Asch Flashcards
What was the aim of the experiment
Investigate the degree people would conform to obvious wrong answers
What were the findings
37% of critical trials were conformed on
75% conformed to at least one wrong answer
What was the conclusion of the experiment
Motivated by normative social influence
Strong tendencies to conform in group pressure
What were the 3 different types of variations
Task difficulty
Unanimity
Group size
What was the procedure for task difficulty
Make the stimulus line and comparison lines similar
Increased difficulty
What were the conformity rates for task difficulty
More difficult more likely to conform to wrong answer
Why did task difficulty influence conformity
ISI (informational) need to be right
Ambiguous situation
Look for guidance
What was the procedure for group size
Varied the number of confederates
What were the conformity rates for group size
1 confederate 3%
2 confederates 13%
3 confederates 32%
Why did group size influence conformity
NSI (normative)
Unambiguous situation
Avoid disapproval
What was the procedure for unanimity
Dissenter added
Sometimes gave wrong but different from the rest but sometimes gave right
What were the conformity rates for unanimity
Given support dropped to 5.5%
Lone dissenter dropped to 9.9%
Why did unanimity influence conformity rates
Major factor in reduction
Dissenter presence allows participants to behave independently
Methodology
Lab experiment
Control variables
Lacks realism
Historical validity
Period of history where America had high conformity rates
Repeated with engineer students didn’t work
