Participants in an experiment are asked to look at pictures of different infants and rate the attractiveness of each infant on a 10-point scale. The participants are tested in groups of three and indicate their ratings aloud. For almost all of the infants, the participants tend to give ratings similar to other group members. In which of the following situations can we infer that their ratings represent private conformity rather than public conformity?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Private conformity occurs when individuals adjust their attitudes or behaviors to align with those of a group, and this change persists even when they are alone. Choice B indicates that the participants' ratings remain consistent whether they are in a group or alone, suggesting that their ratings reflect genuine private conformity rather than merely conforming to group norms in public settings.

Participants in an Experiment Are Asked to Look at Pictures