Conformity and modeling in an aversive task

Abstract

High- and low-conformity groups, as measured by the California Personality Inventory, were exposed to a video-taped model who performed an aversive task (i.e., self-administration of electric shock). Comparable groups performed the task without demonstration by the model. In both groups, the modeling procedure produced significantly higher levels of self-administered shock. However, the conformity variable demonstrated no main effect and no interaction with the modeling variable.

What neurobiology cannot tell us about addiction

“…A further problem is that equating ‘reward’ with motivation for drug use, although seemingly a reasonable concept, is almost certainly too simple. It has been known for many years that under certain circumstances experimental animals and humans will press a lever to self‐administer an electric shock or other painful stimulus that is ordinarily aversive [49,50]. One may postulate that under conditions of paucity of external stimulation the animal experiences something akin to boredom and that in this state it finds even a painful stimulus somehow rewarding, but that is at best an anthropomorphic conjecture.…”

Effectiveness of Prompts and Models on Food Composting by Restaurant Patrons

“…One report has shown that even individuals with a -low conforming‖ personality (measured by the California Personality Inventory) are liable to conform to group norms (Belvedere & Pasewark, 1976). Sociological studies have demonstrated that once a pro-environmental culture is established in a population, individuals within it are prone to behaving ecologically (Guerin, Crete, & Mercier, 2001;Higgs & McMillan, 2006), and they feel embarrassed when behaving in a manner contrary to the norm (Grasmick, Bursik, & Kinsey, 1991).…”