1.1: Conformity (majority influence)

Question 1

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks)

Answer 1

Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast

Question 2

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
What is there a desire to be?

Answer 2

There is a desire to be liked

Question 3

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and what does NSI lead to?

Answer 3

There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance

Question 4

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, why?

Answer 4

There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons

Question 5

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a what change in view or behaviour?

Answer 5

It is a temporary change in view or behaviour

Question 6

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI)​

Answer 6

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information​

Question 7

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
What is there a desire to be?​

Answer 7

There is a desire to be right​

Question 8

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and what does ISI lead to?

Answer 8

There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation​

Question 9

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, why?

Answer 9

There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons​

Question 10

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a what change in view or behaviour?

Answer 10

It is a permanent change in view or behaviour

Question 11

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Who developed a two-process theory?

Answer 11

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory​

Question 12

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing what?

Answer 12

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform​

Question 13

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on what?

Answer 13

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs​

Question 14

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, what?

Answer 14

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI)

Question 15

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

First AO3 PEEL paragraph

Answer 15

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI​

Question 16

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, what?

Answer 16

However, more often, both processes are involved​

Question 17

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
Example

Answer 17

For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment​

Question 18

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
What may this dissenter do?

Answer 18

This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI or NSI​

Question 19

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (why) or NSI?

Answer 19

This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI​

Question 20

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (why)?

Answer 20

This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support)​

Question 21

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
What does this show?

Answer 21

This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work​

Question 22

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
Where is this the case?

Answer 22

This is the case in laboratory studies​

Question 23

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but what?

Answer 23

This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory

Question 24

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
What does this show?

Answer 24

This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour

Question 25

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

Second AO3 PEEL paragraph

Answer 25

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations​

Question 26

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations.
Example

Answer 26

For example, Asch got participants to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect​

Question 27

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations.
For example, Asch got participants to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect.
In the post-experimental debriefing, what did many say?

Answer 27

In the post-experimental debriefing, many said ‘I didn’t want to look stupid’ or ‘I didn’t want to be the odd one out’​

Question 28

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations.
For example, Asch got participants to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect.
In the post-experimental debriefing, many said ‘I didn’t want to look stupid’ or ‘I didn’t want to be the odd one out.’
Therefore, what did they do?

Answer 28

Therefore, they compromised​

Question 29

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations.
For example, Asch got participants to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect.
In the post-experimental debriefing, many said ‘I didn’t want to look stupid’ or ‘I didn’t want to be the odd one out.’
Therefore, they compromised, with what being completely different?

Answer 29

Therefore, they compromised, with what they said and believed being completely different​

Question 30

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations.
For example, Asch got participants to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect.
In the post-experimental debriefing, many said ‘I didn’t want to look stupid’ or ‘I didn’t want to be the odd one out.’
Therefore, they compromised, with what they said (what) and believed being completely different?

Answer 30

Therefore, they compromised, with what they said (publicly) and believed being completely different​

Question 31

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations.
For example, Asch got participants to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect.
In the post-experimental debriefing, many said ‘I didn’t want to look stupid’ or ‘I didn’t want to be the odd one out.’
Therefore, they compromised, with what they said (publicly) and believed (what) being completely different?

Answer 31

Therefore, they compromised, with what they said (publicly) and believed (privately) being completely different​

Question 32

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations.
For example, Asch got participants to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect.
In the post-experimental debriefing, many said ‘I didn’t want to look stupid’ or ‘I didn’t want to be the odd one out.’
Therefore, they compromised, with what they said (publicly) and believed (privately) being completely different, demonstrating what?

Answer 32

Therefore, they compromised, with what they said (publicly) and believed (privately) being completely different, demonstrating an example of compliance​

Question 33

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations.
For example, Asch got participants to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect.
In the post-experimental debriefing, many said ‘I didn’t want to look stupid’ or ‘I didn’t want to be the odd one out.’
Therefore, they compromised, with what they said (publicly) and believed (privately) being completely different, demonstrating an example of compliance.
What does this suggest?

