Types of Conformity
What is Social Influence
The ways in which external social factors alter our behaviour.
Conformity - A type of social influence where we choose to go along with
the majority; ie. peer pressure.
Sherif (1937)
‘People use the behaviour of others to decide what to do’.
He studied the ‘auto kinetic effect’ - an optical illusion in which a
stationary spot of light in a room looks like it’s moving. He asked
participants individually to estimate how far the light actually moved.
On the second time, they were placed in groups of 3. Participants
changed their individual views and converged on a group estimate or
‘norm’.
Jenness’ (1932) Jelly Beans
First study on Conformity;
– Asked individuals to guess how many jelly beans were in a jar
individually.
– The group then had to arrive at a group estimate.
– He interviewed the individuals after, and asked them if they would like
to change their estimate. Almost all changed it in line with the group
estimate.
What is Social Influence
The ways in which external social factors alter our behaviour.
Conformity - A type of social influence where we choose to go along with
the majority; ie. peer pressure.
Sherif (1937)
‘People use the behaviour of others to decide what to do’.
He studied the ‘auto kinetic effect’ - an optical illusion in which a
stationary spot of light in a room looks like it’s moving. He asked
participants individually to estimate how far the light actually moved.
On the second time, they were placed in groups of 3. Participants
changed their individual views and converged on a group estimate or
‘norm’.
Jenness’ (1932) Jelly Beans
First study on Conformity;
– Asked individuals to guess how many jelly beans were in a jar
individually.
– The group then had to arrive at a group estimate.
– He interviewed the individuals after, and asked them if they would like
to change their estimate. Almost all changed it in line with the group
estimate.
