Aim: To investigate if people conform to majority social influence Results: Naive P’s gave a wrong answer on
critical trials & 75% conformed at least onc
Method: 123 American student after, P’s said they conformed to avoid reje
volunteers were asked to take part Key Study: Asch’s Baseline
in a vision test. 7 P’s around a Procedure (1951) Conc: P’s displayed a ‘distor
table were shown a card with 1 action’- they knew what wa
vertical ‘standard’ line and 1 with 3 conformed to majority to av
random vertical lines. In turn, they
would call out which line (A,B or C)
was the same length as the
standard line- it was obvious. 6/7
were confeds giving unanimous Social influence= Process where ones Conformity= Adopting the atti
wrong answers on 12/18 of the attitudes, beliefs or behaviours are changed and behaviours of people in
trials. Naive P’s went 2nd to last by the presence or actions of others response to real or imagine
High control over extraneous
E variables- as it’s a lab Low population validity- P’s were all male which is gender biased and unrepresen
v experiment the researcher behaviour, Neto (1995) found women to be more conformist due to social relation
a can be confident that it’s acceptance concerns- makes it difficult to generalise findings to others- reduces e
l only the IV (confeds Ethical issues- P’s were deceived as they were unaware of confeds s
u answers) causing the DV consent wasn’t given- goes against current BPS ethical guidelines fo
a (subjects answers), psychological research- reduces internal reliability (cant be repeated
t establishing cause and
Cultural bias- Smith et al (2006) analysed results of Asch type studies a
i effect- findings aren’t
cultures, the combined avg conformity rate was 31.2%, individualistic c
o affected by confounding
collectivist cultures- 37% (higher as they believe conformity is a social
n variables- increases validity
difficult to generalise findings to others outside of USA- reduces extern
, Social Change= Occurs when a Social norms approach= Behavioural choices are Social norms interve
society as a whole adopts new based on what people think others believe and off by identifying a
beliefs or ways of behaving, do (perceived norm) rather than their real beliefs misconception relati
starts off with minority or and actions (actual norm). The gap between the behaviour within a T
majority influence (conformity) norms is known as a ‘misconception’ correction strategie
Situational variables= Uniform= People Proximity= Location= The used in media cam
Features of the with authority have Distance place where an other routes to com
immediate physical a specific outfit that between an order is issued, actual norm to t
and social environment is symbolic of authority associated advertising resear
which may influence a authority, associated figure and the status recipients will moder
person's behaviour and status influences person being influences behaviour to bring i
obedience levels obedience ordered obedience with the behaviour
Social roles= The Conformity to social roles= Our perception of how we De-individuation= A state where p
appropriate should act in a role changes behaviour. Linked to lower self-awareness & weaker sen
‘parts’ people identification, there's a private and public acceptance responsibility for their actions due
play as members of behaviours & attitudes. But, its not permanent as relative anonymity e.g. social role
of social groups we only conform to certain roles in certain situations strong expectations & specific
Minority influence= Form of Resistance to social influence= Independent role
social influence where a minority Ability to withstand pressures model= Person who Dispositional v
persuade others to adopt their to conform to majority or obey doesn’t conform to Characteristics of
beliefs, attitudes or behaviours authority through situational group or obey the personality that m
(leads to internalisation) and dispositional factors authority figure their behaviour &
critical trials & 75% conformed at least onc
Method: 123 American student after, P’s said they conformed to avoid reje
volunteers were asked to take part Key Study: Asch’s Baseline
in a vision test. 7 P’s around a Procedure (1951) Conc: P’s displayed a ‘distor
table were shown a card with 1 action’- they knew what wa
vertical ‘standard’ line and 1 with 3 conformed to majority to av
random vertical lines. In turn, they
would call out which line (A,B or C)
was the same length as the
standard line- it was obvious. 6/7
were confeds giving unanimous Social influence= Process where ones Conformity= Adopting the atti
wrong answers on 12/18 of the attitudes, beliefs or behaviours are changed and behaviours of people in
trials. Naive P’s went 2nd to last by the presence or actions of others response to real or imagine
High control over extraneous
E variables- as it’s a lab Low population validity- P’s were all male which is gender biased and unrepresen
v experiment the researcher behaviour, Neto (1995) found women to be more conformist due to social relation
a can be confident that it’s acceptance concerns- makes it difficult to generalise findings to others- reduces e
l only the IV (confeds Ethical issues- P’s were deceived as they were unaware of confeds s
u answers) causing the DV consent wasn’t given- goes against current BPS ethical guidelines fo
a (subjects answers), psychological research- reduces internal reliability (cant be repeated
t establishing cause and
Cultural bias- Smith et al (2006) analysed results of Asch type studies a
i effect- findings aren’t
cultures, the combined avg conformity rate was 31.2%, individualistic c
o affected by confounding
collectivist cultures- 37% (higher as they believe conformity is a social
n variables- increases validity
difficult to generalise findings to others outside of USA- reduces extern
, Social Change= Occurs when a Social norms approach= Behavioural choices are Social norms interve
society as a whole adopts new based on what people think others believe and off by identifying a
beliefs or ways of behaving, do (perceived norm) rather than their real beliefs misconception relati
starts off with minority or and actions (actual norm). The gap between the behaviour within a T
majority influence (conformity) norms is known as a ‘misconception’ correction strategie
Situational variables= Uniform= People Proximity= Location= The used in media cam
Features of the with authority have Distance place where an other routes to com
immediate physical a specific outfit that between an order is issued, actual norm to t
and social environment is symbolic of authority associated advertising resear
which may influence a authority, associated figure and the status recipients will moder
person's behaviour and status influences person being influences behaviour to bring i
obedience levels obedience ordered obedience with the behaviour
Social roles= The Conformity to social roles= Our perception of how we De-individuation= A state where p
appropriate should act in a role changes behaviour. Linked to lower self-awareness & weaker sen
‘parts’ people identification, there's a private and public acceptance responsibility for their actions due
play as members of behaviours & attitudes. But, its not permanent as relative anonymity e.g. social role
of social groups we only conform to certain roles in certain situations strong expectations & specific
Minority influence= Form of Resistance to social influence= Independent role
social influence where a minority Ability to withstand pressures model= Person who Dispositional v
persuade others to adopt their to conform to majority or obey doesn’t conform to Characteristics of
beliefs, attitudes or behaviours authority through situational group or obey the personality that m
(leads to internalisation) and dispositional factors authority figure their behaviour &