Answer 33

This suggests that NSI is a valid explanation of why people conform​

Question 34

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations.
For example, Asch got participants to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect.
In the post-experimental debriefing, many said ‘I didn’t want to look stupid’ or ‘I didn’t want to be the odd one out.’
Therefore, they compromised, with what they said (publicly) and believed (privately) being completely different, demonstrating an example of compliance.
This suggests that NSI is a valid explanation of why people conform.

Third AO3 PEEL paragraph

Answer 34

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that informational influence can explain conformity in ambiguous situations in which both public and private agreement occurs​

Question 35

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations.
For example, Asch got participants to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect.
In the post-experimental debriefing, many said ‘I didn’t want to look stupid’ or ‘I didn’t want to be the odd one out.’
Therefore, they compromised, with what they said (publicly) and believed (privately) being completely different, demonstrating an example of compliance.
This suggests that NSI is a valid explanation of why people conform.

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that informational influence can explain conformity in ambiguous situations in which both public and private agreement occurs.
Example

Answer 35

For example, Jenness gave participants a task with no clear answer, estimating how many jellybeans there were in a jar​​

Question 36

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations.
For example, Asch got participants to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect.
In the post-experimental debriefing, many said ‘I didn’t want to look stupid’ or ‘I didn’t want to be the odd one out.’
Therefore, they compromised, with what they said (publicly) and believed (privately) being completely different, demonstrating an example of compliance.
This suggests that NSI is a valid explanation of why people conform.

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that informational influence can explain conformity in ambiguous situations in which both public and private agreement occurs.
For example, Jenness gave participants a task with no clear answer, estimating how many jellybeans there were in a jar.
Jenness found that individual estimates moved towards the estimates of others, showing that they genuinely (what) believed these estimates?

Answer 36

Jenness found that individual estimates moved towards the estimates of others, showing that they genuinely (privately) believed these estimates

Question 37

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations.
For example, Asch got participants to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect.
In the post-experimental debriefing, many said ‘I didn’t want to look stupid’ or ‘I didn’t want to be the odd one out.’
Therefore, they compromised, with what they said (publicly) and believed (privately) being completely different, demonstrating an example of compliance.
This suggests that NSI is a valid explanation of why people conform.

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that informational influence can explain conformity in ambiguous situations in which both public and private agreement occurs.
For example, Jenness gave participants a task with no clear answer, estimating how many jellybeans there were in a jar.
What did Jenness find?

Answer 37

Jenness found that individual estimates moved towards the estimates of others, showing that they genuinely (privately) believed these estimates, demonstrating an example of internalisation (true conformity)

Question 38

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations.
For example, Asch got participants to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect.
In the post-experimental debriefing, many said ‘I didn’t want to look stupid’ or ‘I didn’t want to be the odd one out.’
Therefore, they compromised, with what they said (publicly) and believed (privately) being completely different, demonstrating an example of compliance.
This suggests that NSI is a valid explanation of why people conform.

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that informational influence can explain conformity in ambiguous situations in which both public and private agreement occurs.
For example, Jenness gave participants a task with no clear answer, estimating how many jellybeans there were in a jar.
Jenness found that individual estimates moved towards the estimates of others, showing that they genuinely (privately) believed these estimates, demonstrating an example of internalisation (true conformity).
What does this suggest?

Answer 38

This suggests that ISI is a valid explanation of why people conform

Question 39

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations.
For example, Asch got participants to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect.
In the post-experimental debriefing, many said ‘I didn’t want to look stupid’ or ‘I didn’t want to be the odd one out.’
Therefore, they compromised, with what they said (publicly) and believed (privately) being completely different, demonstrating an example of compliance.
This suggests that NSI is a valid explanation of why people conform.

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that informational influence can explain conformity in ambiguous situations in which both public and private agreement occurs.
For example, Jenness gave participants a task with no clear answer, estimating how many jellybeans there were in a jar.
Jenness found that individual estimates moved towards the estimates of others, showing that they genuinely (privately) believed these estimates, demonstrating an example of internalisation (true conformity).
This suggests that ISI is a valid explanation of why people conform.

