conformity Flashcards
define conformity
a change in a person’s behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people
define yielding
giving way to group pressure
who proposed the 3 types of conformity
Kelman in 1958
name the 3 types of conformity
identification
internalisation
compliance
define identification
conforming because there is something about a group that we value
we identify with the group so want to be a part of it
moderate conformity
define internalisation
when an individual takes the view/values of another person/group as their own
publicly and privately going along with the majority due to the adoption of their belief system
this change is likely to be permanent therefore is the deepest type of conformity
define compliance
“going along with others”
an individual will go along with the group so they can gain approval/disapproval of the group
publicly but not privately going along with the majority to gain approval
superficial/temporary type of conformity
name the 2 explanations of conformity
informational social influence (ISI)
normative social influence (NSI)
define informational social influence (ISI)
the need to be right
we follow the behaviour of the majority because we want to be right
ISI is a cognitive process because it is to do with what you think
it leads to internalisation and happens in new situations where there is ambiguity or crisis situations where you have to make a decision quickly and assume you are right
define normative social influence (NSI)
the need to be liked
people don’t like to appear foolish and prefer to gain social respect than be rejected
NSI is an emotional response that leads to compliance
occurs in situations with strangers due to a fear of rejection or people we know and are worried about the social approval of our friends
more pronounced in stressful situations when there is a greater need for social support
define normative social influence (NSI)
the need to be liked
people don’t like to appear foolish and prefer to gain social respect than be rejected
NSI is an emotional response that leads to compliance
occurs in situations with strangers due to a fear of rejection or people we know and are worried about the social approval of our friends
more pronounced in stressful situations when there is a greater need for social support
what is the study that provides research support for NSI
in Asch’s study he interviewed his participants and some said they conformed because they felt conscious giving the correct answer
when writing answers down conformity fell to 12.5% as they were giving answers privately do there was no normative group pressure
this shows some conformity is due to a desire to not be rejected by the group
what is the study that provides research support for ISI
lucas et al (2006)
found participants conformed more to incorrect answers when the maths problems they were given were more difficult
participants didn’t want to be wrong so they relied on the answers they were given
ISI is valid explanation of conformity as the results are what ISI would predict
