Group composition and conforming behavior in Japanese students

TIMOTHY P. WILLIAMS; SHUNYA SOGON

doi:10.4992/psycholres1954.26.231

TIMOTHY P. WILLIAMS, SHUNYA SOGON

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Keywords: conformity, anticonformity, group, foreigner effect, Japanese students

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1984 Volume 26 Issue 4 Pages 231-234

DOI https://doi.org/10.4992/psycholres1954.26.231

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Published: February 20, 1985 Received: May 09, 1983 Available on J-STAGE: February 24, 2009 Accepted: July 14, 1984 Advance online publication: - Revised: -
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Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: ABSTRACT Details: Wrong : A recent report suggested that a radical change was occurring in the response of British students to the Asch-type conformity experiment. The present study of Japanese students, however, shows no such change; nor did it show any signs of anticonformity as reported earlier. In comparison with students of other countries, Japanese students showed less conformist responses to the stranger groups; and more conformist responses to the familiar groups, e. g. to their own university's sport clubs. These results seem to support the conclusion that response to the Asch-type experiment is not universal but rather reflects cultural and situational factors.
Right : A recent report suggested that a radical change was occurring in the response of British students to the Asch-type conformity experiment. The present study of Japanese students, however, shows no such change; nor did it show any signs of anticonformity as reported earlier. In comparison with students of other countries, Japanese students showed less conformist responses to the stranger groups; and more conformist responses to the familiar groups, e.g. to their own university's sport clubs. These results seem to support the conclusion that response to the Asch-type experiment is not universal but rather reflects cultural and situational factors.

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: AFFILIATION Details: [in Japanese]

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: CITATION Details: Wrong : Asch, S. E. 1956 Studies of independence and conformity: 1. A minority of one against a unanimous majority. Psychological Monographs, Vol. 70, No. 9.
Chandra, S. 1973 The effects of group pressure in perception: A cross-cultural conformity study in Fiji. International Journal of Psychology, 8, 37-39.
Frager, R. 1970 Conformity and anticonformity in Japan. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 15, 203-210.
Gibney, F. 1979 Japan: The fragile superpower. Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle.
Kinoshita, T. 1964 The effects of group cohesiveness and task importance upon conformity behavior. Japanese Journal of Psychology, 35, 181-191. (In Japanese with English Abstract)
Misumi, J. (Ed.) 1978 Social psychology in Japan, Osaka: Osaka University Publication.
Nakane, C. 1979 Japanese society. London: Penguin Books.
Perrin, S., & Spencer, C. 1981 Independence or conformity in the Asch experiment as a reflection of cultural and situational factors. British Journal of Social Psychology, 20, 205-209.
Sako, S. 1979 Asch experiment on conformity: A replication. Unpublished Master's thesis. University of Osaka.
Whittaker, J. O., & Meade, R. D. 1967 Social pressure in the modification and distortion of judgement: A cross-cultural study. International Journal of Psychology, 2, 109-113.

Right : Asch, S. E. 1956 Studies of independence and conformity: 1. A minority of one against a unanimous majority. Psychological Monographs, Vol.70, No.9.
Chandra, S. 1973 The effects of group pressure in perception: A cross-cultural conformity study in Fiji. International Journal of Psychology, 8, 37-39.
Frager, R. 1970 Conformity and anticonformity in Japan. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 15, 203-210.
Gibney, F. 1979 Japan: The fragile superpower, Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle. Kinoshita, T. 1964 The effects of group cohesiveness and task importance upon conformity behavior. Japanese Journal of Psychology, 35, 181-191.(In Japanese with English Abstract)
Misumi, J.(Ed.) 1978 Social psychology in Japan, Osaka: Osaka University Publication. Nakane, C. 1979 Japanese society. London: Penguin Books.
Perrin, S., & Spencer, C. 1981 Independence or conformity in the Asch experiment as a reflection of cultural and situational factors. British Journal of Social Psychology, 20, 205-209.
Sako, S. 1979 Asch experiment on conformity: A replication. Unpublished Master's thesis. University of Osaka.
Whittaker, J. O., & Meade, R. D. 1967 Social pressure in the modification and distortion of judgement: A cross-cultural study. International Journal of Psychology, 2, 109-113.

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: PDF FILE Details: -

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: AFFILIATION Details: [in Japanese]

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: CITATION Details: Wrong : Asch, S. E. 1956 Studies of independence and conformity: 1. A minority of one against a unanimous majority. Psychological Monographs, Vol.70, No.9.
Chandra, S. 1973 The effects of group pressure in perception: A cross-cultural conformity study in Fiji. International Journal of Psychology, 8, 37-39.
Frager, R. 1970 Conformity and anticonformity in Japan. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 15, 203-210.
Gibney, F. 1979 Japan: The fragile superpower, Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle. Kinoshita, T. 1964 The effects of group cohesiveness and task importance upon conformity behavior. Japanese Journal of Psychology, 35, 181-191.(In Japanese with English Abstract)
Misumi, J.(Ed.) 1978 Social psychology in Japan, Osaka: Osaka University Publication. Nakane, C. 1979 Japanese society. London: Penguin Books.
Perrin, S., & Spencer, C. 1981 Independence or conformity in the Asch experiment as a reflection of cultural and situational factors. British Journal of Social Psychology, 20, 205-209.
Sako, S. 1979 Asch experiment on conformity: A replication. Unpublished Master's thesis. University of Osaka.
Whittaker, J. O., & Meade, R. D. 1967 Social pressure in the modification and distortion of judgement: A cross-cultural study. International Journal of Psychology, 2, 109-113.

Right : Asch, S. E. 1956 Studies of independence and conformity: 1. A minority of one against a unanimous majority. Psychological Monographs, Vol.70, No.9.
Chandra, S. 1973 The effects of group pressure in perception: A cross-cultural conformity study in Fiji. International Journal of Psychology, 8, 37-39.
Frager, R. 1970 Conformity and anticonformity in Japan. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 15, 203-210.
Gibney, F. 1979 Japan: The fragile superpower, Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle.
Kinoshita, T. 1964 The effects of group cohesiveness and task importance upon conformity behavior. Japanese Journal of Psychology, 35, 181-191.(In Japanese with English Abstract)
Misumi, J.(Ed.) 1978 Social psychology in Japan, Osaka: Osaka University Publication.
Nakane, C. 1979 Japanese society. London: Penguin Books.
Perrin, S., & Spencer, C. 1981 Independence or conformity in the Asch experiment as a reflection of cultural and situational factors. British Journal of Social Psychology, 20, 205-209.
Sako, S. 1979 Asch experiment on conformity: A replication. Unpublished Master's thesis. University of Osaka.
Whittaker, J. O., & Meade, R. D. 1967 Social pressure in the modification and distortion of judgement: A cross-cultural study. International Journal of Psychology, 2, 109-113.

Abstract

A recent report suggested that a radical change was occurring in the response of British students to the Asch-type conformity experiment. The present study of Japanese students, however, shows no such change; nor did it show any signs of anticonformity as reported earlier. In comparison with students of other countries, Japanese students showed less conformist responses to the stranger groups; and more conformist responses to the familiar groups, e.g. to their own university's sport clubs. These results seem to support the conclusion that response to the Asch-type experiment is not universal but rather reflects cultural and situational factors.

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