Discuss factors that can affect conformity. Refer to variations of Asch’s experiment in your answer. (16 marks)
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Course
Social Influence
Institution
AQA
I finished my psychology A-level last year with an A*. I have compiled a list of improvised essays I done as mocks and each of these essays fall into band 4 (13-16 marks)
Discuss factors that can affect
conformity. Refer to variations of
Asch’s experiment in your
answer. (16 marks)
The three key elements that influence whether someone conforms are task difficulty,
unanimity, and group size. First off, since the magnitude of the social pressure
increases with group size, it makes sense to predict that a larger group will raise the
rate of conformity.
However, according to Asch's studies, the impact of group size is not always obvious.
One real participant was split up among six to eight confederates in the original
experiment by Asch. According to Asch, this percentage was 32% on average.
Conformity decreased to just 3% when there was just one confederate and to 12.8%
when there were two. Asch discovered that conformity remained constant with three
confederates at about 32%. There are constraints when group size is increased. Asch
discovered that compliance began to decline as the majority reached 15 confederates.
This might be the case because the participants began to act suspiciously and the
circumstance was perceived as unusual, which led to demand characteristics. These
findings demonstrate that group size significantly affects conformity and that conformity
peaks at about 32% in groups of three or more members.
Unanimity, or the degree to which the majority agrees in their opinions or behaviour, is
another aspect that influences compliance. A majority that is unified in its viewpoint is
more likely to make a big difference. Asch explored the concept of unanimity in a
version where one of the confederates was told to consistently provide the right
response. The average compliance rate decreased to barely 5% in this modification.
This demonstrates how individuals are more likely to defy social pressure to comply
when a majority is broken. This is due to the fact that they do not feel isolated and are
free to disobey the group.
Task difficulty is the last element that has an impact on compliance. The participants in
the original Asch experiment were complying due to normative social influence and a
Discuss factors that can affect conformity. Refer to variations of Asch’s experiment in your answer. (16 marks) 1
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