Fourth AO3 PEEL paragraph

Answer 39

The fourth AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there are individual differences in NSI

Question 40

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations.
For example, Asch got participants to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect.
In the post-experimental debriefing, many said ‘I didn’t want to look stupid’ or ‘I didn’t want to be the odd one out.’
Therefore, they compromised, with what they said (publicly) and believed (privately) being completely different, demonstrating an example of compliance.
This suggests that NSI is a valid explanation of why people conform.

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that informational influence can explain conformity in ambiguous situations in which both public and private agreement occurs.
For example, Jenness gave participants a task with no clear answer, estimating how many jellybeans there were in a jar.
Jenness found that individual estimates moved towards the estimates of others, showing that they genuinely (privately) believed these estimates, demonstrating an example of internalisation (true conformity).
This suggests that ISI is a valid explanation of why people conform.

The fourth AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there are individual differences in NSI.
Some research shows that NSI does not

Answer 40

Some research shows that NSI does not affect everyone’s behaviour in the same way

Question 41

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations.
For example, Asch got participants to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect.
In the post-experimental debriefing, many said ‘I didn’t want to look stupid’ or ‘I didn’t want to be the odd one out.’
Therefore, they compromised, with what they said (publicly) and believed (privately) being completely different, demonstrating an example of compliance.
This suggests that NSI is a valid explanation of why people conform.

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that informational influence can explain conformity in ambiguous situations in which both public and private agreement occurs.
For example, Jenness gave participants a task with no clear answer, estimating how many jellybeans there were in a jar.
Jenness found that individual estimates moved towards the estimates of others, showing that they genuinely (privately) believed these estimates, demonstrating an example of internalisation (true conformity).
This suggests that ISI is a valid explanation of why people conform.

The fourth AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there are individual differences in NSI.
Some research shows that NSI does not affect everyone’s behaviour in the same way.
Example

Answer 41

For example, people who are less concerned with being liked are less affected by NSI than those who care more about being liked.
Such people are described as nAffiliators.
These are people who have a greater need for ‘affiliation’ - a need for being in a relationship with others

Question 42

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations.
For example, Asch got participants to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect.
In the post-experimental debriefing, many said ‘I didn’t want to look stupid’ or ‘I didn’t want to be the odd one out.’
Therefore, they compromised, with what they said (publicly) and believed (privately) being completely different, demonstrating an example of compliance.
This suggests that NSI is a valid explanation of why people conform.

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that informational influence can explain conformity in ambiguous situations in which both public and private agreement occurs.
For example, Jenness gave participants a task with no clear answer, estimating how many jellybeans there were in a jar.
Jenness found that individual estimates moved towards the estimates of others, showing that they genuinely (privately) believed these estimates, demonstrating an example of internalisation (true conformity).
This suggests that ISI is a valid explanation of why people conform.

The fourth AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there are individual differences in NSI.
Some research shows that NSI does not affect everyone’s behaviour in the same way.
For example, people who are less concerned with being liked are less affected by NSI than those who care more about being liked.
Such people are described as nAffiliators.
These are people who have a greater need for ‘affiliation’ - a need for being in a relationship with others.
Example

Answer 42

For example, McGhee and Teevan (1967) found that students high in need of affiliation were more likely to conform

Question 43

Describe and evaluate explanations of conformity (16 marks)/Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16 marks).
Normative social influence (NSI) is going along with the majority through fear of rejection or being seen as an outcast.
There is a desire to be liked and NSI leads to compliance, as it is conforming for emotional reasons.
It is a temporary change in view or behaviour.

Informational social influence (ISI) is going along with the majority through acceptance of new information.
There is a desire to be right and ISI leads to internalisation, as it is conforming for cognitive reasons.
It is a permanent change in view or behaviour.

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are 2 main reasons people conform, based on 2 central human needs, the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that the idea of Deutsch and Gerard’s ‘two-process’ model is that behaviour is either due to ISI or NSI.
However, more often, both processes are involved.
For example, conformity was reduced when there was one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment.
This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or NSI (because the dissenter provides social support).
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether ISI or NSI is at work.
This is the case in laboratory studies, but it is even truer in real life conformity situations outside the laboratory.
This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as 2 processes operating independently in conforming behaviour.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that normative social influence can explain the results of conformity studies in unambiguous situations.
For example, Asch got participants to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect.
In the post-experimental debriefing, many said ‘I didn’t want to look stupid’ or ‘I didn’t want to be the odd one out.’
Therefore, they compromised, with what they said (publicly) and believed (privately) being completely different, demonstrating an example of compliance.
This suggests that NSI is a valid explanation of why people conform.

