Psychology

• How did the presence of an ally affect conformity in Ash's study?


  The presence of an ally who gave the correct answer significantly reduced conformity rates.
• What was the impact of increasing task difficulty in Ash's study?


  Increasing task difficulty led to higher conformity rates due to increased ambiguity and reliance on group judgment.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Ash's study?


  Strengths:

  • High control over variables due to standardized procedures.
  • Supports normative social influence.

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Lacks temporal validity due to being over 70 years old.
  • Generalizability issues with an all-American sample.
  • Lacks mundane realism as it doesn't reflect real-life conformity situations.
• What criticism did Perin and Spencer have regarding Ash's study?


  They criticized Ash's study for lacking temporal validity and suggested it reflected the mindset of Cold War Americans.
• How do collectivist societies differ from individualistic societies in terms of conformity?


  Collectivist societies tend to be more conformist, valuing group harmony, while individualistic societies value personal freedom.
• What is a potential issue with determining the motivations behind conformity?


  It can be difficult to distinguish whether conformity is due to informational or normative social influence, even for the individual conforming.
• What is an example of a dispositional explanation for conformity?


  An affiliator is someone with a strong need to be liked, leading to increased conformity.
• How does an internal locus of control relate to conformity?


  Individuals with an internal locus of control feel responsible for their actions and are less likely to conform.
• How do situational and dispositional factors influence conformity?

  • Situational factors: Group size, unanimity, and task difficulty.
  • Dispositional factors: Personality traits like need for approval and locus of control.
• What is the role of Patreon supporters in the context of the study material?


  Patreon supporters can access exclusive resources and support the channel.
• What type of resources do Patreon supporters receive?


  Patreon supporters receive exclusive exam tutorial videos and additional resources.
• How many hours of exclusive exam tutorial videos are available to Patreon supporters?


  There are over 17 hours of exclusive exam tutorial videos available.
• What is the purpose of the Psych Boost app?


  The Psych Boost app provides features like flashcards, quizzes, and key term definitions to aid learning.
• What is the main task participants had to perform in Ash's study?


  Participants had to identify the correct comparison line that matched the standard line.
• How many trials were conducted in Ash's study?


  There were 18 trials conducted in Ash's study.
• What was the mean conformity rate found in Ash's study?


  The mean conformity rate was 32% across the critical trials.
• What was the role of Confederates in Ash's study?


  Confederates were actors who provided predetermined responses to influence the real participant's answers.
• What was the critical trial in Ash's study?


  The critical trials were the last 12 trials where Confederates gave the same incorrect answer.
• How did participants feel during the critical trials of Ash's study?


  Participants likely felt uncomfortable and pressured to conform to the group's incorrect answers.
• What was the significance of the 5% of participants who never conformed in Ash's study?


  The 5% who never conformed highlight that some individuals can resist group pressure entirely.
• What does Ash's study suggest about the nature of conformity?


  Ash's study suggests that conformity can occur even in unambiguous situations due to social pressure.
• What is the main conclusion drawn from Ash's research regarding normative social influence?


  Ash's research supports the idea that normative social influence can lead to conformity in obvious tasks.
• How can the findings of Ash's study be used to evaluate explanations for conformity?


  The findings support normative social influence, showing that participants conformed to avoid social rejection in an obvious task.
• What situational factors influence conformity according to the study material?


  Situational factors include group size, unanimity, and task difficulty.
• How do dispositional factors affect conformity?


  Dispositional factors, like the need for approval and locus of control, can make individuals more or less likely to conform.
• What is the significance of the Patreon support mentioned in the study material?


  Patreon support allows access to exclusive resources and helps fund educational content.