The positive conformity experiment: judgments and decisions in cohesive groups under the pressure of positive attitudes

Xhimi Hysa, Mario Calabrese, Alberto Bilotta and Francesca Iandolo

International Journal of Management and Decision Making, 2021, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-28

Abstract: In classical conformity experiments, the conformity has been defined as a negative phenomenon or as a distortion of judgment under the group pressure. Furthermore, experiments are mainly performed within social aggregates rather than on groups, and even less on cohesive ones. This study aims to reshape positively the conformity while happening within cohesive groups. It shows how the positive social pressure of cohesive group members, intended as an influence based on optimism, can cause to the less optimistic group member a positive conformity. The present research relies on a quasi-experimental design in a cross-cultural setting. It considers the positive influence within groups of family members belonging to family businesses that are cohesive in terms of values. Both 'positive conformity' as a concept and 'positive conformity experiment' as a procedure are originated in this study. Findings show that out of 129 naïve, 54 conformed totally, 46 partially, and 29 resisted.

Keywords: positive conformity; positive conformity experiment; PCE; picture apperception value test; PAVT; optimism; cohesiveness; family business. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=112354 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijmdma:v:20:y:2021:i:1:p:1-28

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in International Journal of Management and Decision Making from Inderscience Enterprises Ltd
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sarah Parker ().