Stereotyping and Nonconformity:The Effects of Punk Music on Social Behavior.

Previous research has demonstrated that nonconformist behavior can be primed via visual activation of nonconformist stereotypes. The present experiments were conducted to determine if nonconformity can be primed via aural activation of the punk stereotype. In Study 1, 46 male and 104 female students from McDaniel College were primed with punk, popular, or no music and exposed to social pressure. Not only did participants exposed to punk music fail to exhibit nonconformity, they conformed more than participants who heard popular music and almost as much as those without a prime. As Study 2 determined that members of the population in question did associate the stereotype of nonconformity with punk music, possible alternative explanations and areas for further research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]