conformity: types and explanations

Question 1

internalisation definition

Answer 1

a deep type of conformity where we take on the majority view because we accept it as correct. it leads to a far-reaching and permanent change in behaviour, even when group is absent

Question 2

identification definition

Answer 2

a moderate type of conformity where we act in the same way as the group because we value it and want to be part of it. but we don’t necessarily believe with everything the group/majority believes

Question 3

compliance definition

Answer 3

a superficial and temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go along with the majority view, but privately disagree with it. the change in behaviour only lasts as long as the group is monitoring us

Question 4

informational social influence (ISI) definition

Answer 4

an explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority as we believe it is correct. we accept it because we want to be correct as well. this may lead to internalisation

Question 5

normative social influence (NSI) definition

Answer 5

an explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we want to gain social approval and be liked. this may lead to compliance

Question 6

who suggested there are 3 ways people conform to the opinion of the majority

Answer 6

Kelman

Question 7

when did Kelman suggest there are 3 ways people conform to the opinion of a majority

Answer 7

1958

Question 8

3 types of conformity

Answer 8

-internalisation
-identification
-complacence

Question 9

least and most permanent type of conformity

Answer 9

least-compliance
middle-identification
most-internalisation

Question 10

strongest to least type of conformity

Answer 10

strongest-internalisation
middle-identification
-least-compliance

Question 11

when does internalisation occur

Answer 11

when a person genuinely accepts the group norms

Question 12

what does internalisation result in

Answer 12

a private and public change of behaviour/opinions

Question 13

permanence of internalisation

Answer 13

change is usually permanent because attitudes have been internalised. this change persists even in absence of other group members

Question 14

when does identification happen

Answer 14

when we conform to the opinions/behaviours of a group because there is something about the group we value. we identify with a group, so we want to be part of it

Question 15

identification results in

Answer 15

publicly changing our opinions/behaviours to be accepted by the group, even if we don’t private agree with everything the group stands for

Question 16

compliance results in

Answer 16

a superficial change, the particular behaviour/opinion stops as group pressure stops

Question 16

when does compliance happen

Answer 16

involves simply ‘going along with others’ in public but privately not changing personal opinions and/or behaviours

Question 17

who introduced the two-process theory of the 2 main reasons people conform

Answer 17

Deutsch and Gerald

Question 18

when did Deutsch and Gerald develop the two-process theory of the main reasons people conform

Answer 18

1955

Question 19

what are the two central human needs in the two-processes theory

Answer 19

-need to be right (NSI)
-need to be liked (ISI)

Question 20

what is informational social influence (ISI)

Answer 20

who has the better information - you or the rest of the group

Question 21

why is ISI used

Answer 21

when we are uncertain about what behaviors/beliefs are right or wrong. for example if you do not know the correct answer in class, but most of your class gives one answer you accept it as you feel they are likely to be right. we follow the majority of the group as we want to be right

Question 22

type of process ISI is

Answer 22

cognitive- to do with what you think

Question 23

what does ISI lead to

Answer 23

permanent change in behaviour (internalisation)

Question 24

what situations does ISI occur in

Answer 24

-situations new to a person
-where there is some ambiguity
-in crisis situations where decisions have to be made quickly and we assume that the group is more likely to be right

Question 25

what is normative social influence (NSI)

Answer 25

norms or typical behaviour for a social group

Question 26

why is NSI used

Answer 26

norms regulate behavior of groups and individuals so we pay attention to them. people do not like to appear foolish and prefer to gain social approval rather than being rejected

Question 27

what type of process is NSI

Answer 27

emotional

Question 28

what does NSI lead to

Answer 28

temporary change in behvaiour /opinion (compliance)

Question 29

when does NSI occur

Answer 29

-situations with strangers where you feel concerned about rejection
-with people you know because we are most concerned about the social approval of our friends
-may be more pronounced in stressful situations where people have a greater need for social support

Question 30

strength of explanation of conformity - research support for NSI

Answer 30

Asch interviewed his participants, some said they conformed because they felt self-conscious and were afraid of disapproval. when participants wrote their answers down, conformity fell to 12.5%. this is because giving answers privately meant there was no normative group pressure –> shows that as least some conformity is due to a desire not to be rejected by the group for disagreeing with them

Question 31

what are the 2 explanations for conformity

Answer 31

-informational social influence (ISI)
-normative social influence (NSI)

Question 32

strength if explanation of conformity - research support for ISI

Answer 32

-evidence to support ISI from Lucas wt al (2006)
-Lucas et al found participants conformed more often to incorrect answers when they were given a maths problem that was difficult. this is because when the problems were easy participants knew there own mind but when problems were hard the situation became ambiguous. the participants did not want to be wrong so relied on answers they were given –> shows ISIS is a vaild explanation of conformity because the results are what ISI could predict

Question 33

limitation of explanation on conformity - counterpoint for research support for ISI

Answer 33

-unclear whether it is NSI or ISI at work in research studies or in real life. Asch (1955) found conformity reduces when there is one other dissenting participant. the dissenter may reduce the power of NSI as provide social support or reduce as the power of ISI as provide alternative source of information. both of these interpretations are possible –> it is hard to separate ISI and NSI and both processes possibly operate together in real-world conformity situations

Question 34

example of NSI

Answer 34

Schultz et al (2008) found they were able to change the behaviour of hotel guests by using printed messages encouraging them to save energy. these messages suggested other guests were using fewer bath towls were most successful

Question 35

limitation of explanations of conformity - individual differences in NSI

Answer 35

-limitation is NSI does not predict conformity in every case
-some people are greatly concerned with being liked by others, these people are calles nAffiliators as they have a strong need for affiliation (want to relate to other people). McGehh and Teevan (1967) found students who were nAffilitaors were more likely to conform –> shows NSI underlines conformity for some people more than it does for others. there are individual differences in conformity that cannot be explained by one general theory of situational pressures

Question 36

evaluation of explanation of conformity

Answer 36

-the fact that it is unclear if NSI or ISI is in use suggests distinction is not useful as it is impossible to work out which is operating. Lucas et al findings could be due to NSI, ISI or both.
-however, Asch’s research clearly demonstrates both NSI and ISI as reasons for conformity. for example, in terms of group unanimity, a unanimous group is a powerful source of disapproval. the possibility of rejection is a strong reason for conforming (NSI). but is also true that a unanimous group coveys the impression that everyone is in the know apart form you (ISI)