A researcher replicates Asch's line-judgment task. Confederates unanimously give an obviously wrong answer before the real participant responds. Across 18 trials, the participant conforms on 9 of them. In a second condition, one confederate gives the correct answer; conformity drops sharply.
Which of the following would most likely INCREASE the participant's conformity rate?
- A
Reducing the group size to two confederates
- B
Allowing the participant to answer privately
- C
Adding a dissenting confederate
- Dcheck_circle
Increasing the perceived status of the confederates
Explanation
Higher-status group members exert more normative pressure, increasing conformity. Private responses, dissenters, and very small groups all reduce conformity.