Abstract
This paper discusses conformity as a consequence of social perception that influences behavior. The paper examines the concept of conformity from the context of its significance in social psychology. Issues concerning conformity such as the need for acceptance, the role of authority and when and why conformity occurs are addressed by the paper.

From the Paper
"The purpose of this research is to examine the phenomenon of conformity as consequence of social perceptions that influence behavior. The plan of the research will be to set forth the context in which this issue achieves significance in social psychology and then to assess when people are most likely to conform to normative social influences. To that end, the research will discuss the need for acceptance, when and why conformity occurs, the importance of accountability in a social context ,the power of propaganda to effect conformity..."

Tags:conformity, social, influence, propaganda, social, norms

Abstract
This paper examines the role of priming on several social psychology behaviors including attitudes, judgements and conformity. The paper provides a description of priming and of each of the social behaviors discussed in the paper. The paper then focuses on describing past research that shows the ways in which priming affects these behaviors.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Priming Attitudes/Judgments
Priming Social Conformity

From the Paper
"Schemas are cognitive representations of nonsocial and social objects that are stored in memory in associative networks. Activation of a schema increases its accessibility in the present and in the future. One way to activate a schema is through priming. Priming is any experience or mental activity that occurs prior to an event or situation and which increases the likelihood that relevant schema will be made more accessible. Such experiences or activities are referred to as primes and primes vary in the level of activation or accessibility they create. The minimum prime required to activate a schema is called the response threshold (Moskowitz, 2005). This can then affect a perception, judgment, and/or behavior by associative processes in memory. In this paper I will examine priming effects on judgments and social conformity by describing several relevant studies and their results."

Tags:conformity, behavior, influence

Abstract
This paper analyzes Thoreau's position on the necessity of both rebellion against government and conformity with certain social norms and mores. The paper refers to Thoreau's essay, on "Civil Disobedience" as the basis for his political beliefs.

From the Paper
"Henry David Thoreau introduces his essay "Civil Disobedience" with the assertion that in his view; "That government is best which governs least." In this simple and straightforward statement, Thoreau reveals that he is at heart a Libertarian who believes that small, unobtrusive, minimal government will provide the greatest amount of personal freedom and freedom of conscience to an individual. However, though he himself was hardly unwilling to rebel against what he considered unjust and unfair or simply wrong headed government, Thoreau saw a place..."

Tags:Henry David Thoreau, On Civil Disobedience, resistance, conformity

Abstract
An examination of how the themes of obedience and conformity are reflected in society, as well as in George Orwell's novel, "1984." The paper explains the nature of society's influence on the individual.

From the Paper
"In George Orwell's frightening account of a society not too far removed from our own we find ourselves considering the nature of society's influence upon the individual and how that might be affected via propaganda, rhetoric advertisement or authority. The same notions have been considered by psychologists for quite some time."

Tags:milgram, asch, lessing, conformity, obedience, 1984, 0rwell

Abstract
This paper discusses three different poems that have the themes of rebellion and conformity. The poems by Helen Sorrell, Langston Hughes, and Nii Parkes have two themes in common. All three of these poems have the themes rebellion and conformity as their topics. The question addressed in these poems is whether to rebel against someone or to conform whether it is to another person or to society as a whole.

From the Paper
"The poems by Helen Sorrell, Langston Hughes, and Nii Parkes have two themes in common. All three of these poems have the themes rebellion and conformity as their topics. The question addressed in these poems is whether to rebel against someone or to conform whether it is to another person or to society as a whole. Langston Hughes was an African American who lived during a time when African Americans were not accepted in many places. In order to conform to society, Langston realized that many dreams of African Americans had to conform to the rules of society. Yet, Langston never conformed to society..."

Tags:conform, rebel, society

Abstract
The paper reviews studies on conformity to the standards of expected male or female behavior, and reveals that the more aggressive traits towards non-conformity are attributed to the male gender. The paper explores how shame is a related concept that increases the possibility of conformity and addresses the heightened awareness of looks and peer pressure during adolescence. The paper shows how studies have found that women conform more easily than men, but points out that there is a wide variance of conformity on a case by case level.

From the Paper
"Conformity has many levels and varieties and levels of compliance can vary greatly within the individual as well as have both subtle and overt element based on gender characteristics. Research has also shown that conformity can vary depending on the environment and circumstance, whether the issue is being tested immediately in front of a group where the individual is being put "on the spot" or on how the individual relates to the larger societal constraints in general. This relationship to society often involves not only conformity to certain social structures but conformity to the "norms" of both behaviors (law and order) as well as gender (conforming to typically male or female roles)."

Tags:adolescence, shame, peer, pressure

Abstract
This paper evaluates the influence of group dynamics on the individual, bringing together classical and contemporary analysis. Within the discussion as to how individuals are affected by group dynamics, the concepts of conformity and obedience are addressed. Additionally, the paper cites various scholars and research articles on this topic. In particular, the paper notes the similarities and differences between conformity and obedience. The paper also explores the concept of altruism and prosocial behavior, using the examples of volunteers who provide "direct care" services, such as comforting the victims of sexual assault. Next, the paper examines the effect of group influence on the self, using Stanley Milgrim's classic work "Obedience to Authority" as the basis for the discussion. Finally, the paper describes how individual and societal influences can lead to deviance from dominant group norms.


