Social Influence : Conformity Flashcards
What is social influence ?
How we are influenced by others often by a group (majority influence) or an individual (minority influence or obedience), to change our behaviour, thinking and attitudes
Definition of conformity
A change in a persons behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a majority
What are three types of conformity
Compliance
Identification
Internalisation
What is compliance ?
Going along with others in public but privately not changing behaviour or opinion
Superficial change
Temporary- stops as group isn’t present
What is identification?
Conforming because you value being part of the group
Moderate type of conformity
Identify with group
Publicly change opinions and behaviour even if privately we don’t agree with everything the group stands for
What is internalisation ?
Conformity because the person genuinely accepts the groups opinion or behaviour in their belief system
Deep type of conformity
Private and public change of opinions / behaviour
Permanent as the change stays even in absence of group
What are the two explanations to conformity
Informational social influence (isi)
Normative social influence (nsi)
Main point of informational social influence ?
We agree with opinion of majority because we believe it is correct as we want to be correct aswell
What situations would isi be an explanation for conformity
Situations that are new to a person so you don’t what is right or there is some ambiguity so you will look to others because you feel the have better information
What is the main point of normative social influence ?
We agree with the majority because we want to be accepted, gain social approval and not be left out
In what situations is nsi and explanation for conformity?
When you feel conscious about rejection so you don’t want to appear foolish and gain social approval
Example of a strength of isi and nsi as explanations of conformity
Lucas et el (2006) asked students to give answers to maths problems. Greater conformity to incorrect answers when the question was more difficult. This was most true for students who rated their maths ability as poor.
People conform in situations they dont know the answer this is exact explanation for isi
An example of a limitation of NSI
Limitations due to individual differences.
McGhee and teevan (1867) students high in need of affiliation were more likely to conform.
Shows that people do have a need for affiliation will conform less
NSI does not affect everyone in the same way
Limitations of two process approach
Both NSI and ISI are involved
Asch (1951)’s procedure
123 participants (all male) American undergraduates were tested in groups of 6 or 8.
Psychological experiment about visual judgement
Group contained only 1 participant and other were confederates
Participants showed series of lines and asked to say out loud which line matches standard line
Participants answered last or second to last
How many times did the confederates give the same incorrect answer ?
12 out of 18 trials called critical trials
Aschs (1951, 1955) results
Participants gave a wrong answer 38.6% of the time. 1/4 of the participants did not conform. 75% conformed at least once
How did asch show that the test was not confusing?
Asch conducted control trial with no confederates giving wrong answers. Participants only made mistakes 0.7-1%
Very small rate
Conclusion of Asch’s (1951) research
Normative social influence had led to conformity the real participants agreed with the opinion of the group because they wished to be accepted by them. Control trial proved task was easy so participants only confirmed to fit in
Group size variation of Asch’s research
Found with three confederates, conformity to the wrong answer rose to 31.8%. Addition of further confederates made now difference.
How many partcipants tested in Asch’s research
123 male partcipants
What was the gender of the participants ?
They were all male
What is meant by critical trial in Asch’s experiment ?
When the confederates were instructed to give the wrong answer
Conclusion of group size variation of Asch’s research
Small majority not sufficient for influence to be exerted
No need for majority more than three
How did Asch test unanimity
Wanted to know if another non conforming person would affect conformity of participants
Introduced a dissenting confederate
Conclusion of Asch’s unanimity variation
Presence of this non conforming confederate meant conformity reduced by a quarter from when majority was unanimous.
Participants acted more independently because they aren’t the only one
Influence of majority depends on group being unanimous
Asch’s task difficulty variation
Asch made line judging task more difficult by making the stimulus line and comparison lines more difficult in length
Task difficulty conclusion
Conformity increased
Isi plays a greater role when task becomes harder
Situation more ambiguous
Look to others to be right and guidance
Cultural differences in Asch’s research (PEEL)
Important cultural differences yet Asch only tested American males
Smith et ell found that average conformity rates in individualists cultures such as America where research took place was 25% whilst in collectivist cultures such as countries like India conformity rate was 37%
Conformity rates higher
Asch’s findings only apply to American males
Didn’t take cultural differences in account
Asch’s finding might not be true today (PEEL)
Asch’s findings might not be true today since research took place when conformity was high.
