Variables affecting conformity - Asch Flashcards
describe the participants in Asch’s study
- 123 male American undergraduates
- groups of 6
- 1 true ppt
- 5 confederates
what was the aim of Asch’s study?
to investigate conformity and majority influence
how many lines were the ppts presented with?
4 lines
3 comparison & 1 standard
what were the ppts asked to state?
which 3 of the lines was the same legnth as the stimulus line
when did the real participant answer?
last or second to last
how often would confederates give the same incorrect answer?
12 out of 18 times
what did Asch observe?
how often the participants would give the same incorrect answer as the confederates vs the correct answer
how many conformed?
36.8%
how many never conformed?
25%
how many conformed at least once?
75%
what were the findings of Asch’s study?
- 36.8% conformed
- 25% never conformed
- 75% conformed at least once
- In a control trial, only 1% of ppt responses were incorrect
name the 3 factors affecting level of conformity
- group size
- unanimity of majority
- task difficulty
PEEL: when is someone more likely to confom?
(group size) - not ao3
P: more likely to conform when in a larger group
E: there was low conformity when confederates were less than 3- any more than 3 & conformity rose to 30%
E: increases their confidence in correctness of the group & decrease confidence in their own answer
- conformity doesn’t increase in groups larger than 4 = optimal size
L: TST majority must be at least 3 to exert an influence but doesn’t require an overwhelming majority
PEEL: when is someone more likely to conform?
(unanimity) - not ao3
P: more likely to conform when the group is unanimous
E: when joined by another ppt or dissaffected confederate who gave correct answer, conformity fell from 32% to 5.5%
- if different answers are given conformity falls from 32% to 9%
- E: the more confidence the ppt will have that they’re all correct & decrease confidence in their own answer
L: unanimity + consistent majority view
provides NSI to prevent conflicting views
PEEL: when is someone more likely to conform?
(task difficulty) not ao3
P: more likely to conform when task is difficult
E: Asch made the lines more similar in length
E: more unsure of our answer so look to others for confirmation
L: ISI
