Social Influence and Conformity

Social Influence and Conformity Research Allport (1924 ) - Individual perception of smell Influenced by the group 's comments Sherif (1935 ) - Autokinetic effect Direction and origin of ray of light Individual perception mirrored that of group Amiguous Asch (1951 ) - Confederates Line comparison Individual conformity to group 's incorrect answers Unambiguous Crutchfield (1954 ) - Fact and opinion compliance Compliance rate based on type of task Research Results Asch 32 compliance with group 74 of all participants complied at least once 25 remained

independent When tested individually , 98 of participants answered correctly When tested in a group , only 66 were correct Crutchfield What causes conformity Participation in a group The desire to be part of a group The desire to fit in Example : Teenagers who drink alcohol or try drugs Asch 's study Public conformers Private change Example : The Emperor 's New Clothes Deutsch Gerard (1955 Normative influence Example : Public ennui when witnessing an accident Sherif Information influence Ambiguous situation Crisis When others are experts Example : War of the Worlds Internalization Example : The know it all ' at work Compliance The Foot-in-the-door technique (Freedman Fraser , 1966 Compliance with small request leads to compliance with larger request High compliance rate with initial request Request of sufficient magnitude Similarity between the two requests The Door-in-the-face technique (Cialdini et al , 1975 Compliance with a smaller request following noncompliance with large request First refusal Offer of concession Second request must be smaller Obedience to Authority Milgram (1964 , 1974 , 1976 The effect of punishment on learning Teachers instructed to give shocks to learners Shock level progressively increases Audible protests from learners 62 of teachers administered highest level of shock 80 of teachers continued to administer shocks after learner complained of heart attack Normative influence Information influence Mindless conformity Cognitive dissonance Ethical Considerations Study participants are human and experience Discomfort Stress Threat Embarrassment Cause in others Self-doubt Inadequacy When is research morally wrong or unprofessionally unacceptable References Cialdini , Robert , Vincent , E .J , Lewis , K .S , Catalan , D .W Darby , L .B (1975 . Reciprocal concessions procedure for inducing compliance : the door-in-the-face technique . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 31 , 206-215 Cox , Erica (2001 . Psychology for A-Level . Oxford , England : Oxford University Press , 121-143 Freedman , J .L Fraser , S .C (1966 . Compliance without pressure : The foot-in-the-door technique . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 4 , 195-202 Social Influence : conforming in groups (2006 . Psychologist World . Retrieved May 12 , 2008 from the Psychologist World Website : http /www .psychologistworld .com /influence_personality / asch .php Stream...