Conformity AO3

Question 1

difficulty determining whether compliance or internalisation is taking place

Answer 1

POINT: difficulty determining whether compliance or internalisation is taking place
EXPLAIN: For example, it is assumed that a person who publicly agrees with a majority yet
disagrees with them in private must be demonstrating compliance rather than
internalisation. However, it is also possible that acceptance of the group’s views
has occurred in public yet disappears later when in private.
END: This could be because they have forgotten information
given by the group or because they have received new
information that changes their mind. This
demonstrates the difficulty in determining what is, and
what is not, simple compliance rather than
internalisation.

Question 2

exposure to other ppls beliefs and opinions can shape many aspects of social behaviour and beliefs

Answer 2

POINT: Studies show that exposure to other ppls beliefs and opinions can shape many aspects of social behaviour and beliefs
EXPLAIN: Wittenbrink & Henley (1996) found that participants exposed to negative
information about African Americans (which they were led to believe was the view
of the majority) later reported more negative attitudes toward black individuals.
END: shows the power of social influence in shaping social behaviour

Question 3

US research has supported the important role played by people’s normative
beliefs in shaping behaviours such as smoking and energy conservation.

Answer 3

POINT:US research has supported the important role played by people’s normative
beliefs in shaping behaviours such as smoking and energy conservation.
EXPLAIN: Linkenbach & Perkins (2003) found that adolescents exposed to the simple
message that the majority of their age peers did not smoke were subsequently less
likely to take up smoking.
END: studies support the claim that people shape
their behaviour out of a desire to fit in with their
reference group,

Question 4

Although normative social influence undoubtedly has a powerful effect on the
behaviour of the individual, it is possible that they do not actually recognise
the behaviour of others as a causal factor in their own behaviour.

Answer 4

POINT: Although normative social influence undoubtedly has a powerful effect on the
behaviour of the individual, it is possible that they do not actually recognise
the behaviour of others as a causal factor in their own behaviour.
EXPLAIN: Although normative social influence undoubtedly has a powerful effect on the behaviour of the individual, it is possible that they do not actually recognise the behaviour of others as a causal factor in their own behaviour.
END: Although normative social influence undoubtedly has a powerful effect on the behaviour of the individual, it is possible that they do not actually recognise the behaviour of others as a causal factor in their own behaviour.