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that informational influence can explain conformity in ambiguous situations in which both public and private agreement occurs.
For example, Jenness gave participants a task with no clear answer, estimating how many jellybeans there were in a jar.
Jenness found that individual estimates moved towards the estimates of others, showing that they genuinely (privately) believed these estimates, demonstrating an example of internalisation (true conformity).
This suggests that ISI is a valid explanation of why people conform.

The fourth AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there are individual differences in NSI.
Some research shows that NSI does not affect everyone’s behaviour in the same way.
For example, people who are less concerned with being liked are less affected by NSI than those who care more about being liked.
Such people are described as nAffiliators.
These are people who have a greater need for ‘affiliation’ - a need for being in a relationship with others.
For example, McGhee and Teevan (1967) found that students high in need of affiliation were more likely to conform.
What does this show?

Answer 43

This shows that the desire to be liked underlies conformity for some people more than others, thus there are individual differences in the way people respond

Question 44

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks)

Answer 44

One study is Asch’s study

Question 45

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.

Answer 45

123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one

Question 46

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.
123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one.

Answer 46

On the 12 critical trials, there was a 32% conformity rate to wrong answers.
75% of participants conformed to at least one answer, meaning that 25% never conformed.
5% of participants conformed to all 12 wrong answers

Question 47

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.
123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one.
On the 12 critical trials, there was a 32% conformity rate to wrong answers.
75% of participants conformed to at least one answer, meaning that 25% never conformed.
5% of participants conformed to all 12 wrong answers.

First AO3 PEEL paragraph

Answer 47

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s study is a child of its time

Question 48

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.
123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one.
On the 12 critical trials, there was a 32% conformity rate to wrong answers.
75% of participants conformed to at least one answer, meaning that 25% never conformed.
5% of participants conformed to all 12 wrong answers.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s study is a child of its time.
Why is this?

Answer 48

This is because Perrin and Spencer (1980) repeated Asch’s original study with engineering students in the UK.
Only one student conformed in a total of 396 trials

Question 49

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.
123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one.
On the 12 critical trials, there was a 32% conformity rate to wrong answers.
75% of participants conformed to at least one answer, meaning that 25% never conformed.
5% of participants conformed to all 12 wrong answers.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s study is a child of its time.
This is because Perrin and Spencer (1980) repeated Asch’s original study with engineering students in the UK.
Only one student conformed in a total of 396 trials.
What may be?

Answer 49

It may be that the engineering students felt more confident about measuring lines than the original sample and therefore were less conformist

Question 50

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.
123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one.
On the 12 critical trials, there was a 32% conformity rate to wrong answers.
75% of participants conformed to at least one answer, meaning that 25% never conformed.
5% of participants conformed to all 12 wrong answers.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s study is a child of its time.
This is because Perrin and Spencer (1980) repeated Asch’s original study with engineering students in the UK.
Only one student conformed in a total of 396 trials.
It may be that the engineering students felt more confident about measuring lines than the original sample and therefore were less conformist.
However,

Answer 50

However, Asch’s findings may have been influenced by social attitudes of the 1950s, as post-war attitudes were that people should work together and conform to established social norms rather than dissent

Question 51

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.
123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one.
On the 12 critical trials, there was a 32% conformity rate to wrong answers.
75% of participants conformed to at least one answer, meaning that 25% never conformed.
5% of participants conformed to all 12 wrong answers.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s study is a child of its time.
This is because Perrin and Spencer (1980) repeated Asch’s original study with engineering students in the UK.
Only one student conformed in a total of 396 trials.
It may be that the engineering students felt more confident about measuring lines than the original sample and therefore were less conformist.
However, Asch’s findings may have been influenced by social attitudes of the 1950s, as post-war attitudes were that people should work together and conform to established social norms rather than dissent, but

Answer 51

However, Asch’s findings may have been influenced by social attitudes of the 1950s, as post-war attitudes were that people should work together and conform to established social norms rather than dissent, but there has been great social change since then and people are possibly less conformist today

