The Effects of Peer Pressure on Social Conformity

Authors

Jeniffer ZouFollow
Kayla ColleyFollow
Abby WestbrookFollow
Caroline Grace CoeyFollow
Meg CombsFollow

Publication Date

Fall 2022

College

Sciences and Mathematics, College of

Department

Psychological Science, Department of

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Abstract

The urge to be a member of a group, to fit in, and peer pressure can lead to many unexpected and unwanted repercussions. We see evidence of such consequences around us and even within ourselves daily. Social media can easily contribute to this problem by either allowing users to present their lives as something they are not, a deceptive representation of their true wants, or by allowing them to express their opinions in a way that denigrates those of others. To examine the link between peer pressure and social conformity, researchers have been studying whether strength of attraction to a group determines degree of conformity. Many studies attest to this hypothesis. This study utilizes 60 participants selected from Belmont University’s students enrolled in Scientific Psychology, General Psychology or Introductory Psychology courses. Students would participate this study under the impression that the study subject was understanding the effects of different type of schooling on long-term retention of information. They were asked to take a short test, during which confederates will attempt to push them to cheat after being explicitly told not to do so. We hypothesized that individuals are more likely to cheat when prompted to do so by their peer and when students are not prompted to cheat, they will not cheat out of fear of disrupting group harmonics. Data collection to test these hypotheses are ongoing, and results will be presented at SURS. The implication of this study allows us to reflect on the choices we make due to peer pressure and to reevaluate whether following the majority is always the right choice.

Recommended Citation

Zou, Jeniffer; Colley, Kayla; Westbrook, Abby; Coey, Caroline Grace; and Combs, Meg, "The Effects of Peer Pressure on Social Conformity" (2022). Science University Research Symposium (SURS). 46.
https://repository.belmont.edu/surs/46