Social exchange theory: An integrative approach to social conformity.

Abstract

Theoretical and research studies of social conformity are reviewed and integrated through a revised social exchange model. The concept of utility is discarded from the basic economic model in favor of a revealed preference, and this approach is then applied to the existing work on social conformity and approval. The behavior of subjects in conformity and approval studies is assumed to reflect a preference in the manner done in economics. Predictions made from the exchange model are found to be consistent with the existing knowledge about conformity. It is concluded that exchange theory provides a useful vehicle for data integration and generation of new hypotheses about social conformity. The model allows for the process of social conformity to be considered in dynamic terms, treating the influence source and influenced person simultaneously.

Effects of task orientation and level of prior agreement on willingness to agree

“…In his recent review. Nord (1969) has suggested that two things are necessary for PSy'chon. Sei., 1970, Vol.…”

Exploring the Relationship Between Public Opinion and Personal Attitudes and Behavior Toward Lesbians and Gay Men: Social Conformity Revisited

“…There has also been limited empirical investigation of the continuity between heterosexist attitudes and behavior (Hornsey et al, 2004). It has been suggested that the contemporary social psychology emphasis on the relationship between attitudes and behavior may have halted the more inclusive study of the effect of social norms on the development of personal attitudes and behavior researched in the 1950s in the conformity studies of Asch (1952,1956) and others (Crutchfield, 1955;Jacobs & Campbell, 1961;Mackie & Smith, 1998;Nord, 1969).…”

Altruism, the free rider problem and group size

“…Recently several studies done by experimental social psychologists have demonstrated that individuals faced with an emergency situation are more likely to render aid when alone than when in the presence of others (Darley and Latan6, 1968;Latan6 and Dadey, 1968, 1969, 1970aLatan6 and Rodin, 1969;Schwartz and Clausen, 1970;Levy et al, 1972;Clark and Word, 1972). The typical procedure used by these researchers involves exposing one or more persons to an event which is an emergency but is not without an element of ambiguity, such as the presence of smoke, overhearing an adult or child fall from a chair with accompanying crying and groaning, listening to a seizure victim's plea for help and hearing a maintenance man fall from a ladder.…”