The effect of major influence on conformity

Question 1

What is the main idea/belief?

Answer 1

• The greater the majority, the greater the influence on behaviour. Size around you can lead to conformity

Question 2

How was the idea of majority influence tested?

Answer 2

• The asch experiment conducted by soloman asch called the ‘ line study ‘

Question 3

Explain the asch experiment

Answer 3

He has series of lines and one line was clearly equal to the 3 series of lines
- The participants were all confederates apart from one real participant
the confederates gave the wrong answer 12x , 6 real participants gave the wrong answer too

Question 4

What were the results of asch’ experiment

Answer 4

• we will purposefully do things that are wrong to conform with a group
  -If some of your friends agree to something and some don’t, you’ll be less likely to conform because there is a disagreement among majority
• The decision to change is not unanimous and you’ll still have social support from some in the group
• Asch found the same: if most confederates picked the wrong line but one picked correct then conformity dropped

Question 5

Define Informational conformity and an example of it in

Answer 5

• ***People conform because they want to be perceived as correct so they follow the lead of other

-This is usually in ambiguous experiences, The line experiment as more ambiguous so conformity increased*

Question 6

Define group norm
Define normative conformity

Answer 6

• Specific ideas and assumptions held by a specific group about what is considered acceptable behaviour within the group
• When people yeild to group pressure because they want to fit in and are concerned about being rejected by others in the group

Question 7

Experiments to support the effect of majority influence on conformity

Answer 7

• The elevator experiment 1
• The beep experiment 2

Question 8

Explain 1 experiment

Answer 8

As people come into the elevator, the confiderates face the ‘wrong way’ round and one real participant gets in to face the right way round.As the elevator comes to stops, confiderates would get on and face the wrong way around.The real participant eventually faces the wrong way round aswell = informative conformity/internalisation

Question 9

Explain 2 experiment

Answer 9

hidden camera watches as confederates get up when they hear the beep and sit and they observe as the real particpant eventually stands up even when alone.