Compliance and conversion in a Situation of Sensory Deprivation

Abstract

The present study is designed in an attempt to test the conjecture that variations in the conflict intensity created by an influence source, would lead to differences with respect to the response levels on which the influence effects emerge. An effort was made to reduce subjects' resistance to the influence attempts of a majority and minority, source, and hence to attenuate the conflict intensity. This was realized, by visually and auditorily depriving the subjects together with the influence source immediately before the social influence phase. The data, collected within the color after-image paradigm, are consistent with the conjecture. After a sensory- deprivation experience, minority and majority influence targets display more compliance behavior than under the usual social influence conditions. The compliance data and the results obtained in a subsequent internal analysis are discussed in the light of their implications for our understanding of the relation between levels of influence. and modalities...