Social Influence
IGCSE Psychology
• Conformity to Majority Influence
• Obedience to Authority
• Bystander Intervention
• Collective Behavior in Crowds
, Social influence is the process by which a person’s thoughts, feelings, or behavior are
affected by other people or social groups.
1. CONFORMITY TO MAJORITY INFLUENCE
Definition: Conformity is a type of social influence where an individual changes their behaviour,
attitudes, or beliefs to match those of a group or social norm. It occurs when people yield to real
or imagined group pressure.
Asch's Line Judgment Task
The Asch study proved 75% of people will conform to a wrong group answer.
1.1 Social Factors Affecting Conformity
Social factors (or situational variables) are external influences from the
environment or other people—such as group size, unanimity, and task difficulty—
that pressure an individual to conform.
Group Size
Group size refers to the number of people in the majority who are exerting influence on an individual.
Research has shown that conformity increases with group size, but only up to a certain point.
• Small groups (1-2 people): Conformity is relatively low. When only one or two people give an
incorrect answer, individuals are more likely to trust their own judgment.
• Optimal group size (3-4 people): Conformity increases significantly when the group size
reaches three or four. This is where the social pressure becomes strong enough to influence
individual behavior.
• Large groups (5+ people): Once the group exceeds four or five people, further increases in
group size have little additional effect on conformity rates.
, Explanation: The influence of group size works through normative social influence. Larger
groups create stronger pressure because people assume if multiple others agree, it is more
likely correct. However, after a certain size, additional members add little pressure as
overwhelming consensus is already perceived.
Anonymity
Anonymity refers to the condition where an individual's identity or responses are not known to
others in the group. The level of anonymity significantly affects conformity rates.
• Public responses: When people must respond publicly in front of the group, conformity rates
are higher due to fear of social rejection or appearing foolish.
• Private responses: When individuals can respond anonymously or privately, conformity rates
decrease significantly. Without fear of public judgment, people express their true opinions.
Explanation: Anonymity affects conformity through normative social influence. When
responses are public, people conform to gain social approval and avoid disapproval. When
anonymous, the need for social acceptance is reduced, allowing individuals to respond more
honestly.
Task Difficulty
Task difficulty refers to how challenging or ambiguous a task is. The difficulty level significantly
influences conformity rates.
• Easy/clear tasks: When tasks are straightforward and the correct answer is obvious,
conformity rates are lower. Individuals trust their own perceptions when confident.
• Difficult/ambiguous tasks: When tasks are complex or the correct answer is unclear,
conformity rates increase substantially. People look to others for guidance when uncertain.
Explanation: Task difficulty influences conformity through informational social influence. When
a task is difficult, individuals genuinely doubt their own judgment and believe the group may
have better information. They conform because they think the group is more likely to be correct.
, 1.2 Dispositional Factors Affecting Conformity
Dispositional factors are internal, personal characteristics—like personality, self-
esteem, or intelligence—that drive a person's behavior.
Personality
Personality traits are enduring characteristics that influence how individuals typically think, feel,
and behave. Certain personality dimensions affect susceptibility to conformity.
• Self-esteem: Individuals with low self-esteem are more likely to conform because they have
less confidence in their own judgments. High self-esteem individuals are more likely to resist
group pressure.
• Need for social approval: People who have a high need for social approval are more likely to
conform. They prioritize being liked over being right.
• Locus of control: Individuals with an external locus of control (believing external forces control
their life) tend to conform more than those with an internal locus of control.
• Authoritarianism: People high in authoritarianism show higher conformity rates, particularly
when the group represents authority or social norms.
Authoritarianism is strict obedience to authority and
the suppression of individual freedom and dissent.
Expertise
Expertise refers to an individual's knowledge, skill, or experience in a particular domain. Expertise
level significantly affects conformity behavior.
• Low expertise: Individuals who lack knowledge or experience are more likely to conform. They
doubt their own judgment and assume others know better.
• High expertise: Experts in a particular field are less likely to conform when the task relates to
their area of expertise. They have confidence in their specialized knowledge.
Explanation: Expertise affects conformity through both confidence and informational influence.
Experts have justified confidence in their domain knowledge, making them less reliant on group
information. Non-experts recognize their limitations and rationally defer to perceived more
knowledgeable others.
