Conformity: Types and Explanations
Strength
P: Research Support for Normative social Influence
E: Asch found people clearly went along with the wrong answer because self-conscious of giving correct
answer and didn’t want social disapproval. When given opportunity to privately write down answers,
conformity dropped to 12.5%
C1: This is because as you are unaware of group norm, you have no pressure to conform to the group norm
and therefore fear less of being rejected. And this clearly shows NSI as you conform due to a need to be liked
C2: Increases the internal validity as evidence supports the idea of normative social influence suggesting that
people conform to norms to gain social approval as they fear rejection
Strength
P: Evidence for Normative social influence can be applied
E: Schultz et al (2008) found that they could change behaviour of guests by using printed messages to
encourage them to save energy
Messages suggested that other guests were using fewer bath towels were most successful
C1: This is example of NSI as it uses group norms to encourage conformity as there’s a fear of rejection
Evidence shows that guests who were strangers were used to encourage guests to save energy. Using
guest’s increases conformity as they are strangers and with strangers comes imagined pressure that comes
with a fear of rejection if not following the majority.
C2: Increases effectiveness of NS as t can be applied to real life situations in society to encourage pro-local
behaviour such as the Australia bush fire. People can be encouraged to be more eco-friendly to reduce fires
and global warming by showcasing that majority are following this method. They will do the same due to
normative social influence.
Weakness
P : Individual Differences with NSI
E: McGhee and Teevan – students high in need of affiliation were most likely to conform. (Affiliations = need
to be in relationship with others)
C1: People less concerned and in need of affiliation are less likely to conform as they aren’t concerned with
gaining social approval from others and don’t fear rejection either.
However people that in need of affiliation are more likely to conform as they fear social rejection therefore
would follow norms to fit into society
Shows that individual differences influence levels of conformity and research such as Jenners or Sherrif’s
didn’t take this into account.
C2: Decreases external validity as it is not applicable to everyone and some could be in greater need of
affiliation therefore more likely to conform
Weakness
P : Individual Differences with Informative social Influence
E: Pern and Spencer – conducted the same study as Asch with science and engineering students but found
that only 1% of the people conformed
C1: Students felt more confident n judging the line due to high levels of experience in engineering therefore
felt more confident in their answer
Research therefore shows that people vary in their needs to perceive reality accurately
C2: Decreases external validity as ISI is not valid for everyone because people are more confident due to
experience and don’t conform due to pressure from others
, Conformity: Asch’s Research
Strength
P: Use of Lab conditions can be merited
E: Use of lab conditions means strict control over extraneous variables such as timing of assessment and type
of task used
Participant did experiment before to see if they actually knew correct answer thus removing the
confounding variable of a lack of knowledge
Standardised procedure also used to ensure every participant was given same instructions
C1: Strict control over conditions means procedure can be replicated and it is certain that the behaviour
occurring is due to influence of variables
C2: High Internal Validity – results due to manipulation of independent variable and not other factors which
produces more reliable and accurate results
Weakness
P : Artificial situation and Task
E: Test is done in lab – wouldn’t be asked to compare lives in everyday life and participants may have
become aware that they were in a research study therefore may have gone along with the demands of the
situation (demand characteristics) (please-u & screw-U effect)
Task of identifying lines is trivial therefore no reason to not conform to ensure they meet the aim of the
experiment
Participants were also members of groups and the groups they were in wouldn’t reflect everyday life
C1: Findings don’t generalise everyday situations and don’t reflect complexity of real life conformity
This is especially true when consequences of conformity might be more important so this study cannot be
applied to a situation like that due to the insignificance of this task
Interactions within a group where conformity has consequences would be more direct instead of just
conforming straight away.
Therefore fails to reflect everyday life so lacks mundane realism
C2: Low ecological validity as not generalizable to everyday situations to figure out why people conform and
come under pressure such as when conforming to smoke because friends smoke
Weakness
P : Asch’s research has ethical Issues
E: Asch broke ethical guidelines including deception and protection from harm
Deliberately deceived his participants saying they were taking part in a vision test and not an experiment of
conformity
C1: Deceit becomes an issue because participants could not have given consent if they were deceived – not
enough info given for informed consent
And could be exposed to negative psychological consequences if were not aware of what they were doing.
