Download Evaluate research on conformity to group norms

Evaluate Research on Conformity to Group Norms.
Conformity to group and social norms is when someone follows the actions,
norms and behavior of people in a social group. This essay is going to evaluate 2
researches on conformity, explain why they are done, what could they answer.
The first study is Asch’s study in 1951, which shows that people would side
with the group that they know, is wrong just to fit into their environment. The
researchers first had the participants compare the lengths of lines shown. There was
one clear correct answer, but there are also a few spy researchers that were inside
doing the test and picking the wrong answer on purpose. This made the
participants’ lose faith in their own answer and picked the wrong one to fit in with
the rest of the people. This experiment is done to test how humans interact socially
even though there is an internal conflict, and could answer why many teenagers
today smoke and consume alcohols, because it looks cool to smoke and consume
those products.
The Bystander’s Apathy experiment in 1968 by John Darlene and Bibb Latane
was conducted because of the researchers’ are wondering why would no one help
another person while they are in need when they are in a group of bystanders. To
test this they first set up a radio show, which first contained 2, speakers in 2
separate rooms. The researcher then fakes a seizure and sees if the other person
would come and rescue. The experiment was then done again with a series of 4
people. Results show that 85% of the people in the 1 on 1 conversation would come
to help while only 33% in the people doing the 4 person conversation was helping,
which proved the proverbial cheese: “the more the merrier” wrong. This experiment
was done in order to investigate, what happened after a murder and there were
many people at the scene but none chose to help. This could answer many questions
about people who say: “It’s just not my problem”.
In conclusion conformity can be seen as protection from other people as
some people like to fight with other and choose sides. Conformity of humans also
explains the coldness of humans towards others, as some people do not care about
others, as it is not their problem.