Question 52

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.
123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one.
On the 12 critical trials, there was a 32% conformity rate to wrong answers.
75% of participants conformed to at least one answer, meaning that 25% never conformed.
5% of participants conformed to all 12 wrong answers.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s study is a child of its time.
This is because Perrin and Spencer (1980) repeated Asch’s original study with engineering students in the UK.
Only one student conformed in a total of 396 trials.
It may be that the engineering students felt more confident about measuring lines than the original sample and therefore were less conformist.
However, Asch’s findings may have been influenced by social attitudes of the 1950s, as post-war attitudes were that people should work together and conform to established social norms rather than dissent, but there has been great social change since then and people are possibly less conformist today.
What does this show?

Answer 52

This shows that Asch’s findings may not be relevant today

Question 53

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.
123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one.
On the 12 critical trials, there was a 32% conformity rate to wrong answers.
75% of participants conformed to at least one answer, meaning that 25% never conformed.
5% of participants conformed to all 12 wrong answers.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s study is a child of its time.
This is because Perrin and Spencer (1980) repeated Asch’s original study with engineering students in the UK.
Only one student conformed in a total of 396 trials.
It may be that the engineering students felt more confident about measuring lines than the original sample and therefore were less conformist.
However, Asch’s findings may have been influenced by social attitudes of the 1950s, as post-war attitudes were that people should work together and conform to established social norms rather than dissent, but there has been great social change since then and people are possibly less conformist today.
This shows that Asch’s findings may not be relevant today.

Second AO3 PEEL paragraph

Answer 53

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that in Asch’s study, numerous ethical guidelines were broken

Question 54

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.
123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one.
On the 12 critical trials, there was a 32% conformity rate to wrong answers.
75% of participants conformed to at least one answer, meaning that 25% never conformed.
5% of participants conformed to all 12 wrong answers.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s study is a child of its time.
This is because Perrin and Spencer (1980) repeated Asch’s original study with engineering students in the UK.
Only one student conformed in a total of 396 trials.
It may be that the engineering students felt more confident about measuring lines than the original sample and therefore were less conformist.
However, Asch’s findings may have been influenced by social attitudes of the 1950s, as post-war attitudes were that people should work together and conform to established social norms rather than dissent, but there has been great social change since then and people are possibly less conformist today.
This shows that Asch’s findings may not be relevant today.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that in Asch’s study, numerous ethical guidelines were broken.
Why is this?

Answer 54

This is because the naive participants were deceived about the nature of the experiment (they thought the study was of visual perception) and also because they thought the other people involved in the procedure (the confederates) were also genuine participants like themselves.
The participants were also not protected from harm, because they were put under stress through disagreeing with others

Question 55

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.
123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one.
On the 12 critical trials, there was a 32% conformity rate to wrong answers.
75% of participants conformed to at least one answer, meaning that 25% never conformed.
5% of participants conformed to all 12 wrong answers.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s study is a child of its time.
This is because Perrin and Spencer (1980) repeated Asch’s original study with engineering students in the UK.
Only one student conformed in a total of 396 trials.
It may be that the engineering students felt more confident about measuring lines than the original sample and therefore were less conformist.
However, Asch’s findings may have been influenced by social attitudes of the 1950s, as post-war attitudes were that people should work together and conform to established social norms rather than dissent, but there has been great social change since then and people are possibly less conformist today.
This shows that Asch’s findings may not be relevant today.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that in Asch’s study, numerous ethical guidelines were broken.
This is because the naive participants were deceived about the nature of the experiment (they thought the study was of visual perception) and also because they thought the other people involved in the procedure (the confederates) were also genuine participants like themselves.
The participants were also not protected from harm, because they were put under stress through disagreeing with others.
Therefore, what?

