Asch Conformity Experiments Flashcards
Some Classic Experiments in Social Psychology
The Milgram Experiment: demonstrated obedience to authority
The Stanford Prison Experiment: demonstrates situational attribution of behavior
The Asch Effect: demonstrated normative influence on conformity
Sherif’s Experiment on Norm Crystallization: demonstrates informational influence on conformity
Major Researcher
Solomon Asch (mentor of Stanley Milgram)
1950s
Purpose
Demonstrated that people will sometimes conform because of normative influence; their desire to be liked, accepted, and approved of by others
Task for the Participants:
To indicate which of the three lines was the same length as the standard line
Experimental Setting:
- 6-8 students in a group
- Students sitting side by side
- Only one participant was arranged in each group
- All other students were confederates
First Three Trails
On the first three trails, every participant agreed on the correct comparison
Fourth Trial
- On the fourth trial, the first confederate gave the wrong comparison
- All other confederates agreed on the wrong comparison
- The participant was the last to make judgement
Decision of Participant:
- The participant had to decide whether to conform or to remain independent
- The physical reality was absolutely clear
- Dilemma was repeated for the naïve participants on 12 of the 18 trials
Asch Conformity Experiments: Results
- About 25% of the participants never conformed
- About 75% conformed at least once of the 12 trials
- About 5% of the participants always conformed
Conformity Reduced When:
- The naïve participant had a partner who shared his viewpoint
- Judgements were made in private (e.g. subjects wrote down their answers instead of reporting them in public)
- Group size decreased
What if it was Reversed? One Confederate is Put Among a Group of Actual Subjects and Makes a Wrong Judgement
actual subjects laughed and ridiculed the confederate
