Variables affecting conformity

Question 1

Key Study: ASCH Procedure

Answer 1

123 male US undergraduates. Pps seated around a table and asked to look at three lines and identify which was closest to the standard line.
12/18 of the trials (critical trials) the confederates were asked to give the incorrect asnwer

Question 2

Key Study: Findings

Answer 2

on the 12 critical trials the average rate of conformity was 33%

Question 3

Variables affecting conformity: Group size

Answer 3

More confederates led to an increase in conformity

Question 4

Variables affecting conformity: Unanimity of the majority

Answer 4

When the pps was given the support of one confederate, conformity dropped to 5.5%

Question 5

Variables affecting conformity: Difficulty of task

Answer 5

harder task = more conformity

High self efficacy = less conformity

Question 6

A03: Child of its time

Answer 6

McCarthyism = anti-communist, everyone conformed.

Would it be different now?

Question 7

A03: Problems with determining the effect of group size

Answer 7

Bond - three was a sufficient number for maximal influence.

Question 8

A03: Unconvincing confederates

Answer 8

Difficult for them to act convincingly when the answer was obvious. To combat this they replicated this study with disforming glasses so the confederates in their eyes were “telling the truth”. However, there was no difference in results

Question 9

A03: Cultural difference

Answer 9

Smith - higher conformity in collectivist cultures such as africa
lower conformity in individualists cultures - UK