Social Influence

Question 1

Asch (1956): Aim

Answer 1

A: to examine the extent social pressure from a majority could make someone conform

Question 2

What are three situational factors in obedience?

Answer 2

1. Proximity - teacher and learner in the same room; obedience dropped to 40%; in touch proximity condition (teacher puts learner’s hand on shock pad) obedience dropped to 30%; in experimenter absent condition (proximity of authority figure is far) obedience dropped to 21%
2. Location - when moved from Yale Uni to a run-down office in in Bridgeport, obedience dropped with 48% delivering 450volt shock
3. Uniform - Bushman (1988) tested female researcher dressed in police-style outfit as she asked people to give change for expired meter; in police outfit, 72% obedience compared to 48% when in business executive clothing

Question 3

KEY STUDY: Milgram (1963)

Answer 3

Forty males (volunteers to a newspaper ad) were given the role of teacher, and a confederate was given the role of “learner”. Another confederate dressed as a professor instructed the participant to give ‘electric shocks’ to the learner when they answered incorrectly. The electric shocks became more intense (15-450 volts) with each incorrect answer. If the participant (teacher) resisted, the “professor” encouraged them to continue with verbal prods

Question 4

Which factors affecting conformity did Asch investigate?

Answer 4

• Task difficulty
• Group size
• Unanimity

Question 5

Asch (1956): Procedure

Answer 5

P: 123 male american undergrads were tested in total - 7-9 confederates were seated at a table and 12 critical trials were done where the confede gave the wrong answer to a question on line length (the correct answer was unambiguous). Asch demonstrated NSI by showing the real participants would also give the incorrect line (32% trials) due to group pressure.

Question 6

Asch (1956): Findings and conclusion

Answer 6

F: 25% never conformed once, 5% always conformed