Social Influence : Conformity

Question 1

What is social influence ?

Answer 1

How we are influenced by others often by a group (majority influence) or an individual (minority influence or obedience), to change our behaviour, thinking and attitudes

Question 2

Definition of conformity

Answer 2

A change in a persons behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a majority

Question 3

What are three types of conformity

Answer 3

Compliance
Identification
Internalisation

Question 4

What is compliance ?

Answer 4

Going along with others in public but privately not changing behaviour or opinion
Superficial change
Temporary- stops as group isn’t present

Question 5

What is identification?

Answer 5

Conforming because you value being part of the group
Moderate type of conformity
Identify with group
Publicly change opinions and behaviour even if privately we don’t agree with everything the group stands for

Question 6

What is internalisation ?

Answer 6

Conformity because the person genuinely accepts the groups opinion or behaviour in their belief system
Deep type of conformity
Private and public change of opinions / behaviour
Permanent as the change stays even in absence of group

Question 7

What are the two explanations to conformity

Answer 7

Informational social influence (isi)

Normative social influence (nsi)

Question 8

Main point of informational social influence ?

Answer 8

We agree with opinion of majority because we believe it is correct as we want to be correct aswell

Question 9

What situations would isi be an explanation for conformity

Answer 9

Situations that are new to a person so you don’t what is right or there is some ambiguity so you will look to others because you feel the have better information

Question 10

What is the main point of normative social influence ?

Answer 10

We agree with the majority because we want to be accepted, gain social approval and not be left out

Question 11

In what situations is nsi and explanation for conformity?

Answer 11

When you feel conscious about rejection so you don’t want to appear foolish and gain social approval

Question 12

Example of a strength of isi and nsi as explanations of conformity

Answer 12

Lucas et el (2006) asked students to give answers to maths problems. Greater conformity to incorrect answers when the question was more difficult. This was most true for students who rated their maths ability as poor.
People conform in situations they dont know the answer this is exact explanation for isi

Question 13

An example of a limitation of NSI

Answer 13

Limitations due to individual differences.
McGhee and teevan (1867) students high in need of affiliation were more likely to conform.
Shows that people do have a need for affiliation will conform less
NSI does not affect everyone in the same way

Question 14

Limitations of two process approach

Answer 14

Both NSI and ISI are involved

Question 15

Asch (1951)’s procedure

Answer 15

123 participants (all male) American undergraduates were tested in groups of 6 or 8.
Psychological experiment about visual judgement
Group contained only 1 participant and other were confederates
Participants showed series of lines and asked to say out loud which line matches standard line
Participants answered last or second to last

Question 16

How many times did the confederates give the same incorrect answer ?

Answer 16

12 out of 18 trials called critical trials

Question 17

Aschs (1951, 1955) results

Answer 17

Participants gave a wrong answer 38.6% of the time. 1/4 of the participants did not conform. 75% conformed at least once

Question 18

How did asch show that the test was not confusing?

Answer 18

Asch conducted control trial with no confederates giving wrong answers. Participants only made mistakes 0.7-1%
Very small rate

Question 19

Conclusion of Asch’s (1951) research

Answer 19

Normative social influence had led to conformity the real participants agreed with the opinion of the group because they wished to be accepted by them. Control trial proved task was easy so participants only confirmed to fit in

Question 20

Group size variation of Asch’s research

Answer 20

Found with three confederates, conformity to the wrong answer rose to 31.8%. Addition of further confederates made now difference.

Question 21

How many partcipants tested in Asch’s research

Answer 21

123 male partcipants

Question 22

What was the gender of the participants ?

Answer 22

They were all male

Question 23

What is meant by critical trial in Asch’s experiment ?

Answer 23

When the confederates were instructed to give the wrong answer

Question 24

Conclusion of group size variation of Asch’s research

Answer 24

Small majority not sufficient for influence to be exerted

No need for majority more than three

Question 25

How did Asch test unanimity

Answer 25

Wanted to know if another non conforming person would affect conformity of participants
Introduced a dissenting confederate

Question 26

Conclusion of Asch’s unanimity variation

Answer 26

Presence of this non conforming confederate meant conformity reduced by a quarter from when majority was unanimous.
Participants acted more independently because they aren’t the only one
Influence of majority depends on group being unanimous

Question 27

Asch’s task difficulty variation

Answer 27

Asch made line judging task more difficult by making the stimulus line and comparison lines more difficult in length

Question 28

Task difficulty conclusion

Answer 28

Conformity increased
Isi plays a greater role when task becomes harder
Situation more ambiguous
Look to others to be right and guidance

Question 29

Cultural differences in Asch’s research (PEEL)

Answer 29

Important cultural differences yet Asch only tested American males
Smith et ell found that average conformity rates in individualists cultures such as America where research took place was 25% whilst in collectivist cultures such as countries like India conformity rate was 37%
Conformity rates higher
Asch’s findings only apply to American males
Didn’t take cultural differences in account

Question 30

Asch’s finding might not be true today (PEEL)

Answer 30

Asch’s findings might not be true today since research took place when conformity was high.

