Berry (1967)
A multi-cultural look at Asch’s conformity study
- He used a variation of Asch’s conformity experiment to study whether conformity rates among the Temne in Sierra Leone in Africa and the Inuits of Baffin Island in Canada could be linked to social norms and socialization practices.
- He found that the Temne, who had an agricultural economy, had high conformity levels. The culture emphasized obedience in child-rearing practices because the culture is dependent on cooperation in farming.
- The Inuits are hunters and often hunt alone. They therefore need to be able to make decisions for themselves.
- Child-rearing practices emphasize self-reliance because this is needed within this culture. This could perhaps explain why the Inuits tend to conform less.