Sherif (1935) - Autokinetic Effect - Will people
conform to a group on an abiguous task. Ptps
were asked hwo far the dot of light had moved.
Procedure - They were aked this twice, alone
and in a group. Half the ptp were asked in a
group first and then alone, the other half alone
and then in a group. Findings - he found that
when asked alone first the ptp wpuld change
their answer the second time to fit in with the
group. However when asked in a group first they
would stick to the groups answer when asked
alone later.
Informative
Social Influence
- To be right
Asch (1955) - To investigate the extent to
which individuals will conform to a majority
who give obviously wrong answers.
Procedure - lab experiment, repeated
measures design, 123 male volunteers.
Results- the control group had an error rate
of only 0.04% (3 mistakes out of 720 trails,
while on the twelve critical trails there was a
32% conformity rate to wrong answers. 75%
of ptps conformed to at least one wrong
answer (meaning 25% never conformed) 5%
of ptp conformed to all 12 wrong answers.
Evaluation - The suituation was unrealistic .
It would be extremely rare to disagree
someone over the correct answer.
Normative Social Influence - To be liked
Culture & Conformity
Bond and Smith (1966) - To compare confomrity rates with Asch - hypo paradigm across
different cultures and also at different times with are culture. The researchers performed a
meta-analysis of 134 published replications of the Asch conformity effect, conducted within 17
different nations. Subsequently a similar meta-analysis was conducted on the 97 replications
conducted within the USA. The within the USA studies slowed a district negative correlation
between time of study and level of conformity , with a steady decline in conformity rates from the
line of Asch in the 1950's. As predicted, independent cultures tended to slow lower rates of
conformity than collectivist ones. A positive correlations was found between conformity rates and
the size.
Factors affecting conformity
1. Conformity to social
norms 2. Group size 3.
Social support 4.
Personality 5. Group Identity