Answer 55

Therefore, Asch’s study was unethical

Question 56

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.
123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one.
On the 12 critical trials, there was a 32% conformity rate to wrong answers.
75% of participants conformed to at least one answer, meaning that 25% never conformed.
5% of participants conformed to all 12 wrong answers.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s study is a child of its time.
This is because Perrin and Spencer (1980) repeated Asch’s original study with engineering students in the UK.
Only one student conformed in a total of 396 trials.
It may be that the engineering students felt more confident about measuring lines than the original sample and therefore were less conformist.
However, Asch’s findings may have been influenced by social attitudes of the 1950s, as post-war attitudes were that people should work together and conform to established social norms rather than dissent, but there has been great social change since then and people are possibly less conformist today.
This shows that Asch’s findings may not be relevant today.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that in Asch’s study, numerous ethical guidelines were broken.
This is because the naive participants were deceived about the nature of the experiment (they thought the study was of visual perception) and also because they thought the other people involved in the procedure (the confederates) were also genuine participants like themselves.
The participants were also not protected from harm, because they were put under stress through disagreeing with others.
Therefore, Asch’s study was unethical.

Third AO3 PEEL paragraph

Answer 56

The third A03 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s method for studying conformity became a paradigm, the accepted way of conducting conformity research

Question 57

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.
123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one.
On the 12 critical trials, there was a 32% conformity rate to wrong answers.
75% of participants conformed to at least one answer, meaning that 25% never conformed.
5% of participants conformed to all 12 wrong answers.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s study is a child of its time.
This is because Perrin and Spencer (1980) repeated Asch’s original study with engineering students in the UK.
Only one student conformed in a total of 396 trials.
It may be that the engineering students felt more confident about measuring lines than the original sample and therefore were less conformist.
However, Asch’s findings may have been influenced by social attitudes of the 1950s, as post-war attitudes were that people should work together and conform to established social norms rather than dissent, but there has been great social change since then and people are possibly less conformist today.
This shows that Asch’s findings may not be relevant today.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that in Asch’s study, numerous ethical guidelines were broken.
This is because the naive participants were deceived about the nature of the experiment (they thought the study was of visual perception) and also because they thought the other people involved in the procedure (the confederates) were also genuine participants like themselves.
The participants were also not protected from harm, because they were put under stress through disagreeing with others.
Therefore, Asch’s study was unethical.

The third A03 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s method for studying conformity became a paradigm, the accepted way of conducting conformity research.
However,

Answer 57

However, the situation was unrealistic and so lacked mundane realism, as Asch’s study involved an artificial situation and task

Question 58

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.
123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one.
On the 12 critical trials, there was a 32% conformity rate to wrong answers.
75% of participants conformed to at least one answer, meaning that 25% never conformed.
5% of participants conformed to all 12 wrong answers.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s study is a child of its time.
This is because Perrin and Spencer (1980) repeated Asch’s original study with engineering students in the UK.
Only one student conformed in a total of 396 trials.
It may be that the engineering students felt more confident about measuring lines than the original sample and therefore were less conformist.
However, Asch’s findings may have been influenced by social attitudes of the 1950s, as post-war attitudes were that people should work together and conform to established social norms rather than dissent, but there has been great social change since then and people are possibly less conformist today.
This shows that Asch’s findings may not be relevant today.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that in Asch’s study, numerous ethical guidelines were broken.
This is because the naive participants were deceived about the nature of the experiment (they thought the study was of visual perception) and also because they thought the other people involved in the procedure (the confederates) were also genuine participants like themselves.
The participants were also not protected from harm, because they were put under stress through disagreeing with others.
Therefore, Asch’s study was unethical.

The third A03 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s method for studying conformity became a paradigm, the accepted way of conducting conformity research.
However, the situation was unrealistic and so lacked mundane realism, as Asch’s study involved an artificial situation and task.
What does this mean?

Answer 58

This means that it’s not a valid measure of real life conformity, where conformity takes place in a social context and often with people we know, rather than strangers

Question 59

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.
123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one.
On the 12 critical trials, there was a 32% conformity rate to wrong answers.
75% of participants conformed to at least one answer, meaning that 25% never conformed.
5% of participants conformed to all 12 wrong answers.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s study is a child of its time.
This is because Perrin and Spencer (1980) repeated Asch’s original study with engineering students in the UK.
Only one student conformed in a total of 396 trials.
It may be that the engineering students felt more confident about measuring lines than the original sample and therefore were less conformist.
However, Asch’s findings may have been influenced by social attitudes of the 1950s, as post-war attitudes were that people should work together and conform to established social norms rather than dissent, but there has been great social change since then and people are possibly less conformist today.
This shows that Asch’s findings may not be relevant today.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that in Asch’s study, numerous ethical guidelines were broken.
This is because the naive participants were deceived about the nature of the experiment (they thought the study was of visual perception) and also because they thought the other people involved in the procedure (the confederates) were also genuine participants like themselves.
The participants were also not protected from harm, because they were put under stress through disagreeing with others.
Therefore, Asch’s study was unethical.