IGCSE Psychology
• Conformity to Majority Influence
• Obedience to Authority
• Bystander Intervention
• Collective Behavior in Crowds
, Social influence is the process by which a person’s thoughts, feelings, or behavior are
affected by other people or social groups.
1. CONFORMITY TO MAJORITY INFLUENCE
Definition: Conformity is a type of social influence where an individual changes their behaviour,
attitudes, or beliefs to match those of a group or social norm. It occurs when people yield to real
or imagined group pressure.
Asch's Line Judgment Task
The Asch study proved 75% of people will conform to a wrong group answer.
1.1 Social Factors Affecting Conformity
Social factors (or situational variables) are external influences from the
environment or other people—such as group size, unanimity, and task difficulty—
that pressure an individual to conform.
Group Size
Group size refers to the number of people in the majority who are exerting influence on an individual.
Research has shown that conformity increases with group size, but only up to a certain point.
• Small groups (1-2 people): Conformity is relatively low. When only one or two people give an
incorrect answer, individuals are more likely to trust their own judgment.
• Optimal group size (3-4 people): Conformity increases significantly when the group size
reaches three or four. This is where the social pressure becomes strong enough to influence
individual behavior.
• Large groups (5+ people): Once the group exceeds four or five people, further increases in
group size have little additional effect on conformity rates.
, Explanation: The influence of group size works through normative social influence. Larger
groups create stronger pressure because people assume if multiple others agree, it is more
likely correct. However, after a certain size, additional members add little pressure as
overwhelming consensus is already perceived.
Anonymity
Anonymity refers to the condition where an individual's identity or responses are not known to
others in the group. The level of anonymity significantly affects conformity rates.
• Public responses: When people must respond publicly in front of the group, conformity rates
are higher due to fear of social rejection or appearing foolish.
• Private responses: When individuals can respond anonymously or privately, conformity rates
decrease significantly. Without fear of public judgment, people express their true opinions.
Explanation: Anonymity affects conformity through normative social influence. When
responses are public, people conform to gain social approval and avoid disapproval. When
anonymous, the need for social acceptance is reduced, allowing individuals to respond more
honestly.
Task Difficulty
Task difficulty refers to how challenging or ambiguous a task is. The difficulty level significantly
influences conformity rates.
• Easy/clear tasks: When tasks are straightforward and the correct answer is obvious,
conformity rates are lower. Individuals trust their own perceptions when confident.
• Difficult/ambiguous tasks: When tasks are complex or the correct answer is unclear,
conformity rates increase substantially. People look to others for guidance when uncertain.
Explanation: Task difficulty influences conformity through informational social influence. When
a task is difficult, individuals genuinely doubt their own judgment and believe the group may
have better information. They conform because they think the group is more likely to be correct.
, 1.2 Dispositional Factors Affecting Conformity
Dispositional factors are internal, personal characteristics—like personality, self-
esteem, or intelligence—that drive a person's behavior.
Personality
Personality traits are enduring characteristics that influence how individuals typically think, feel,
and behave. Certain personality dimensions affect susceptibility to conformity.
• Self-esteem: Individuals with low self-esteem are more likely to conform because they have
less confidence in their own judgments. High self-esteem individuals are more likely to resist
group pressure.
• Need for social approval: People who have a high need for social approval are more likely to
conform. They prioritize being liked over being right.
• Locus of control: Individuals with an external locus of control (believing external forces control
their life) tend to conform more than those with an internal locus of control.
• Authoritarianism: People high in authoritarianism show higher conformity rates, particularly
when the group represents authority or social norms.
Authoritarianism is strict obedience to authority and
the suppression of individual freedom and dissent.
Expertise
Expertise refers to an individual's knowledge, skill, or experience in a particular domain. Expertise
level significantly affects conformity behavior.
• Low expertise: Individuals who lack knowledge or experience are more likely to conform. They
doubt their own judgment and assume others know better.
• High expertise: Experts in a particular field are less likely to conform when the task relates to
their area of expertise. They have confidence in their specialized knowledge.
Explanation: Expertise affects conformity through both confidence and informational influence.
Experts have justified confidence in their domain knowledge, making them less reliant on group
information. Non-experts recognize their limitations and rationally defer to perceived more
knowledgeable others.
