Megan was on the way to college with her friends. They were discussing the answers they had given to
a psychology homework task they had been set the day before. All three of her friends had given a
different answer to one of the more difficult questions, so Megan changed her answer to be the same
as theirs. However, Megan’s friends had also given a different answer to what Megan believed was an
easier question: she decided to stick to her own answer on that question.
Discuss variables affecting conformity. Refer to the stem in your answer
[16 marks]
The first variable affecting conformity is group size. Research from Asch’s
line study demonstrated that a majority of three individuals was sufficient
to exert social influence in a group. In Asch’s study, with 3 confederates,
the conformity rate rose to 31.8%, but the addition of another individual
makes little difference in conformity, resulting in conformity plateau. In
Megan’s case, “all three of her friends” had given a separate answer to
the difficult question. This creates a majority influence and group pressure
on Megan to change “her answer to be the same as theirs” since there are
enough individuals to increase the conformity rate. However, if the group
consisted of only one person, Megan may have been less likely to change
her original answer. This variable may be associated with normative social
influence (NSI), as a larger group size is more likely to increase the
pressure to conform and avoid social rejection, stand out, or maintain
group harmony. Megan may “changed her answer” to avoid standing out
with her answer within her group, especially as humans have the
tendency to fit in and be socially accepted, proving that group size
influences conformity.
The second variable affecting conformity is unanimity. Unanimity is when
everyone in the group gives the same answer. Asch’s study shows that
when there is unanimity, there is high conformity since individuals have
less confidence to stick with their personal answers. Although, the
presence of even one dissenter will shatter this unanimity, as in his study
conformity dropped by 25%, whether the dissenter has the same answer
as someone else or a completely different answer. In Megan’s case, “All”
of her friends were unanimous in their answers which had a large impact
on her conformity. The mutual agreement between her friends reduced
her confidence in believing in her original answer as it made her feel
isolated, therefore she conformed for the question. However, if one of her
friends also gave a different answer, Megan may have felt more confident
in sticking to her own response. This variable also may be linked to NSI
because the individual may not want to be labelled as “different” or stand
out or being socially ostracised. Conforming may help them feel a part of
the group, as well as maintaining group harmony, therefore unanimity
increases conformity.
The third variable affecting conformity is task difficulty. According to
research by Asch, increasing the task difficulty can increase conformity.
For example, Asch made the line judging task more difficult by making the
a psychology homework task they had been set the day before. All three of her friends had given a
different answer to one of the more difficult questions, so Megan changed her answer to be the same
as theirs. However, Megan’s friends had also given a different answer to what Megan believed was an
easier question: she decided to stick to her own answer on that question.
Discuss variables affecting conformity. Refer to the stem in your answer
[16 marks]
The first variable affecting conformity is group size. Research from Asch’s
line study demonstrated that a majority of three individuals was sufficient
to exert social influence in a group. In Asch’s study, with 3 confederates,
the conformity rate rose to 31.8%, but the addition of another individual
makes little difference in conformity, resulting in conformity plateau. In
Megan’s case, “all three of her friends” had given a separate answer to
the difficult question. This creates a majority influence and group pressure
on Megan to change “her answer to be the same as theirs” since there are
enough individuals to increase the conformity rate. However, if the group
consisted of only one person, Megan may have been less likely to change
her original answer. This variable may be associated with normative social
influence (NSI), as a larger group size is more likely to increase the
pressure to conform and avoid social rejection, stand out, or maintain
group harmony. Megan may “changed her answer” to avoid standing out
with her answer within her group, especially as humans have the
tendency to fit in and be socially accepted, proving that group size
influences conformity.
The second variable affecting conformity is unanimity. Unanimity is when
everyone in the group gives the same answer. Asch’s study shows that
when there is unanimity, there is high conformity since individuals have
less confidence to stick with their personal answers. Although, the
presence of even one dissenter will shatter this unanimity, as in his study
conformity dropped by 25%, whether the dissenter has the same answer
as someone else or a completely different answer. In Megan’s case, “All”
of her friends were unanimous in their answers which had a large impact
on her conformity. The mutual agreement between her friends reduced
her confidence in believing in her original answer as it made her feel
isolated, therefore she conformed for the question. However, if one of her
friends also gave a different answer, Megan may have felt more confident
in sticking to her own response. This variable also may be linked to NSI
because the individual may not want to be labelled as “different” or stand
out or being socially ostracised. Conforming may help them feel a part of
the group, as well as maintaining group harmony, therefore unanimity
increases conformity.
The third variable affecting conformity is task difficulty. According to
research by Asch, increasing the task difficulty can increase conformity.
For example, Asch made the line judging task more difficult by making the
