variables affecting conformity + Asch's study

Question 1

group size

Answer 1

• Asch wants to test whether the size of the group would be more important then the agreement
• he varied the n. of confederates from 1-15
• with 3 confederates, conformity to the wrong answer rose to 31.8%
• adding more confederates made little difference > 3 is the optimal number

Question 2

unanimity

Answer 2

• investigated to see if the presence of another non-conforming person would affect conformity
• Asch added a confederate who disagreed with the others
• conformity reduced by a 1/4 to when the majority were unanimous
• presence of the dissenter (disagree w/ the majority) influenced the ppt. to behave more independently

Question 3

task difficulty

Answer 3

• Asch made the line task harder by making the stimulus line & comparison lines more similar in length
• conformity increased
• suggest ISI plays a greater role when the task is harder as the situation is ambiguous, so we’re more likely to look to others for guidance

Question 4

ASCH’S STUDY

Answer 4

• conformity is the tendency to change what w do, think or say in response to the influence of real or imagine pressure from others
• Asch (1956) tested conformity by showing ppts. 2 large white cards at a time, with lines on them.
• the ppt. was asked to compared the second ‘stimulus line’ card to the first ‘3 comparison lines’ card and state whether A, B or C matched best
• the correct answer was always clear

Question 5

procedure

Answer 5

• 123 American, male undergraduates were tested individually w/ 6-8 confederates
• the naïve ppt. was unaware they were confederates
• at first the confederates gave the right answers but then purposely made errors
• all confederates gave the same wrong answer

Question 6

findings

Answer 6

• the naïve ppt. conformed 36.8% of the time
• overall, 25% of ppt. did not conform at all
• 75% conformed at least once
• this result is described as the ‘Asch effect’ > the extent to which ppts. conform even when the situation is unambiguous
• when interviewed afterwards, most ppts. said they conformed to avoid social rejection (NSI)