Conformity and peer rejection.

Abstract

This study examined adolescent conformity involving peer rejection in the face of a negative group opinion. 192 adolescents rated the likeability of a hypothetical peer prior to and after exposure to an apparently negative group opinion of the peer. The measure of conformity was derived from the difference between likeability ratings of the hypothetical peer before and after exposure to the negative group norm. Subjects participated in either friendship cliques or non-clique groups, and expected either that the other group members would see their opinions (public condition) or that their opinions would be kept to themselves (private condition). Overall, subjects conformed more in clique groups than in groups comprised of non-clique members. However, this effect was dependent on both sex and surveillance variables. Females conformed the most when they both were in their cliques and expected their group members to see their opinions. Conversely, males conformed most when they were also in their cliques, but expected their opinions to be kept to themselves. Fear of negative evaluation did not correlate significantly with conformity behaviour. Implications of these findings for the role of conformity in peer rejection are discussed.