Evaluate Why People Conform To Majority Influence With Reference To Real Examples and Research.

Asch’s research in conformity (1951) was an unambiguous task. The aim was still to see if people would conform towards the group norm. The results showed that the individuals conformed to the group norm, even if the answers were wrong. The naïve participant explained their reasons for conforming to be because they didn’t want to spoil the experiment, look stupid, their eyes must have been deceiving them, and because they felt that the group was probably right. This experiment also told us that the influence from three or more stooges gave more of a reason to conform than if there was one stooge. The conclusions for this study were that the people conformed for public compliance rather than public acceptance. Also it seemed like people with low self esteem were more likely to conform. The main criticisms for this experiment was that it was artificial, time-consuming, time-dependant and unethical.

Crutchfield’s research on conformity (1954) was to see if the pressure to conform during an experiment was real or imagined. The experiment found that 37% of the participants conformed all of the time. This concluded that there is conformity to imagined pressure. The experiment was criticised to have specific people used that were perhaps more conforming. Also it lacked external validity. The time the experiment was done in (1950’s) was generally a more conforming time, so that could have been one of the reasons why the people conformed more. This experiment was also thought to be unethical as the participant were lied to and could have been embarrassed.

Two theories to explain conformity have been suggested by Deutsch and Gerard (1955). The first is informational influence. This happens in an ambiguous task where the participants involved look to others because they need certainty about their answers. They compare what they have with others and conform to feel accepted. Also the decision they make after conforming will fit in with their role in a certain society.

The other theory is normative influence. This is during an unambiguous task, where the participants may be worried about the responses of others and to gain rewards, such as being accepted by others. The people comply as long as they are in a complying situation. Normative influence can also be given as a theory for why people conform as part of their role in their society.

As a conclusion, it is fair to say that people conform for many reasons, all that have one main aim and that is to fit in with the group. Mainly, people want to be accepted in their society and because they have the need for certainty. People feel that if they conform, they won’t look stupid or get embarrassed. Also, they may conform because that I how, as they feel, they are expected to behave.