SOCIAL INFLUENCE (Conformity)

Question 1

What is Conformity?

Answer 1

“A Change in a person’s behaviour/opinions as a result of real/imagined pressure from a person/group of people’ - ARONSON 2011

Question 2

Explain what is Group size?

Answer 2

-Asch increased the group size by adding more confederates and thus, increased the size of the majority.

-Conformity increased with group size, but only up to a point, levelling off when the majority was greater than 3

Question 3

Explain what is Unanimity?

Answer 3

-It is the extent to which all of the members of a group agree.

• In Ash’s studies, the majority was unanimous when all of the confederates selected the same comparison line.

-This produced the greatest degree of conformity in the naive participants

Question 4

Explain what is Task Difficulty?

Answer 4

-Ash’s line judging task became more difficult when it became harder to work out the correct answer

-Conformity increased as the naive participants assumed that the majority is more likely to be right.

Question 5

Explain Ash’s Procedure of the study (1951)

Answer 5

-Study involved groups of 8-10 male college students.
-only one was the actual participant, whereas all the others were confederates (actors) of the experimenter. Task was the line judgement experiment.

• Participants were shown a standard line and 3 comparison lines in which they were asked to publicly identify which of the 3 lines matched the standard line in length.
• Real participant was seated so that they would always answer near to the end after most of the confederates had given their answers.

-Initially 6 control trials were conducted where confederates gave the correct answer. But, in 12 critical trials, the confederates were instructed to give same incorrect answer unanimously.

Question 6

What were Asch’s Findings of this experiment?

Answer 6

-The measure of conformity was how often real participant conformed to majority’s incorrect answers despite evidence of their senses. His study had a significant degree of conformity

• 75% participants conformed at least one (25% never conformed once)
  -5% conformed every time
  Overall conformity rate in critical trials was 32%

The research suggested that people will conform as a result of NSI and so will conform for social approval, to avoid rejection and being seen as an outcast.

Question 7

What are the 3 variables affecting conformity investigated by Asch?

Answer 7

• GROUP SIZE
• UNANIMITY
  -TASK DIFFICULTY

Question 8

Explain the variable of Group size in more detail:

Answer 8

• Asch varied number of confederates from 1-16

-With only one confederate = conformity rate was only 3%
-2 confederates = conformity rate slightly increased to 13%
-Conformity jumped signficantly with 3 confederates to 33%

-Conformity rate remained steady after this point. Conformity rate of 31% at 16 confederates.

• This showed that presence of small, unanimous group has strong social pressure, but beyond certain point, group size = not proportionally increase this pressure.

Question 9

Explain the variable of Unanimity in more detail:

Answer 9

• Presence of a non conforming person (a confederate) broke group’s unanimity by responding correctly
• this variation= conformity rate dropped to 5.5% = suggests presence of a dissenter provides social support

Question 10

Explain variable of Task Difficulty in more detail:

Answer 10

• He repeated experiment with smaller differences between line lengths = making task more ambiguous
• Difficult condition = Rate of conformity increased
• He argued = this was due to participants more uncertain about their judgements = more susceptible to ISI.

Question 11

Evaluate Asch’s Experiment: Give a strength of it
(Lab experiment)

Answer 11

• As it is a lab Experiment, his study has HIGH INTERNAL VALIDITY

-It was carefully controlled and standardised procedures = followed, giving each participant precisely the same experience
(eg. all participants viewed same lines in same order with same responses from confederates (same NSI)

Question 12

Evaluate Asch’s Experiment: Give a limitation of it
( cultural conditions in cold war)

Answer 12

-Perrin and spencer (1981) argue Ash work lacks TEMPORAL VALIDITY - suggesting high conformity rates = due to cultural conditions in cold war 1950 s America

-Their 1980s replication with British students = found conformity in only one trial out of 396 - suggested that societal changes including possible shift towards more induvidualistic values may explain lower conformity rates they observed

-Ash’s work reflected mindset of cold war Americans who were afraid to stand out from the crowd. People now are more willing to resist NSI.

Question 13

Evaluate Asch’s Experiment: Give a Strength and limitation
(culturally biased)

Answer 13

• Asch’s studies used entirely American Sample = criticised for being culturally biased
• However, use of clear, standardised procedures = led to multiple replications which allowed the assessment of conformity across cultures.

-In meta analysis of 133 studies using Ash’s line judgement task across 17 countries, BOND (1996) found support for Asch’s original findings but also higher rates of conformity.

