Evaluation of Conformity

Evaluation of Conformity

1. Informational Social Influence

   • Research Support (Lucas et al.)
     • Students completed Mathematical Problems
     • When the problems were more difficult conformity rose
     • People conform when they feel they don't know the answer
     • We look to others and assume they know better than us
   • Individual Differences
     • ISI doesn't affect everyone in the same way
     • Asch found that participants were less conformist
     • Perrin and Spencer found high conformity

2. Normative Social Influence

   • Research Support (Asch)
     • Participants gave a clearly wrong answer because other people did
     • Participants felt self-conscious and were afraid of dissaproval
     • When the participants wrote down the answer conformity dropped to 12.5%
   • Individual Differences
     • NSI doesn't affect everyone in the same way
     • nAffiliators- people who care about being liked and need affiliation
     • nAffiliators normally conform more

3. Normative Social Influence and Informational Social Influence

   • Deutsch and Gerrard
   • Two Process Approach- either NSI or ISI
   • Asch study- dissenting participant meant conformity reduced
     • Participant provided social support (NSI)
     • Alternative Source of Information (ISI)