SI: Conformity: Types and explanations Flashcards
What is internalisation?
When a person genuinely accepts group norms. It results in a private as well as public change of opinion/behaviour. Change is more likely to be permanent and persist in the absence of group members because attitudes have become part f how the person thinks (internalisation).
What is identification?
When we identify with a group that we value, we want to become part of it. So we publicly change our opinions/behaviour, even if we don’t privately agree with everything the group stands for.
What is compliance?
Involves ‘going along with others’ in public, but privately not changing opinions/behaviour. This results in only a superficial change and the opinion/behaviour stops as soon as group pressure ceases.
What is Informational social influence (ISI)?
Often we are uncertain about what behaviour of beliefs are right or wrong. You may not know the answer to a question in class, but if most other students agree, you go along with them because you feel they are probably right. A cognitive process- people generally want to be right. Isi most likely in situations which are new or where there is some ambiguity, so it isn’t clear what is right. It may happen when decisions have to be made quickly, and when one person or group is regarded as being more expert.
What is Normative social influence (NSI)?
Concerns what is ‘normal’ or typical behaviour for a social group (i.e. norms). Norms regulate the behaviour of groups and individuals so it is not surprising that we pay attention to them. NSI is an emotional rather than cognitive process- people prefer social approval rather than rejection. Most likely in situations where you don’t know the norms and look to others about how to behave. Important with people you know rather than strangers because people are concerned about the social approval of friends. May be more pronounced in stressful situations where people have a need for social support.
Is informational social influence a cognitive or emotional process?
Cognitive.
Is normative social social influence a cognitive or emotional process?
Emotional.
What is a strength of ISI?
RESEARCH SUPPORT: Lucas et al. asked students to give answers to easy and more difficult maths problems. There was more conformity to incorrect answers when the problems were difficult. This was most true for students who rated their maths ability as poor. People conform in situations where they feel they don’t know the answer (ISI). We look to others and assume they know better than us and most be right.
Limitation of ISI and NSI.
‘TWO-PROCESS’ APPROACH IS OVERSIMPLIFIED: this approach states behaviour is due to either NSI or ISI. However, conformity was reduced when there was a dissenting partner in the Asch experiment. The dissenter may reduce the power of NSI (by providing social support) or reduce the power of ISI (because they are an alternative source of information). Therefore it isn’t always possible to know whether NSI or ISI is at work. This questions the view of ISI or NSI as operating independently in conforming behaviour.
Strength of NSI.
RESEARCH SUPPORT: Asch asked participants to explain why they agreed with the wrong answer. Some said they felt self-conscious giving the right answer and were afraid of disapproval. When Asch asked participants to write down their answers, conformity fell to 12.5%. This supports the participants own reports that they were conforming because of NSI.
What did conformity rates fall to when Asch asked participants to write answers down?
12.5%.