• in collectivist cultures - has social norms that prioritise consensus compared to induvidualistic societies which value independence and personal freedom
• Suggests =pressure to conform= not universal but influenced by cultural background

Question 14

Evaluate Asch’s Experiment: Give a Limitation
( Not relatable to reality)

Answer 14

• Study lacks MUNDANE REALISM

-People do conform in real life usually - people they know personally and not ourselves in a room of strangers judging line lengths.

-Helps to isolate conformity and minimise extraneous variables, doesn’t replicate real life social interactions

• Artificial nature of his work = not valid measure of real life conformity

Question 15

Evaluate Asch’s Experiment: Give a Limitation
(Ethical)

Answer 15

• Naive participants = decieved

-They thought other people involved in procedure (confederates) were also genuine participants like themselves.

• Ethical cost should be weighed up against benefits gained from study

Question 16

What are the 3 types of conformity?

Answer 16

-COMPLIANCE
-IDENTIFICATION
-INTERNALISATION

Question 17

Explain what is COMPLIANCE?

Answer 17

-Shallowest level of conformity - individual changes their behaviour to fit in with group and to avoid rejection

• Doesn’t privately agree with behaviour/belief , but does agree publicly
• =Compliance = not permanent and only lasts as long as group - present = Generally due to NSI

Question 18

Explain what is IDENTIFICATION?

Answer 18

-Intermediate level of conformity- individual adopts behaviour/ beliefs of group

-individual may/may not privately agree, but they accept group norms out of desire to be liked , be part of group, relationship with group rather than genuine internal agreement with everything group stands for.
= linked to social identity (individuals sense of who they are based on their group membership

Question 19

Explain what is INTERNALISATION?

Answer 19

-Deepest level of conformity - individual accepts behaviour/belief of majority both publicly and privately = becomes part of their belief system

-permanent form of conformity - continues even if majority group =not present .
= LIKELY DUE TO ISI

Question 20

What are the 2 Explanations for Conformity?

Answer 20

• INFORMATIONAL SOCIAL INFLUENCE (ISI)
• NORMATIVE SOCIAL INFLUENCE (NSI)

Question 21

Explain what is meant by Normative Social Influence?

Answer 21

-Conforming to the majority to avoid rejection/ being seen as an outcast

• Driven by a desire to be liked and to gain social approval
• Motivated by emotional reasons and so resulting change in behaviour/view is superficial and temporary

-leads to compliance- individual publicly agree with group but maintain their private belief

Question 22

Explain what is meant by Informational Social Influence?

Answer 22

-Conforming to the majority because of a desire to be correct in situations where the right action/belief is uncertain (unambiguous)

• driven by belief that others have more knowledge / correct information

-Motivated by cognitive reasons (acceptance of new info) -results change in view/behaviour = genuine and permanent

-Leads to Internalisation- individuals genuinely accept groups norms/views. Publicly align with group’s stance and change their private beliefs

Question 23

Evaluate the explanations for conformity. Give a Strength
(How it supports NSI)

Answer 23

-Asch’s original study supports NSI

-75% participants conformed to incorrect majority at least once despite correct answer= unambiguous

• Participants conformed not because = unsure of correct answer but because - wanted to avoid discomfort of being rejected by group /standing out
• Further supported by variation - participants could write down responses, avoiding disapproval = conformity rate dropped to 12.5%

-

Question 24

Evaluate the explanations for conformity. Give a Strength
(How it supports ISI)

Answer 24

-Asch manipulated task difficulty of line judging task - making differences between line lengths less obvious = increasing ambiguity of correct answer

• As Participants= more unsure of correct answer due to task’s ambiguity = more likely - rely on judgements of others - seeking information from group to make correct decision - supports ISI explanation conformity

Question 25

Evaluate the explanations for conformity. Give a Limitation (Dispositional factors)

Answer 25

-there are dispositional (personality) factors - suggest conformity. Not solely determined by situational factors (eg. desire for acceptance in NSI/ need for information in ISI) - nAffiliators strongly desire- be in group, be liked, maintain positive interpersonal relationships (affiliation) -->these individuals = sensitive to social rejection = more likely to conform than those with high confidence / internal locus of control---- less likely to be influenced by pressure to conform.

Question 26

Evaluate the explanations for conformity. Give a Limitation (difficult to seperate 2 explanations)

Answer 26

-can = difficult to seperate influence of 2 explanations -when participants - self report their reasons for conforming = might not be fully aware of true motivations - In real life ambiguous/uncertain situations = individuals might simultaneously seek accurate info (Informational Influence) and social approval (Normative Influence)

Question 27

Explain what is Social Roles Definition?

