Variables affecting conformity

• Group size


  • Very little conformity with 1 or 2 confederates
  • 30% conformity with 3 confederates
  • Further increases in size did not increase conformity substantially
  • Size of the majority is important up to a point
• Unanimity of majority


  • When the 'real' participant was given the support of another who gave the right answer, conformity levels dropped from 33% to just 5.5%
  • Breaking the unanimous position of the majority is the major factor
• Difficulty of the task


  • Asch made the differences in the lines much smaller to make the task harder
  • Level of conformity increased
  • Participant was less confident in their own answer due to the situation being ambiguous