The third A03 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s method for studying conformity became a paradigm, the accepted way of conducting conformity research.
However, the situation was unrealistic and so lacked mundane realism, as Asch’s study involved an artificial situation and task.
This means that it’s not a valid measure of real life conformity, where conformity takes place in a social context and often with people we know, rather than strangers.
Therefore,

Answer 59

Therefore, the findings cannot be generalised to the wider population

Question 60

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.
123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one.
On the 12 critical trials, there was a 32% conformity rate to wrong answers.
75% of participants conformed to at least one answer, meaning that 25% never conformed.
5% of participants conformed to all 12 wrong answers.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s study is a child of its time.
This is because Perrin and Spencer (1980) repeated Asch’s original study with engineering students in the UK.
Only one student conformed in a total of 396 trials.
It may be that the engineering students felt more confident about measuring lines than the original sample and therefore were less conformist.
However, Asch’s findings may have been influenced by social attitudes of the 1950s, as post-war attitudes were that people should work together and conform to established social norms rather than dissent, but there has been great social change since then and people are possibly less conformist today.
This shows that Asch’s findings may not be relevant today.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that in Asch’s study, numerous ethical guidelines were broken.
This is because the naive participants were deceived about the nature of the experiment (they thought the study was of visual perception) and also because they thought the other people involved in the procedure (the confederates) were also genuine participants like themselves.
The participants were also not protected from harm, because they were put under stress through disagreeing with others.
Therefore, Asch’s study was unethical.

The third A03 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s method for studying conformity became a paradigm, the accepted way of conducting conformity research.
However, the situation was unrealistic and so lacked mundane realism, as Asch’s study involved an artificial situation and task.
This means that it’s not a valid measure of real life conformity, where conformity takes place in a social context and often with people we know, rather than strangers.
Therefore, the findings cannot be generalised to the wider population.

Fourth AO3 PEEL paragraph

Answer 60

The fourth AO3 PEEL paragraph is that only men were tested by Asch

Question 61

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.
123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one.
On the 12 critical trials, there was a 32% conformity rate to wrong answers.
75% of participants conformed to at least one answer, meaning that 25% never conformed.
5% of participants conformed to all 12 wrong answers.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s study is a child of its time.
This is because Perrin and Spencer (1980) repeated Asch’s original study with engineering students in the UK.
Only one student conformed in a total of 396 trials.
It may be that the engineering students felt more confident about measuring lines than the original sample and therefore were less conformist.
However, Asch’s findings may have been influenced by social attitudes of the 1950s, as post-war attitudes were that people should work together and conform to established social norms rather than dissent, but there has been great social change since then and people are possibly less conformist today.
This shows that Asch’s findings may not be relevant today.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that in Asch’s study, numerous ethical guidelines were broken.
This is because the naive participants were deceived about the nature of the experiment (they thought the study was of visual perception) and also because they thought the other people involved in the procedure (the confederates) were also genuine participants like themselves.
The participants were also not protected from harm, because they were put under stress through disagreeing with others.
Therefore, Asch’s study was unethical.

The third A03 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s method for studying conformity became a paradigm, the accepted way of conducting conformity research.
However, the situation was unrealistic and so lacked mundane realism, as Asch’s study involved an artificial situation and task.
This means that it’s not a valid measure of real life conformity, where conformity takes place in a social context and often with people we know, rather than strangers.
Therefore, the findings cannot be generalised to the wider population.

The fourth AO3 PEEL paragraph is that only men were tested by Asch.

