Question

3) Look at the image below that represents Asch's conformity experiments 3 Asch's Conformity Experiments il The operate The confederate The parti Imagine YOU are the experimenter (instead of Asch). You conduct a conformity experiment. When you design your experiment, do NOT use LINES. a) Design YOUR experiment (Write the scenario) b) Write the purpose of YOUR study. c) Clarify the participant in YOUR study d) Clarify the confederates in YOUR study

Answer 1

The Asch conformity experiment includes a series of studies coordinated by Solomon Asch, which defines how individuals yielded to a large group and the effect of such influence on beliefs and opinions. Through the experiments,asch proved the factor known as peer pressure. It is the influence of a group on its members which forces them to follow the group pattern , avoiding the truths and beliefs which they knew or possess. Asch hypothesized that when the participants in the experiment, who are actually actors, showed a uniqueness in their responses, yielding to the common character of the group.

Conformity is a form of societal influence on people involving a change in nature and behavior, which makes them fit for a particular group. This change may either be due to the physical presence of others viz ; real and due to influence of society viz; imaginary. Conformity creates a change in attitude and behavior so as to adapt oneself to the common nature of the group. It is good and bad simultaneously. Those who think differently or differs from other people will sometimes be forced to follow the norms of society, whether good or bad.

Three types of conformity were identified by psychologists . They constitute compliance, identification, and internalization. The main points that should be followed while creating a conformity test constitute the following.

1. Effect of the size of the group impact conformity; conduct the experiment by varying the number of confederates.

2.Effect of age on conformity;conduct the experiment with varying age groups.

3.Effect of gender on conformity; try the experiment with men and women to find the variation in results.

4. Effect of situation on conformity; change the background of the experiment to find changes in the result.

You can conduct a conformity test with the help of your friends and using a lift .you design the experiment so as to test the concept of conformity. Ask your friends to enter the lift as strangers . All of them should turn their face away from each other and not facing the door. Through this simple experiment, you can measure the impact of mob formation, without any consideration for right or wrong, all members following the common path of actions by the group.