Outline and Evaluate Research Into Conformity (12 Marks)

817 Words4 Pages
Outline and Evaluate research into conformity (12 marks) Conformity is a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behaviour in order to fit in with a group. This change is in response to real (involving the physical presence of others) or imagined (involving the pressure of social norms / expectations) group pressure. The term conformity is often used to indicate an agreement to the majority position, brought about either by a desire to ‘fit in’ (normative) or because of a desire to be correct (informational). In 1935, Sherif conducted an experiment with the aim of demonstrating that people conform to group norms when they are put in an ambiguous situation. He used a lab experiment to study conformity. He put participants in a dark room and projected a small spot of light onto a screen. The light was still, however it appeared to move. He discovered that when participants were individually tested, their estimates of how far the light moved varied considerably. The participants were then tested in groups of three. Sherif manipulated the composition of the group by putting together two people whose estimate was very different. Each person had to say aloud how far they thought the light had moved. Sherif found that over several trials of the movement of light, the group converged to a common estimate. The person whose estimate of movement was greatly different to the other two in the group conformed to the view of the other two. Sherif said that this showed how people would always tend to conform. Rather than make individual judgements, they tend to come to a group agreements. Sherif's experiment was greatly criticised. Firstly, The ‘group’ used consisted of three people. They may not have considered themselves to be a group. Also, there was no right or wrong answer, it was an ambiguous task, and Sherif told them that he was going to move the

More about Outline and Evaluate Research Into Conformity (12 Marks)

Open Document