts the values and behaviors of a group they admire, can lead to conformity, though such changes may be less permanent than those resulting from internalization, where the values and norms become part of the individual's own value system.

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00

______ is the act of changing one's behavior to align with the collective expectations of a ______ or society.

Social conformity

social group

01

Social roles involve conforming to expected ______ and ______ associated with specific positions like a student or parent.

behaviors

attitudes

02

Informational Influence Effect

Conformity due to belief in group's correctness.

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