Perin and Spencer (1980) replicated Asch’s study and only one student conformed out of 396 trials.

Suggests conformity levels have changed over time and people are possibly less conformists. Asch’s research is regarded as a child of its time
Low temporal validity

Question 31

Limitation of Asch’s study - artificial (PEEL)

Answer 31

A limitation is Asch’s experiment was artificial

Partcipants knew they were in a study and simply went along with demands of the situation. They participants were part of a group but it didn’t resemble groups in everyday life

Findings dont generalise to everyday situations as conformity in the real world has consequences

Question 32

Strength of Asch’s research

Answer 32

High degree of control so factored affecting conformity can easily be seen

Asch manipulated the lines to make task more difficult. Found that conformity increased because people looked to other for information since situation more ambitious- isi

Lab experiment that the variables were easy to manipulate to test factors affecting conformity.

Question 33

Limitations of Asch’s research - ethical issues

Answer 33

Asch’s research had some ethical issues

Participants were deceived as they believed the confederates were participants just like themselves.

Informed consent- there was not true informed consent because the participants did not about participants when they consented

Cost and benefit approach
Wanted to see if participants would agree with the group to avoid looking foolish and not fitting in

Question 34

What was the aim of the standard prison experiment

Answer 34

Whether brutality of prison guards was the result of sadistic personalities or whether it was created by the situation

Question 35

Explain the procedure in Stanford prison experiment ?

Answer 35

24 emotionally stable student volunteers determined by extensive psychological testing
Randomly assigned the role of guards or prisoners
Arrested in homes
Blindfolded , strip searched and Deloused
16 rules to follow enforced by guards
Efforts to de individualise participants

Question 36

Results of Stanford prison experiment

Answer 36

Prisoners rebelled against treatment 
Ripped Uniforms , shouted at guards 
Retaliated using fire Extinguisher
Guards harassed prisoners 
Highlighted diffrence in social roles by creating opportunities to enforce rules and punish 
Study stopped after six days

Question 37

Examples of guards threatening prisoners psychological and physical health

Answer 37

Prisoners become subdued, depressed and anxious
Three prisoners were released early because they showed signs of psychological disturbance
Prisoner went on hunger strike - punished by putting him in hole

Question 38

Conclusion of Zimbardo Stanford prison experiment

Answer 38

Revealed power of situation to influence peoples behaviour
Guards prisoners all conformed to social roles within prison
More guards identified with roles , more brutal behaviour became

Question 39

Strength of Zimbardo - high control

Answer 39

High control of variables in research
For example only emotionally stable individuals chosen and randomly assigned to role of prisoner or guard
Ruled out any individual differences that may have affected results increasing internal validity

Question 40

Lack of realism - limitation of Zimbardo

Answer 40

Lack of realism
Banuazizi and Mohavedi (1975) argued participants were play acting than conforming to the role. F
For example one guard said he based his brutal character from the film cool hand Luke

Affects validity of results

Question 41

Counter argument to lack of realism of Zimbardo research

Answer 41

Situation was very real to the prisoners as 90% of prisoners conversations were about prison life

Question 42

Role of dispositional factors - Zimbardo

Answer 42

Zimbardo over exaggerated the power of the situation to influence behaviour and limit the role of personality

Only minority of guards were brutal and some even tried to help prisoners

Zimbardo conclusion that people conform due to the situation may not be valid

Question 43

Ethical issues - limitation of Zimbardo

Answer 43

Ethical issues with Zimbardo

When prisoner asked to leave , Zimbardo replied as the superintendent not the lead psychologist compromising right to withdraw

Study approved by an an ethics committee and participants were fully informed of what research would entail

Question 44

Reicher and haslam (2006)

Answer 44

Limitation r+h research contradicts Zimbardo Findings

They found prisoners took control of the prison and harassed guards because unlike the prisoners the guards had failed to develop shared identity as a chosive group

Zimbardo research can not be replicated now with a more ethical setting

Question 45

In reicher and haslams research what had the guards failed to do ?

Answer 45

Creature a shared social identity as a cohesive group

Question 46

How long did the Stanford prison experiment Last for ?

Answer 46

6 days