Structural Tightness and Social Conformity

Abstract

A discrepancy between our findings and those of J. W. Berry and associates concerning the relative independence/ compliance of subjects from tight and loose societies is noted. It is suggested that methodologically this discrepancy derives from a difference in the two Asch-type testing procedures employed. More importantly, however, the data suggest the need for a conceptual refinement of the tight/loose dimension such that the source of external influence (imposed collective role expectations versus the situated expectations of role-specific others) becomes the major distinguishing feature.