explanations of conformity - evaluation

Question 1

lucas et al - maths questions

Answer 1

• Lucas et al (2006) asked students to give answers to easy and more difficult maths problems.
• There was more conformity to incorrect answers when the problems were more complex.
• ambiguous situation
  ➢ People conform in situations where they don’t know the answer. We assume that others know better than us = ISI

Question 2

individual difference = perrin and spencer

Answer 2

• Asch (1955) found that students were less conformist than other Ps.
• Perrin and Spencer (1980) also found less conformity in students (engineering students).
  ➢ People who are knowledgeable/more confident are less influenced by the view of the majority.

Question 3

Asch’s support for normative social influence

Answer 3

• Many people went along with obviously wrong answers from the other wrong members
• When interviewed after ppt changed their answers to avoid disapproval = compliance, want to fit in
• Pressure to conform is reduced by writing down answers on paper = conformity rates fell to 12.5% as less fear of rejection

Question 4

individual differneces -

Answer 4

• nAffiliators (people who are more concerned by social approval) are more affected by NSI.
• McGhee and Teevan (1967) found that students who are nAffiliators were more likely to conform.
  ➢ The desire to be liked underlines conformity for some people more than others.

Question 5

It isn’t always possible to know whether NSI or ISI is working

Answer 5

• Conformity was reduced when there was a dissenting partner in the Asch experiment.
• This dissenter may reduce the power of NSI (by providing social support) or ISI (because they are an alternative source of information).
• may suggest isi and nsi work together