What are the factors affecting conformity as studied by Asch?

Asch studied several factors that affect conformity, including group size, unanimity, and individual differences.

Group size is one factor that affects conformity. Asch found that conformity increased as the size of the group increased up to a certain point. In his experiments, conformity rates increased with group sizes of up to seven people, but then levelled off. This suggests that there is a limit to the amount of social pressure that individuals can withstand. More detailed information about how group dynamics influence individual behaviour can be found in our notes on groupthink and polarisation.

Unanimity is another factor that affects conformity. Asch found that when even one other person in the group gave an incorrect answer, the participant was less likely to conform. This suggests that the presence of a dissenting voice can have a powerful impact on reducing conformity. For further exploration of Asch's findings, refer to our detailed summary on Asch's conformity study.

Individual differences also play a role in conformity. Asch found that people who were more confident and independent were less likely to conform. In contrast, people who were more anxious and insecure were more likely to conform. This suggests that individual differences in personality and self-esteem can impact how susceptible individuals are to social pressure. To understand how cultural factors might further influence these dynamics, see our notes on cultural variations in behaviour.

A-Level Psychology Tutor Summary: Asch's research shows that three main factors influence whether people follow the crowd: the size of the group, whether everyone agrees, and personal traits. If the group is big (up to seven people) and everyone agrees, people are more likely to go along with them. But, having just one person disagree or being confident and independent can make you less likely to conform.