Conformity Asch Experiment Flashcards
What was the experimental procedure used by Asch to study conformity?
Asch conducted a lab experiment with 50 male students from Swarthmore College.Participants were placed in a room with seven confederates who had pre-agreed on their responses during a line judgment task.
What were the key findings of Asch’s conformity experiment?
On average, 32% of participants conformed to the incorrect majority during critical trials.75% of participants conformed at least once, while less than 1% conformed in the control group without confederates.
What reasons did participants give for their conformity in Asch’s experiment?
Most participants conformed due to fear of ridicule or being seen as peculiar (normative influence).Some participants believed the group’s answers were correct (informational influence).
What was the control condition in Asch’s experiment?
The control condition involved a real participant answering without any confederates present.This setup showed that less than 1% of participants gave the wrong answer, indicating the influence of group pressure in the main experiment.
What limitation did Asch’s study have regarding its sample?
The study used a biased sample consisting only of male students from the same age group.This limits the population validity and generalizability of the results to females or older individuals.
What are the main criticisms of Asch’s conformity experiment?
The use of an artificial task (judging line lengths) limits ecological validity.High conformity levels may reflect 1950s American culture rather than general conformity phenomena.
How did Perrin and Spencer’s study differ from Asch’s original experiment?
Perrin and Spencer used engineering, mathematics, and chemistry students, who may be more independent.They found significantly lower conformity rates, suggesting cultural changes in attitudes towards conformity.
What historical context influenced the results of Asch’s conformity study?
The conservative climate of 1950s America, including McCarthyism, pressured individuals to conform.Conformity to American values was expected during this period, affecting participants’ responses.
What ethical issues were raised regarding Asch’s conformity experiment?
Participants were not adequately protected from psychological stress when disagreeing with the majority.High emotional arousal was observed in participants, indicating potential distress.
What did Back et al. (1963) find regarding emotional responses in Asch-type situations?
Participants exhibited increased levels of autonomic arousal when faced with majority influence.This suggests that the pressure to conform can lead to significant emotional stress.
What was the purpose of Asch’s original experiment on conformity?
To investigate the limits of social influence in a clear judgment scenario.To explore how individuals respond to majority opinions when the correct answer is obvious.
How did cultural changes affect perceptions of conformity from the 1950s to later decades?
In the 1950s, students were expected to conform; by the 1970s and 1980s, they adopted a more questioning role.Perrin and Spencer’s findings suggest a shift in societal values regarding conformity and obedience.
What factors influence conformity according to Asch’s experiments?
Group Size: Conformity increases with group size up to a majority of 3, beyond which it plateaus.Lack of Group Unanimity: The presence of even one dissenting individual can significantly reduce conformity levels.
How did Asch’s experiments demonstrate the impact of group size on conformity?
With one confederate, conformity was 3%; with two, it rose to 13%; and with three or more, it reached 32%.Optimum conformity was found with a majority of three, indicating that larger groups do not necessarily lead to higher conformity.
What role does dissent play in conformity based on Asch’s findings?
The presence of a dissenting confederate can reduce conformity by as much as 80%.This suggests that even a small amount of disagreement can empower individuals to resist social pressure.