Perin and Spencer (1980) replicated Asch’s study and only one student conformed out of 396 trials.
Suggests conformity levels have changed over time and people are possibly less conformists. Asch’s research is regarded as a child of its time
Low temporal validity
Limitation of Asch’s study - artificial (PEEL)
A limitation is Asch’s experiment was artificial
Partcipants knew they were in a study and simply went along with demands of the situation. They participants were part of a group but it didn’t resemble groups in everyday life
Findings dont generalise to everyday situations as conformity in the real world has consequences
Strength of Asch’s research
High degree of control so factored affecting conformity can easily be seen
Asch manipulated the lines to make task more difficult. Found that conformity increased because people looked to other for information since situation more ambitious- isi
Lab experiment that the variables were easy to manipulate to test factors affecting conformity.
Limitations of Asch’s research - ethical issues
Asch’s research had some ethical issues
Participants were deceived as they believed the confederates were participants just like themselves.
Informed consent- there was not true informed consent because the participants did not about participants when they consented
Cost and benefit approach
Wanted to see if participants would agree with the group to avoid looking foolish and not fitting in
What was the aim of the standard prison experiment
Whether brutality of prison guards was the result of sadistic personalities or whether it was created by the situation
Explain the procedure in Stanford prison experiment ?
24 emotionally stable student volunteers determined by extensive psychological testing
Randomly assigned the role of guards or prisoners
Arrested in homes
Blindfolded , strip searched and Deloused
16 rules to follow enforced by guards
Efforts to de individualise participants
Results of Stanford prison experiment
Prisoners rebelled against treatment Ripped Uniforms , shouted at guards Retaliated using fire Extinguisher Guards harassed prisoners Highlighted diffrence in social roles by creating opportunities to enforce rules and punish Study stopped after six days
Examples of guards threatening prisoners psychological and physical health
Prisoners become subdued, depressed and anxious
Three prisoners were released early because they showed signs of psychological disturbance
Prisoner went on hunger strike - punished by putting him in hole
Conclusion of Zimbardo Stanford prison experiment
Revealed power of situation to influence peoples behaviour
Guards prisoners all conformed to social roles within prison
More guards identified with roles , more brutal behaviour became
Strength of Zimbardo - high control
High control of variables in research
For example only emotionally stable individuals chosen and randomly assigned to role of prisoner or guard
Ruled out any individual differences that may have affected results increasing internal validity
Lack of realism - limitation of Zimbardo
Lack of realism
Banuazizi and Mohavedi (1975) argued participants were play acting than conforming to the role. F
For example one guard said he based his brutal character from the film cool hand Luke
Affects validity of results
Counter argument to lack of realism of Zimbardo research
Situation was very real to the prisoners as 90% of prisoners conversations were about prison life
Role of dispositional factors - Zimbardo
Zimbardo over exaggerated the power of the situation to influence behaviour and limit the role of personality
Only minority of guards were brutal and some even tried to help prisoners
Zimbardo conclusion that people conform due to the situation may not be valid
Ethical issues - limitation of Zimbardo
Ethical issues with Zimbardo
When prisoner asked to leave , Zimbardo replied as the superintendent not the lead psychologist compromising right to withdraw
Study approved by an an ethics committee and participants were fully informed of what research would entail
Reicher and haslam (2006)
Limitation r+h research contradicts Zimbardo Findings
They found prisoners took control of the prison and harassed guards because unlike the prisoners the guards had failed to develop shared identity as a chosive group
Zimbardo research can not be replicated now with a more ethical setting
In reicher and haslams research what had the guards failed to do ?
Creature a shared social identity as a cohesive group
How long did the Stanford prison experiment Last for ?
6 days
