AO3 Explanations of Conformity

• Example of research support for ISI

  Lucas et al. 2006
• What did Lucas et al. do?

  Asked students to give answers to math problems that were easy or more difficult. There was greater conformity to incorrect answers when they were difficult rather than when they were easier ones. This was true for most students who rated their mathematical ability as poor.
• How does Lucas et al’s study support ISI?

  Shows that people conform in situations where they feel they don’t know the answer
• What is a weakness of NSI and ISI as explanations for conformity?

  It does not consider individual differences. The explanations assume everyone is affected by ISI and NSI the same way. Asch found that students were less conformist than other participants (ISI) and McGhee and Teevan found that students high in need of affiliation were more likely to conform. (NSI)
• The idea of Deutsch and Gerrard’s ‘two-process’ approach is that behaviour is either due to NSI or ISI. However, more often, both processes are involved. For example, conformity is reduced when there is one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment. This dissenter may reduce the power of NSI (provides social support) or ISI (alternative source of information). This shows it isn’t always possible to be sure whether NSI or ISI is at work. This casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as two processes operating independently in conforming behaviour