variables affecting conformity

• 1. Group size
  2. Unanimity
  3. Task difficulty
• Group size: Conformity rates increase as the size of a majority group increases. Size of group stops having an effect, when group reaches a certain size.

  • one real ppt, one confederate conformity was 3%
  • one real ppt, two conf conformity was 13%
  • one real ppt, three conf conformity was 32%
  • conformity plateaued after this
  • size of majority does have an affect on conformity but only to a point
• Unanimity: means complete agreement from a group

  • Original study all confedrates gave the same wrong answer and conformity was 37%
  • varied study, one conf give the correct answer throughout research conformity dropped to 5.5%
  • when 'lone' conf gave an answer that was both different from majority and correct answer, conformity dropped to 9%
  • when a dissenter breaks the groups unanimous position conformity decreases
• Task difficulty: conformity increases when the difficulty of task increases.

  • stimulus line and comparison line, more similar in lenght so correct answer was less obvious and therefore the task was harder.
  • informational social influence plays a greater role when task becomes harder. Situtions unclear, more likely to look for others for guidance.
  • The right answer becomes less obvious we lose confidence in our own ability and are more likely to conform.
• AO3 - GENDER BIAS -only used male participants – difficult to generalise the findings to females as they may be more likely to conform to fit in – questioning the variables affecting conformity.
• AO3 - CULTURE BIAS - conducted in America (Western culture) – may not be able to generalise findings to Non-Western cultures – they may conform more as they more focused on the group and focussed on fitting in with them – questioning variables affecting conformity.
• Asch’s Study

  • Lab experiment
  • 123 male American student participants
  • Participants placed in a group with 7-9 confederates
  • Had to identify which line ‘a, b or c’ was the same length as the stimulus line ‘x’
  • Answered after confederates
  • Found 37% of participants conformed and said the same wrong answer as the confederates

  Shows NSI as they conformed publicly but not privately (the task was easy – they knew the right answer)