Differences Between Content Conformity and Visual Conformity

Abstract

The study of conformity has examined a variety of variables over the years. H. T. Moore's 1921 study and studies through the mid-1930s were generally based on content-centered stimuli. Asch and Sherif introduced a new dimension through their studies which used a neutral stimulus. As a result, through the past three decades much of the work in the area of conformity has followed Asch's design. During the entire period there does not appear to have been much interest in studying conformity using both content and visual stimuli. This study was designed to determine the differ ences between conformity behavior when Ss were presented con tent and visual stimuli. The results indicated: 1. that conformity may be higher on content stimuli than visual stimuli; 2. there was no significant difference in conformity between the two kinds of content used in the study; 3. there was no significant relationship between age and either criterion variable; 4. there was significant negative correlation between I.Q. and overall conformity (on both criterion variables); 5. there was a significant negative correlation between SAT scores and overall conformity; and 6. there was a significant negative correlation between SAT scores and content conformity.