Annabel Warner
Social influence notes
Types of conformity (shallow to deep processing)
1. Compliance: accepts influence to achieve a favourable reaction or gain approval
from a group (rewards not content, only in public not private)
2. Identification: accept influence to associate with a group to feel more a part of it but
adopts content as true (internalisation and compliance)
3. Internalisation: accept influence as they accept their views and beliefs as accurate
Explanations of conformity
1. Informational social influence: Accept to be right, looking to others to gain evidence
about reality
2. Normative social influence: Accept to be liked or accepted, gain approval and avoid
social disapproval
P support for compliance and internalisation
E Asch 1956 conformity to lines length
E interview people stated they agreed publicly but not privately (compliance) when task was
more difficult people internalised others as situation was unambiguous
L reproducible so increases validity of compliance and internalisation
P support ISI
E sheriff 1935 people conformed in an unambiguous situation
E estimates of how far the dot moved were different privately and when they could discuss
publicly
L lack ecological validity darkened room can’t be applied to everyday life so weakens
argument in support for ISI
Asch study 1956
Investigate whether people would conform if there were an obvious answer 123 male
undergraduates.
Given two cards one with three lines and one with one comparative matching line
Say outload which of ABC matched
6/7 were confederates who gave wrong answers 12/18 of the time
32% on critical trials
74% conformed at least once
People who conformed kept their own opinions privately but changed publicly, individual
differences in impact of majority.
Factors effecting conformity
Group size
P more likely to conform in a large group
E Low conformity bellow 3 confederates above 3 increases to 30%
E More likely to conform if everyone is in agreement increase confidence in group
and decrease in own answer. Not increase post four so optimum conformity size
L Majority must be at least 3 to exert an influence but not an overwhelming majority
Social influence notes
Types of conformity (shallow to deep processing)
1. Compliance: accepts influence to achieve a favourable reaction or gain approval
from a group (rewards not content, only in public not private)
2. Identification: accept influence to associate with a group to feel more a part of it but
adopts content as true (internalisation and compliance)
3. Internalisation: accept influence as they accept their views and beliefs as accurate
Explanations of conformity
1. Informational social influence: Accept to be right, looking to others to gain evidence
about reality
2. Normative social influence: Accept to be liked or accepted, gain approval and avoid
social disapproval
P support for compliance and internalisation
E Asch 1956 conformity to lines length
E interview people stated they agreed publicly but not privately (compliance) when task was
more difficult people internalised others as situation was unambiguous
L reproducible so increases validity of compliance and internalisation
P support ISI
E sheriff 1935 people conformed in an unambiguous situation
E estimates of how far the dot moved were different privately and when they could discuss
publicly
L lack ecological validity darkened room can’t be applied to everyday life so weakens
argument in support for ISI
Asch study 1956
Investigate whether people would conform if there were an obvious answer 123 male
undergraduates.
Given two cards one with three lines and one with one comparative matching line
Say outload which of ABC matched
6/7 were confederates who gave wrong answers 12/18 of the time
32% on critical trials
74% conformed at least once
People who conformed kept their own opinions privately but changed publicly, individual
differences in impact of majority.
Factors effecting conformity
Group size
P more likely to conform in a large group
E Low conformity bellow 3 confederates above 3 increases to 30%
E More likely to conform if everyone is in agreement increase confidence in group
and decrease in own answer. Not increase post four so optimum conformity size
L Majority must be at least 3 to exert an influence but not an overwhelming majority
