Persons exhibit conformity to group norms or expectations by emitting responses they would emit less frequently or not at all had the group influence not been present. We propose to call this phenomenon "conformity by commission, "since behaviors are committed in response to the conforming influence. Persons also conform by avoiding or refusing to perform certain behaviors that group norms or expectations discourage. We have labeled this "conformity by omission" since behaviors are omitted in this context. In this study we have demonstrated "conformity by omission "with the autokinetic effect. Subjects participating alone reported significantly more autokinetic movement than did subjects who were led to believe that they were participating with two other subjects who reported no movement.

In an attempt to apply the concept of group dynamics to family dynamics, entire families performed a quality solution type task. The process utilized by these families was evaluated by a jury trained in group dynamics on the criteria used to evaluate nonfamily group functioning. A panel of family experts ranked the family solutions on the task. This ranking was correlated with group process ranking on 11 group dynamics characteristics derived from the literature. Analysis indicated four summary characteristics are unimportant or unobservable, two influenced families and groups oppositely, and the remaining characteristics were detrimental to both. The characteristics are examined by virtue of the literature supporting them in both family and group functioning. Explanations compatible with current family thought are offered for the results. Suggestions for future research are included.