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The Effects of Group Pressurein Perception: A Cross-CulturalConformity Study in FijiSubhas Chandra aa The University of the South Pacific, FijiVersion of record first published: 24 Sep 2007.

To cite this article: Subhas Chandra (1973): The Effects of Group Pressure inPerception: A Cross-Cultural Conformity Study in Fiji, International Journal ofPsychology, 8:1, 37-39

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207597308247059

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Interna/ional JaiirnaI nf Psycbalajy Jaurml Infernutiaml de PsycfiaZagie 1973, V O ~ . 8, NO 1 , 37-39

THE EFFECTS OF GROUP PRESSURE IN PERCEPTION

A CROSS-CULTURAL CONFORMITY STUDY IN FIJI

SUBHAS CHANDRA The Universio ofthe South Pacific, Fgi

Une riplique interculturelle des Ctudes de Asch (1952) et de Whittaker et Meade (1967) sur l'influence de la pression sociale sur la distorsion du jugement a C t t effectuie avec un groupe de sujets des iles Fiji provenant de deux races dominantes. Les risultats denotent une tendance au conformisme plus marquee chez les sujets de cette culture et particulitrement chez les femmes.

Asch (1952) conducted a study to assess the extent to which conformity occurs as a result of direct social pressures. In his experiment with Americans, a college student (subject) enters the laboratory along with seven other students (confederates) and is seated at the end of the row. They are to select from among three lines of different lengths on one card, the one that is equal to a standard line on another card. Twelve pairs of cards are used, and on seven of the twelve judgements required, the condeferates choose, in accordance with prior instruc- tions, the same incorrect line. Results showed almost non-conformity in the control group but about one third of the judgements of the subjects in the experi- mental group agreed with the incorrect judgements of the confederates.

From a similar study with Brasilian, Arab, Chinese and Rhodesian subjects, Whittaker and Meade (1967) reported that " no group tested showed a signi- ficantly lesser degree of conformity than American subjects in this situation ".

The study in Fiji was to assess, using Asch's experiment, the amount of conformity that may exist among Fiji's two dominant races, namely Indians and Fijians, and to compare the results with those of studies with subjects from other countries.

METHOD Sample

I . Eighteen primary school teachers from various parts of Fiji. Age range 30 to 45 years. 2. Twenty second year students from a primary teacher training college. Age range 17 to Z I years. 3 . Thirteen second year students from the University undertaking a Diploma course in secon-

Procedure

The procedure was similar to that employed by Asch. The study was done with the experimental group only as insignificant differences in perception were

JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL DE PSYCHOLOGIE - VOL. 8, Nb I

Fifty-one subjects were used in the following groups :

dary school teaching. Age range I 8-21 years.

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SUBHAS CHANDRA 38

found by Whittaker and Meade in their study with subjects in control groups from other countries.

The subjects made their judgements in the presence of eight other individuals (2 male Indians, z male Fijians, 2 female Indians and 2 female Fijians) who were enrolled in the same course as the subjects in each case.

RESULTS

A summary of results indicating the degree of conformity in Fiji is shown in Table I . The results for the other countries were obtained by Whittaker and Meade (1967).

TABLE 1 SUMMARY OF RESULTS WITH EXPERIMENTAL GROUPS

1 1 Total Number of estimates

U.S.A. Brazil Lebanon Rhodesia Hong Kong Fiji

I' 33 48 20

14 5'

Correct estimates P %

152 65.9 214 69.1 69 49?3

192 53.8

__._____

145 66.8

67 68.4

Pro-majority errors F 70

The Fijian subjects showed significantly greater conformity than any other group tested except Rhodesians. The Fijian - U.S.A. difference yielded a chi- square of 9.90, p < .ooj ; Fijian - Brazilian chi-square = 7.97, p < .ooy ; Fijian - Lebanese chi-square = 16.y I , p < .OOI ; Fijian - Hong Kong chi-square = 6.82, p < .OO~ ; and the Fijian - Rhodesian difference was not significant.

TABLE 2 SUMMARY OF RESULTS BY RACE A N D SEX

Subsamples Total number of estimates

-

I. Ethnic origin 189

Indians I 68 2. Sex

Males Females

26

25

182 1 7 5

Correct estimates F %

122 64.5 7 0 41.1

109 59.9 83 474

Pro-majority errors F Yo

67 3 7 . 5 98 58.3

73 40.1 92 52.6

A further breakdown in results in terms of race and sex is shown in Table 2. The Indian-Fijian difference yielded a chi-square of 18.75, p < .OOI. The

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THE EFFECTS OF GROUP PRESSURE IN PERCEPTION 39

male-female difference in the pro-majority error was also significant (chi-square = 4.82,p < .ooy).

DISCUSSION

The Fiji subjects conformed more to group pressure than did those from other countries used by Asch and Whittaker and Meade. It should be noted that it was the Indian subjects who conformed most. This is partly a reflection of the conforming behaviour that is expected from them as members of an authoritarian society where priorities are given to group preferences.

The high rate of conformity among the females is perhaps a result of their low social status and lesser independence. Relatively few women in Fiji take employment. With regard to " field independent " perception (Witkin e t al., 1914), this high conformity rate for females would be anticipated and is related to their susceptibility to geometric illusions (Chandra, 1972).

REFERENCES

ASCH, S.E. Social Psychology. Englewood Cliffs, N.S. : Prentice Hall, 1912. CHANDRA, S. An assessment of perceptual acuity in Fiji. A cross-cultural study with Indians and

WHITTAKER, J.O., & MEADE, R.D. Social pressure in the modification and distortion of judge-

WITKIN, H.A., LEWIS, H.B., HERTZMAN, M., MACHOVER, K., MEISSNER, P.B., & WAPNER, S.

Fijians. Journal of CrosfiCultural Psychologv, 1972, 3, 401-406.

ment. International Journal of Pychology, 1967, 2, 109-1 I 3.

Personality through perception. New York : Harper, 1954.

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