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Do Experimental Manipulations of Pathogen Avoidance Motivations Influence Conformity?
Florian van Leeuwen1, Bastian Jaeger1, Willem W A Sleegers1
1Tilburg University, The Netherlands.
Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|March 22, 2023
Summary
Pathogen avoidance motivations show limited influence on conformity. Findings suggest the human mind does not possess a rapid psychological mechanism linking short-term pathogen concerns to conformity behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Conforming to ingroup norms facilitates group coordination and cohesion.
- Previous research indicated a link between heightened concerns about infectious disease and increased conformity.
- However, the benefits of group coordination extend beyond pathogen avoidance, questioning a direct causal link.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal effect of pathogen avoidance motivations on conformity.
- To test the hypothesis that experimentally increasing pathogen avoidance concerns influences conformity behavior.
Main Methods:
- Conducted five experiments with a total of 1,931 participants.
- Experimentally manipulated pathogen avoidance motivations in participants.
- Measured subsequent conformity behavior in response to ingroup norms.
Main Results:
- Found only limited support for the hypothesis that pathogen avoidance motivations directly influence conformity.
- Results were inconsistent with the idea of a fast-acting psychological mechanism regulating conformity based on short-term pathogen avoidance.
Conclusions:
- The human mind does not appear to have a rapid psychological mechanism that adjusts conformity based on immediate pathogen avoidance concerns.
- Conformity is likely influenced by a broader range of social and contextual factors beyond acute pathogen threat.
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