PSYCH 202 1st Edition Lecture 17Factors affecting likelihood of conformity: I. Size of the groupa. (3 is the magic number!)II. Importance of the groupIII. Unanimity of the groupSolomon Asch’s conformity studies in the 1950’sI. Which line is the same length as the target?II. Asch line studies with unanimous groups: a. 3 / 4 of “real” subjects conformed on at least one trialb. 1 / 3 of “real” subjects conformed on more than half of the trialsIII. Just one dissenting confederate? - conformity dropsIV. Answers given privately? - conformity dropsAdditional factors affecting conformity: I. Situation is ambiguousII. Situation is a crisisConformity influences on helping behaviorI. Kitty Genovese case:a. Woman attacked outside an apartment building. II. Newspaper reported 38 witnesses did nothinga. Turned out to be over-sensationalizingbut parable for modern timesWhy don’t we help?I. We’re in a hurry a. Darley & Batson’s “Good Samaritan” study b. Seminary students on their way to give lecture on Good Samaritan or seminary jobs. c. Either: No rush, Leave now, or You’re late!d. On the way, pass slumped-over mane. Do they help?f. 40% overall; less than half in two most rushed conditionsI. AmbiguityThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.II. CrisisIII. Experts’ presence affects usDiffusion of responsibility:I. Reduction in perceived individual responsibility, due to presence of other people. II. 2 reasons:a. self-serving interests b. Informational component Learning about bystander effects reduces themI. Beaman, Barnes, Klentz, &McQuirk (1978) - a. Students who had heard a Psychology lecture about helping behavior were more likely to stop and help someone.Perspective taking and helpingI. If we take someone else’s perspective: • More likely to help them• More likely to feel sympathy for themStrategies for Perspective TakingII. Imagine THE OTHER PERSON:a. What is the other person feeling?II. Imagine SELF in place of other person: a. What would *I* feel like in other person’s place?Different perspective taking outcomes:I. Imagining what other person is feeling?a. Increases sympathy and likelihood of helpingII. Imagining self in other person’s place?a. Increases sympathy but also tends to increase personal distressi. (being upset by other person’s plight)III. May motivate leaving situation (and thus less likely to lead to helping)Social situations are powerful, but…I. Stanford Prison Study – “normal” young men assigned to roles as guards or prisonersII. Zimbardo: Bad situations make people badIII. Carnahan & McFarland (2007) – recruit for: a. Psychological study of prison life ORb. Psychological studyIV. Attracted different kinds of peoplea. “Prison life” recruits: i. More aggressive and authoritarianii. Less empathic and