Answer 61

Other research suggests that women might be more conformist, possibly because they are more concerned about social relationships and being accepted than men are, according to Neto (1995)

Question 62

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.
123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one.
On the 12 critical trials, there was a 32% conformity rate to wrong answers.
75% of participants conformed to at least one answer, meaning that 25% never conformed.
5% of participants conformed to all 12 wrong answers.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s study is a child of its time.
This is because Perrin and Spencer (1980) repeated Asch’s original study with engineering students in the UK.
Only one student conformed in a total of 396 trials.
It may be that the engineering students felt more confident about measuring lines than the original sample and therefore were less conformist.
However, Asch’s findings may have been influenced by social attitudes of the 1950s, as post-war attitudes were that people should work together and conform to established social norms rather than dissent, but there has been great social change since then and people are possibly less conformist today.
This shows that Asch’s findings may not be relevant today.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that in Asch’s study, numerous ethical guidelines were broken.
This is because the naive participants were deceived about the nature of the experiment (they thought the study was of visual perception) and also because they thought the other people involved in the procedure (the confederates) were also genuine participants like themselves.
The participants were also not protected from harm, because they were put under stress through disagreeing with others.
Therefore, Asch’s study was unethical.

The third A03 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s method for studying conformity became a paradigm, the accepted way of conducting conformity research.
However, the situation was unrealistic and so lacked mundane realism, as Asch’s study involved an artificial situation and task.
This means that it’s not a valid measure of real life conformity, where conformity takes place in a social context and often with people we know, rather than strangers.
Therefore, the findings cannot be generalised to the wider population.

The fourth AO3 PEEL paragraph is that only men were tested by Asch.
Other research suggests that women might be more conformist, possibly because they are more concerned about social relationships and being accepted than men are, according to Neto (1995).
The men in Asch’s study

Answer 62

The men in Asch’s study were from the United States, an individualist culture, where people are more concerned about themselves, rather than their social group.
Similar conformity studies conducted in collectivist cultures, such as China, where the social group is more important than the individual, have found that conformity rates are higher

Question 63

Discuss research into conformity (16 marks)/Discuss one study of social influence (16 marks).
One study is Asch’s study.
123 American male student volunteers took part in what they were told was a study of visual perception.
Individual participants were placed in groups with between 7 and 9 others, sat either in a line or around a table, who in reality were confederates.
The task was to say which comparison line, A, B or C, was the same as a stimulus line on 18 different trials.
12 of these were ‘critical’ trials, where confederates gave identical wrong answers and the naive (real) participants always answered last or last but one.
On the 12 critical trials, there was a 32% conformity rate to wrong answers.
75% of participants conformed to at least one answer, meaning that 25% never conformed.
5% of participants conformed to all 12 wrong answers.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s study is a child of its time.
This is because Perrin and Spencer (1980) repeated Asch’s original study with engineering students in the UK.
Only one student conformed in a total of 396 trials.
It may be that the engineering students felt more confident about measuring lines than the original sample and therefore were less conformist.
However, Asch’s findings may have been influenced by social attitudes of the 1950s, as post-war attitudes were that people should work together and conform to established social norms rather than dissent, but there has been great social change since then and people are possibly less conformist today.
This shows that Asch’s findings may not be relevant today.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that in Asch’s study, numerous ethical guidelines were broken.
This is because the naive participants were deceived about the nature of the experiment (they thought the study was of visual perception) and also because they thought the other people involved in the procedure (the confederates) were also genuine participants like themselves.
The participants were also not protected from harm, because they were put under stress through disagreeing with others.
Therefore, Asch’s study was unethical.

The third A03 PEEL paragraph is that Asch’s method for studying conformity became a paradigm, the accepted way of conducting conformity research.
However, the situation was unrealistic and so lacked mundane realism, as Asch’s study involved an artificial situation and task.
This means that it’s not a valid measure of real life conformity, where conformity takes place in a social context and often with people we know, rather than strangers.
Therefore, the findings cannot be generalised to the wider population.

The fourth AO3 PEEL paragraph is that only men were tested by Asch.
Other research suggests that women might be more conformist, possibly because they are more concerned about social relationships and being accepted than men are, according to Neto (1995).
The men in Asch’s study were from the United States, an individualist culture, where people are more concerned about themselves, rather than their social group.
Similar conformity studies conducted in collectivist cultures, such as China, where the social group is more important than the individual, have found that conformity rates are higher.
What does this show?

Answer 63

This shows that conformity levels are sometimes even higher than Asch found and that Asch’s findings may only apply to American men, because he didn’t take gender and cultural differences into account