In what kinds of situations are people most likely to yield to normative social influence pressures?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer: In general, people are more responsive to normative pressures when these pressures come from three or more others. Of course, conformity does not increase linearly as group size increases; Solomon Asch (1955) found that conformity did not increase appreciably when the majority exceeded four people. Because normative influence hinges on the need to be liked, the more important the group is to the individual, the more he or she will conform. Unanimous groups are also more likely to induce conformity; even one other dissenter will reduce conformity. Finally, both cultural and personal variables may affect conformity to normative social influence. In general, members of interdependent agricultural societies are more conforming than members of more independent hunting and fishing societies. There is also some evidence that women are slightly more conforming than men, perhaps because more than men, women have been socialized to be supportive and agreeable.