Answer 27

'A socially defined pattern of behaviour expected of persons who occupy a certain social position or belong to a particular social category'

Question 28

Explain what is meant by Identification?

Answer 28

-Process of individuals adopting behaviour of a group they value and want to belong to - These roles provide social identity (individual's sense of who they are)

Question 29

Explain an overview of Zimbardo's experiment and what was he concerned about?

Answer 29

-Zimbardo was concerned about the intense aggression within the US prison system, thinking that the reason for aggression wasn't dispositional(personality of guards and prisoners) but situational like the environment of the prison itself and conformity to social roles created by prison environment. - He designed the SPE to explore conformity to social roles in simulated prison environment - Experiment= aimed to understand the psychological impact of situational forces by observing how typical, healthy individuals would conform to assigned social roles- guards (oppressive) and prisoners(submissive)

Question 30

Explain the procedure of Zimbardo (1971) study:

Answer 30

-Zimbardo Et Al set up a mock prison in the basement of the psychology department of Stanford University. - Was an observational study of 24 male student volunteers from the US, that were tested as 'emotionally stable'. So these healthy, stable participants were randomly assigned to play the role of prison guard/prisoner -Prisoners experienced unexpected arrests at home, were deloused, given prison uniforms and ID number. 3 prisoners placed in each small mock prison cell and were given list of rules to follow and limited rights eg. 3 meals a day, supervised toilet trips and visits - Guards = given uniforms, clubs, whistles and reflective sunglasses to establish authority and were instructed to manage the prison without harming prisoners. Was in teams of 3, guards worked 8 hour shifts, after were allowed to leave

Question 31

What were Zimbardo's Findings of his study?

Answer 31

-Participants quickly lost their personal identities and adapted to their assigned social roles -PRISONERS- after initial failed attempt at resistance, showed signs of stress, anxiety, passivity and helplessness. Some were released early after emotional breakdowns - GUARDS- empowered by their uniforms and anonymity provided by sunglasses, displayed sadistic aggression and domineering behaviour - Study was halted just after 6 days due to ethical concerns raised by intense reactions

Question 32

What is the conclusion for what the research suggests about Zimbardo's experiment?

Answer 32

-Situational factors than individual personality traits (dispositional factors) can drive behaviour -Because people who were considered 'normal' and 'healthy' before the experiment, engaged in abusive / submissive behaviours due to their assigned social roles and prison experiment

Question 33

Evaluate Conformity to Social Roles. Give a Strength. (setup = well controlled)

Answer 33

-SPE's initial setup was well controlled as Zimbardo carefully selected participants using psychological screening to ensure that they were healthy and psychologically stable without criminal records -Roles of guards and prisoners were randomly allocated. This control supports argument that behaviours shown in SPE resulted from social roles and prison environment than individual dispositions.

Question 34

Evaluate Conformity to Social Roles. Give a Strength. (can influence behaviour -institutional settings)

Answer 34

-His SPE insights into how social roles can influence behaviour which can help to explain incidents of cruelty and abuse in institutional settings - Recognising impact of situational factors on human behaviour - led to practical application of increased training and oversight in military and law enforcement settings to prevent abuses.

Question 35

Evaluate Conformity to Social Roles. Give a Limitation. (Reicher and Haslam's BBC study)

Answer 35

-Reicher and Haslam's replication of the SPE for BBC, challenged Zimbardo's conclusion - By demonstrating that participants don't inevitably conform to their assigned roles of guards/prisoners -Unlike Zimbardo's study(guards became increasingly cruel) R and H found participants resisted behaviours that conflicted with their identities - Study findings; only 1/3 rd of the guards in original SPE demonstrated sadistic behaviour suggesting social roles have limited influence and individuals have agency and moral choice in their actions.

Question 36

Evaluate Conformity to Social Roles. Give a Limitation (Experimenter Bias)

Answer 36

-Zimbardo took on dual role as principle investigator and prison superintendant which may have led to experimenter bias - His presence influenced participant's behaviour to fit expected outcomes of study -Demand characteristics have likely occurred, participants acting in ways they believed matched Zimbardo's expectations -Recent reviews of SPE recordings provided evidence- guards=trained to be aggressive, casting doubt about validity of observed behaviours and conclusions

Question 37

Evaluate Conformity to Social Roles. Give a Limitation (Ethical issues)

Answer 37

-Participants experienced significant psychological harm as his decision was to continue the experiment despite signs of emotional breakdown and extreme reactions of both guards and prisoners - This shows the need for strict ethical controls in psychological experiments, especially distressing situations