Question

Williams and Nida (2001) found that when ostracized during an online Frisbee-like game, players were _______ to conform to others' wrong judgments on a subsequent perceptual task.

a) Less likely
b) More likely
c) Somewhat likely
d) Not likely

Answer 1

Players ostracized in an online game are not likely to conform to wrong group judgments on subsequent tasks, as social dynamics studies show that having an ally or the ability to respond privately decreases conformity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Williams and Nida (2001) found that players who were ostracized during an online game were not likely to conform to others' wrong judgments on a subsequent perceptual task. This finding aligns with the Asch conformity experiments, where Asch (1955) discovered that individuals were more inclined to go against the group's wrong judgments if they had at least one ally who also dissented. When people are entirely isolated, they may experience heightened susceptibility to group pressure. However, the presence of another nonconforming individual significantly reduces this tendency. The likelihood of an individual conforming decreased when they were able to answer in a relatively private manner, which lowered the immediate social pressure.

In summary, the factors known to influence conformity include the size of the majority, the presence of an ally, and the public or relatively private nature of responses. Research into conformity and group pressure like these has extensively contributed to our understanding of social dynamics and the impact of group influence on individual behavior.