Conformity pressures in AP Psychology

Definition

Conformity pressures refer to the social influence that leads individuals to change their beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors in order to fit into a group or meet societal expectations. It involves going along with the majority opinion or following social norms even if one's own beliefs differ.

Related terms

Groupthink:

Groupthink is a phenomenon where members of a group prioritize harmony and consensus over critical thinking, leading to poor decision-making and conformity.

Social norms: Social norms are unwritten rules that dictate acceptable behavior within a society or group. These norms can exert strong conformity pressures on individuals.

Obedience:

Obedience refers to complying with direct commands from an authority figure, often resulting in conformity even when it goes against one's personal beliefs.