Which comparison line
is the same as the
standard line.
Confederate said wrong
answer 12/18 trials.
Findings
75% conformed
at least once, so
25% never
conformed.
Evaluation
The task set is is artificial. Participants were asked to
compare lines. It is not everyday that people sit and
compare lines thus the study lacks ecological validity.
Because the task was easy and unrealistic the participants
could've easily guessed that the others are confederates
and therefore played along which would sabotage the
findings thus the study's results may not apply to real life
situations as they are affected by demand characteristics.
Asch's research is limited due to many reasons. All
participants in the study were male thus the results
conducted lack population validity as the sample is
not representative of the target population. The
study also lacks population validity because the
participants were all American and thus the
findings can't be applied to other ethnic groups or
societies.
Some participants said that they conformed so
they would be liked by the group and avoid
rejection. this si evidence for the
Types
Compliance
Publicly agrees but privately
disagrees. This type of
conformity is temporary and
only done when the group is
present.
Laughing at a
joke because
your other
friends did.
Internalisation
This is agreeing with the group
privately and publicly, even
when the group is not present.
This is a permanent change of
behaviour.
Becoming
vegetarian.
Identification
Willingly accepting the groups
social norms and values,
however this is only when the
group is present. This is
external and temporary.
Police are strict
in a shift but
they are
different at
home.
Explinations
Normative Social Influence
The desire to be liked. When you do what others do so you're not left out
or rejected by the group. For example a person may feel pressurised to
smoke because the rest of their friends are. Normative influence tends to
lead to compliance because the behaviour is temporary.
Informational Social Influence
This is the desire to be right. We conform because we are unsure
of the situation or we dont know so we look at what other do and
assume that they have more knowledge on the topic. If you go to a
posh restaurant for the first time, You might not know which fork
to use so you look at others and copy. This usually leads to
internalisation: perminent change