These notes include content from AQA A-level Psychology and focus on 'Variables affecting conformity'. It covers all AO1 content, as well as evaluations (AO3) and application (AO2). The main points Asch's study and its criticisms. I have made notes on the other Social influence content, so please d...
Paper 1 - SOCIAL INFLUENCE
Variables affecting Conformity
What do I need to know?
What did Asch do, find and conclude?
What were the variations Asch used and what did he find?
How can Asch’s study be evaluated?
Questions to answer in class:
1. Some students are celebrating the end of quarantine by having a night out. They
have been in the pub all evening and are now discussing which nightclub to go on to.
Maryam prefers Fabric but the majority of the group wants to go to the Ministry of
Sound.
Briefly explain how each of the following factors might affect whether or not
Maryam conforms to the majority:
a) group size
According to Asch, the size of the group won’t really affect conformity if the group
size is bigger than 3, however it may make a little difference if there are less than 3
people. So, group size may not affect Maryam much if there were more than 3
friends.
b) unanimity
Asch found that conformity decreased in the presence of a dissenting confederate.
This will decrease conformity and so Maryam may be more independent with her
decision.
c) task difficulty
Asch found that conformity increased when the task was more difficult. This will
increase conformity because Maryam may not want to be wrong and hence follow
what the rest of the group want (informative social influence)
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