Conformity, Obedience & Collective Behaviour (OCR GCSE Psychology): Revision Note

'Conformity' means agreeing with or following the behaviour, opinions, or beliefs of a group — usually the majority

People conform for two reasons: because they

• want to fit in (normative influence)

• believe the group knows better than they do (informational influence)

Sometimes individuals go along with a group even when they disagree privately — this is called compliance

• E.g. someone might laugh at a joke they don’t find funny or follow their friends to the canteen just to fit in

Conformity is different from obedience because it involves influence from a group, not following direct orders from an authority figure

It can be shaped by both:

• situational factors, e.g. group size or unanimity

• dispositional factors, e.g. personality or confidence

Examples of conformity:

• Joining in with teasing or bullying to avoid rejection

• Pretending to agree with friends to remain accepted in the group

• Copying what others are doing when you’re unsure what to do next

When people gather in a crowd, they may behave in ways they normally wouldn’t when alone

• This can happen because individuals feel anonymous in a crowd and experience deindividuation

According to Le Bon (1895), crowds can cause people to lose self-control and act impulsively because the group’s energy takes over

• This helps explain why some normally law-abiding people might take part in riots or vandalism when surrounded by others doing the same

Being part of a crowd can lead to antisocial behaviour (e.g. aggression, violence, rioting) or pro-social behaviour (e.g. helping others, charity events)

• The 2011 London riots are an example of antisocial collective behaviour

• The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is an example of pro-social collective behaviour

Crowds give individuals anonymity and reduced accountability, which can 'release' behaviour that might otherwise be held back by social norms

• This is why some people wear masks during protests or riots — it makes them feel less personally responsible

Obedience occurs when someone follows a direct order from a person with authority

• It differs from conformity because the influence comes from an individual authority figure (e.g. a teacher, parent, or police officer), not from a group

Obedience is necessary for society to function, e.g. following school rules or workplace instructions

• However, it can also lead to harmful outcomes when authority is misused, e.g. soldiers during World War II, who obeyed orders without question, resulting in devastating consequences

Milgram’s agency theory can explain obedience – people may follow orders because they are acting on behalf of someone else (an agent) rather than taking personal responsibility for their actions