Conformity - Asch + Zimbardo

• Define conformity


  To act according to accepted societal behaviour norms
• Define internalisation

  The deepest form of conformity, when an individual believes in the behaviour they are showing. The change is permanent
• Define identification


  Publicly and privately conforming but just with the purpose of fitting in or pleasing someone
• Define compliance


  Publicly adhering to the rules and norms but privately disagreeing
• State the two explanations for conformity

  Informational social influence

  Normative social influence
• What does informational social influence explain?

  Conforming to the majority due to the belief that they are correct
• What does normative social influence explain?

  Conforming to the majority due to the fear of not being liked or accepted, for social acceptance
• Briefly explain Asch's research

  (1951) researched how conformity is affected by group size, unanimity and task difficulty.

  75% conformed at least once

  50% more than 6 times

  5% conformed on every trial
• How did the number of confederates affect conformity? (Asch)


  One confederate - 3% conformity

  Two confederates - 13% conformity

  Three confederates - 30% conformity

  After three there was little difference in levels of conformity
• How did unanimity affect conformity? (Asch)


  When all the confederates answered wrongly - 75% conformity

  If a confederate got the answer correct - 5.5% conformity

  If a confederate said a different but still wrong answer - 9% conform
• Positives of Asch's study


  A lab study so very controlled

  He started off with non critical trials so the participants would be less suspicious

  Higher internal validity
• Negatives of Asch's study


  Contradictory research - Perrin and Spencer found only one student conformed in 396 trials

  McCarthyism may have played a large role
• What is McCarthyism?


  Any suspected communists would be silenced in potentially violent ways
• Briefly explain Zimbardo's study

  (1973) mock prison under Stanford University. 24 male undergraduates assigned prisoner or guard told not to issue violence. Zimbardo was super intendant
• Findings of the Stanford Prison Experiment

  After a slow start the guards fit into the roles. Guards harassed prisoners constantly and showed their power at any opportunity. Became increasingly more aggressive. Had to be ended on day 6 due to psychological distress from the prisoners