variables affecting conformity ASCH

• variables affecting conformity

  • group size - anything less than 3 confederates would amount to same level of conformity
  • unanimity of majority - if ppt offered support of another ppt/confederates, conformity will fall
  • difficulty of task - harder task = conformity increases
• ASCH STUDY

  • asked student take part in visual discrimination task
  • 123 male undergraduate - 1 ppt rest confederates
  • seated around table, asked look at 3 diff lines , took turns, ppt answered 2nd to last
  • on 12 of 18 trial, confederates instructed give incorrect answer see if ppt conformed
• FINDINGS

  1/4 never conformed, 1/2 conformed on 6 or more trials, 1 in 20 conformed to all 12 trials

  majority trusted themselves

  controlled conditions - ppt made mistake 1% of time

  average conformity = 33%
• AO3 1 - independent behaviour rather than conformity 


  asch study 2 or 3 did not conform - not all believe in conformity
• AO3 2 - cultural differences in conformity 


  markus and kitayama - reason of higher level of confotmity arises in collectivist culture - viewed more favourably - social glue brings communities tg
• AO3 3 - problem determining group size 


  bond - asch study used majority size greater than 9 - other studies less than 9 - normally 2-4 - know very little about large majority group size - more research