PSYC 342 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Normative Social Influence
27 Jan 2018
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Sherif (1936) had participants sit in dark room and stare at fixed light point. Initially participants made estimates alone (typically 1-10 inches) Within each group naturally converged on a common estimate. When people in those groups were taken back to do the task alone their answer still coincided with the group estimate. Interested in conformity situations where the objective truth was obvious. Line comparison task in groups of 7 to 9 people. Confederates provided initially correct judgements and then subsequently unanimous q incorrect judgements. Participant conforms to obviously incorrect assumptions made by confederates. Participants conform to total strangers and absurdity, imagine how powerful conformity is in the real world where there"s social implications and less ambiguity. Participants in the alone condition were wrong in 1% of trials. Participants in the public group were wrong 37% of trials. 76% of participants conformed at least once in the public group condition.