Outline:

Compare and Contrast the Concepts of Conformity and Obedience
How does Altruism apply to the Self and to one's Behavior?
The Effect of Group Influence on the Self
A Contemporary Example of the Effect that Group Influence has on the Self
Individual and Societal Influences that Lead to Deviance from Dominant Group Norms

From the Paper
"As to obedience, renowned researcher Stanley Milgram explains that obedience is as "basic" a part of the fabric of society "as one can point to" (Milgram, 1974). Writing in Harper's Magazine Milgram goes on to assert that obedience is "a deeply ingrained behavior tendency"; it is "a potent impulse overriding training in ethics, sympathy, and moral conduct" (Milgram, 1974). And the "dilemma inherent in submission to authority is ancient...and the question of whether one should obey when commands conflict with conscience" has been debated as far back as ancient Greece (Plato) (Milgram, 1974). Milgram explains that some degree of obedience is "a requirement" in communal living situations. There has to be some level of authority in every community, large or small - otherwise chaos would ensue (Milgram). The only individuals who do not have to respond to the commands of others, Milgram insists, are those living in "isolation." "

Tags:political orientation, group dynamics, majority, individual, Stanley Milgra, altruism

Abstract
The paper looks at several landmark psychological experiments and national events that have illustrated the negative potential of social conformity and obedience, including Solomon Asch's experiments, the Stanford prison experiment and how members of the American Armed Forces stationed at the Abu Ghraib detention facility in Iraq engaged in systematic abuse and torture of prisoners of war. The paper also discusses how advertising is most often designed to stimulate conformity through informational influence and finally, examines the individual and societal influences leading to deviance from group norms.

Outline:
Conformity and Obedience
Classical Study of Group Influence on the Individual
Contemporary Example of Group Influence on the Individual
Individual and Societal Influences Leading to Deviance from Group Norms

From the Paper
"In the early 1950s, psychologist Solomon Asch (1907-1996) demonstrated the power of group influence and the susceptibility of the individual to blind conformity. Asch's experiments involved subjects within groups of confederates all of whom agreed unanimously on an obviously wrong answer, such as the comparative lengths of two lines depicted in a drawing. Those experiments revealed that many subjects will change their answer and support the group's consensus instead of maintaining their original position without being influenced by the group (Gerrig & Zimbardo, 2008).
"It is thought that various factors determine whether or not (or to what degree) different people are susceptible to group influence. Generally, the size of the group, its degree of unanimity, its relative social status, and variation in aspects of individual psychology in the realm of self-esteem and confidence all contribute to the power of the group to influence the individual in specific cases (Gerrig & Zimbardo, 2008).
"In 1970, psychologist Phillip Zimbardo conducted the (now) famous Stanford Prison Experiment in which psychology study volunteers were randomly assigned to be prisoners or prison guards in a simulated prison facility created for the experiment. Without any direction from Zimbardo, the guard group followed the lead of the most dominant individuals and the individual guards became so abusive to their fellow classmates playing the roles of prisoners that Zimbardo had to stop the experiment barely halfway through its scheduled two-week run."

Tags:Stanford, prison, Abu, Ghraib, advertising, norms

Abstract
The Confucian society of ancient China was filled with specific norms and values. Conforming or not conforming to these specific values could cause negative or positive impacts in many individuals' lives. This paper discusses how the characters Pao-yu, Precious Virtue, Black Jade, Phoenix and Chia Lien from "Dream of the Red Chamber" by Hsueh Tsao Chin; Shen Fu and his wife Yun from "The Six Records of a Floating Life" by Shen Fu and Women Wang from "The Death of Women Wang" by Jonathan Spence do or do not conform to Confucian society and the affect that this conformity has on their lives.

From the Paper
"Black Jade (Lin Ku-niang) another character from Dream of the Red Chamber is the woman Pao-yu is deeply in love with, like her lover she also has a rebellious nature. Black Jade is a very emotional, sensitive and dramatic girl who fails to conform to society because she was not an individual who showed filial piety, which was significant in a Confucian society. Black Jade loved Pao-yu and believed strongly that they were soul mates and destined to be married. The superiors in the Chia household especially the Matriarch, found Black Jade to have an arrogant and willful nature, they were not impressed by her unbridled behavior and found her speech to be most offending especially since it resulted as filial impiety. "

Tags:black, chamber, chia, fu, jade, lien, life, mei, pao, phoenix, red, shen, six, society, virtue, wang, yu, yuan, yun

Abstract
The author states that that he is a student and that governs virtually everything important he does. The author defines being a student as conforming behavior. The author thinks that spotting conformity may be a little like pealing an onion, each layer hides another layer, so that may be hard to discover real personal choice.

From the Paper
"For the most part I have been blind to this conformity. Perhaps that is the nature of conformity, that it requires that people do not make active choices. As I look at pictures of family members, I can see that all the young women in the 1970's had long straight hair, but all the young women in the early 1960's had bubble hairdos. I look at the young women around me today, and I don't see such a pattern. Some have long hair; some have short. Some have medium length hair, but it's blue."

Tags:behavior, onion, personal, choice, hair