C2: Ethical issues therefore not able to replicate study
CA: When weighing up the argument in cost benefit terms, the deception may out weigh the psychological
harm because the study can be used to explain real life situations
Increased knowledge of conformity and conditions in which people are more likely to conform
Knowledge gained could benefit society by showing people how destructive social influence can be
combatted
By not revealing also eliminates use of demand characteristics which could jeopardize the experiment where
correct results are not given and findings bc of manipulation of IV
Ethical issues don’t threaten the validity or reliability of the findings, but suggest that a cost-benefit analysis
is required
Asch also conducted debriefs showing he didn’t completely ignore his ethical duties thus increasing benefit
of the reason
C2: Increases effectiveness of study due to use of real life application
Strength
P: Research Support for Normative social Influence
E: Asch found people clearly went along with the wrong answer because self-conscious of giving correct
answer and didn’t want social disapproval. When given opportunity to privately write down answers,
conformity dropped to 12.5%
C1: This is because as you are unaware of group norm, you have no pressure to conform to the group norm
and therefore fear less of being rejected. And this clearly shows NSI as you conform due to a need to be liked
C2: Increases the internal validity as evidence supports the idea of normative social influence suggesting that
people conform to norms to gain social approval as they fear rejection
Strength
P: Evidence for Normative social influence can be applied
E: Schultz et al (2008) found that they could change behaviour of guests by using printed messages to
encourage them to save energy
Messages suggested that other guests were using fewer bath towels were most successful
C1: This is example of NSI as it uses group norms to encourage conformity as there’s a fear of rejection
Evidence shows that guests who were strangers were used to encourage guests to save energy. Using
guest’s increases conformity as they are strangers and with strangers comes imagined pressure that comes
with a fear of rejection if not following the majority.
C2: Increases effectiveness of NS as t can be applied to real life situations in society to encourage pro-local
behaviour such as the Australia bush fire. People can be encouraged to be more eco-friendly to reduce fires
and global warming by showcasing that majority are following this method. They will do the same due to
normative social influence.
Weakness
P : Individual Differences with NSI
E: McGhee and Teevan – students high in need of affiliation were most likely to conform. (Affiliations = need
to be in relationship with others)
C1: People less concerned and in need of affiliation are less likely to conform as they aren’t concerned with
gaining social approval from others and don’t fear rejection either.
However people that in need of affiliation are more likely to conform as they fear social rejection therefore
would follow norms to fit into society
Shows that individual differences influence levels of conformity and research such as Jenners or Sherrif’s
didn’t take this into account.
C2: Decreases external validity as it is not applicable to everyone and some could be in greater need of
affiliation therefore more likely to conform
Weakness
P : Individual Differences with Informative social Influence
E: Pern and Spencer – conducted the same study as Asch with science and engineering students but found
that only 1% of the people conformed
C1: Students felt more confident n judging the line due to high levels of experience in engineering therefore
felt more confident in their answer
Research therefore shows that people vary in their needs to perceive reality accurately
C2: Decreases external validity as ISI is not valid for everyone because people are more confident due to
experience and don’t conform due to pressure from others
, Conformity: Asch’s Research
Strength
P: Use of Lab conditions can be merited
E: Use of lab conditions means strict control over extraneous variables such as timing of assessment and type
of task used
Participant did experiment before to see if they actually knew correct answer thus removing the
confounding variable of a lack of knowledge
Standardised procedure also used to ensure every participant was given same instructions
C1: Strict control over conditions means procedure can be replicated and it is certain that the behaviour
occurring is due to influence of variables
C2: High Internal Validity – results due to manipulation of independent variable and not other factors which
produces more reliable and accurate results
Weakness
P : Artificial situation and Task
E: Test is done in lab – wouldn’t be asked to compare lives in everyday life and participants may have
become aware that they were in a research study therefore may have gone along with the demands of the
situation (demand characteristics) (please-u & screw-U effect)
Task of identifying lines is trivial therefore no reason to not conform to ensure they meet the aim of the
experiment
Participants were also members of groups and the groups they were in wouldn’t reflect everyday life
C1: Findings don’t generalise everyday situations and don’t reflect complexity of real life conformity
This is especially true when consequences of conformity might be more important so this study cannot be
applied to a situation like that due to the insignificance of this task
Interactions within a group where conformity has consequences would be more direct instead of just
conforming straight away.
Therefore fails to reflect everyday life so lacks mundane realism
C2: Low ecological validity as not generalizable to everyday situations to figure out why people conform and
come under pressure such as when conforming to smoke because friends smoke
Weakness
P : Asch’s research has ethical Issues
E: Asch broke ethical guidelines including deception and protection from harm
Deliberately deceived his participants saying they were taking part in a vision test and not an experiment of
conformity
C1: Deceit becomes an issue because participants could not have given consent if they were deceived – not
enough info given for informed consent
And could be exposed to negative psychological consequences if were not aware of what they were doing.
C2: Ethical issues therefore not able to replicate study
CA: When weighing up the argument in cost benefit terms, the deception may out weigh the psychological
harm because the study can be used to explain real life situations
Increased knowledge of conformity and conditions in which people are more likely to conform
Knowledge gained could benefit society by showing people how destructive social influence can be
combatted
By not revealing also eliminates use of demand characteristics which could jeopardize the experiment where
correct results are not given and findings bc of manipulation of IV
Ethical issues don’t threaten the validity or reliability of the findings, but suggest that a cost-benefit analysis
is required
Asch also conducted debriefs showing he didn’t completely ignore his ethical duties thus increasing benefit
of the reason
C2: Increases effectiveness of study due to use of real life application
