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Are people really conformist-biased? An empirical test and a new mathematical model

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 14:35 authored by K Eriksson, J C Coultas
According to an influential theory in cultural evolution, within-group similarity of culture is explained by a human 'conformist-bias', which is a hypothesized evolved predisposition to preferentially follow a member of the majority when acquiring ideas and behaviours. However, this notion has little support from social psychological research. In fact, a major theory in social psychology (LATANÉ and WOLF, 1981) argues for what is in effect a ‘nonconformist-bias’: by analogy to standard psychophysics they predict minority sources of influence to have relatively greater impact than majority sources. Here we present a new mathematical model and an experiment on social influence, both specifically designed to test these competing predictions. The results are in line with nonconformism. Finally, we discuss within-group similarity and suggest that it is not a general phenomenon but must be studied trait by trait.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Journal of Evolutionary Psychology

ISSN

1789-2082

Publisher

Akadémiai Kiadó

Issue

1

Volume

7

Page range

5-21

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2013-03-12

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2013-03-12

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