Why People Conform AO3

• ASCH (1951)


  Found evidence to support MS - in an unambiguous situation people wanted to fix in. When he interviewed participants afterwards, they said that they felt self-conscious giving the correct answer.
• When he made the lines closer

  Conformity increased
• The evidence supports both MS and S
• Individual differences in how much people want to be liked by others

  Will affect conformity
• McGhee + Tevan

  • Students who were Affiliators (need to be liked) were far more likely to conform
• Some research (Cooper, 1979) suggests women conform more than men (possibly to prevent social disagreement)
• It is difficult to explain all behaviour
• Lucas


  Supported role of ISI and found that students showed greater conformity to incorrect answers to mathematical problems if they were harder - in particular if they thought their own ability was poor - suggesting we look to others for the answer.
• It is very hard to distinguish whether ISI or NSI is taking place, as they could both be happening at the same time.