Conformity Flashcards
(34 cards)
Definition of conformity
when someone changes their
- behaviour
- attitudes
due to a real or imagined social pressure
what are 3 types of conformity
Internalisation
Identification
Compliance
What is internalisation
deepest level
genuinely accepts group norms
permanent change in behaviour
What is identification
half level
conform to the idea due to valuing an aspect of the group, open to it.
public opinion may change yet not privately
What is compliance
shallowest level
group norms aren’t really accepted
only changed when within the group
not privately
what did Deutsch and Gerard (1955) come up with
there are two reasons why people conform
NSI
ISI
what does NSI stand for
normative social influence
what does ISI stand for
informative social influence
what is NSI
the need to be liked
why do you conform in NSI
to socially accepted norms so you aren’t socially rejected
what process is NSI
emotional
what type of conformity is NSI
Compliance
what situations is NSI most common
with strangers
stressful situations
greater social support needed
what is ISI
the need to be right
why do you conform in ISI
a fear that you are wrong and possess the wrong information in relation to others.
what process is ISI
Cognitive
What type of conformity is ISI
Internalised
what situations is ISI most common
New situations
crisis situations
ambiguous situations
Asch (1951) aims
investigate the extent in which social pressure from a large group could make an individual conform
Asch (1951) procedure
50 male students - college USA
vision test
7 confederates - answered wrong Q 12/18 times
participants observed (conforms?)
Asch (1951) findings
32% conformed every single time
75% at least once
25% didn’t conform once
1/3 avg
Asch (1951) conclusion
NSI / ISI
Asch variation - group size procedure
confederates ranged 1-15
Asch variation - group size findings
curvilinear relationship between group size + conformity
too low 2 c = 12%
too high 15 = low (more suspicious)
