Variables affecting conformity

Cards (4)

  • Key study on conformity - Asch
  • Procedure 1. Had to identify lines of the same length
    2. 12/18 of trials, confederates gave the same wrong answer
  • Findings: real participants agreed with wrong answer from confederate majority 33% of the time, majority NSI 25% never conformed, 5% conformed on every trial
  • Factors affecting Conformity
    • Group size - conformity increased 30% with majority of 3 (but not more)
    • Unanimity - conformity rate dropped when unanimity was broken (whether right or wrong)
    • Task difficulty - conformity increased as the task got harder