AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THREE RESPONSE MODES IN SOCIAL INFLUENCE SITUATIONS
Abstract
A test is provided of a conceptual framework which specifies three response modes in a social influence situation: conformity, independence, and anticonformity. An individual can exhibit, over the course of several trials, any combination of independence or net conformity, i.e., conformity minus anticonformity. The object of this experiment was to manipulate simultaneously a number of independent variables so as to elicit one of the three basic modes of reacting from each of the three experimental groups. Conditions for one group were designed to maximize conformity, those of the second to maximize in dependence, and those of the third to maximize anticonformity. The prediction that these re actions can be brought under experimental control and can be substantially and differentially produced in the laboratory was confirmed. Differences among experimental groups were size able as measured either by over-all differences in independence and net conformity or by movement scores. In the case of the condition de signed to maximize independence behavior, the theoretical limit was closely approached. For the conformity and anticonformity groups, the respective limits were less closely approached, but magnitudes of movement towards these limits were larger than in the case of the independence group.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0402791
Entities
People
- E. P. Hollander
- Richard H. Willis
Organizations
- Washington University in St. Louis