conformity: types and explanations Flashcards
three types of conformity
internalisation, identification, compliance
definition of internalisation
when a person publicly agrees with the group norms. This also results in a private change as well as public change of opinions/behaviour.
definition of identification
we publicly change our opinions/behaviour, even if we don’t privately agree with everything the group stands for.
definition of compliance
going along with others in public but privately not changing opinions/behaviour.
the two explanations for conformity
informational social influence, and normative social influence
what is informational social influence?
when someone wants to be right
what is normative social influence?
when someone wants to be liked.
the two factors that affect informational social influence
new situations, and in groups
the two factors that affect normative social influence
people you know, in a recognisable envrionment.
two process theory
deutsch and Gerard said that ISI and NSI can work together.
evaluation of ISI - strength
Research support: Lucas et al asked students to give answers to easy and more difficult math problems. More conformity to incorrect answers when the problems were more difficult
evaluation of ISI - limitation (hint: 2 studies)
Asch found that students were less conformist (28%) than other participants (37%)
Perrin and Spencer’s also found less conformity in students.
evaluation of NSI - strength
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 f disapproval. when asked to write their answers conformity fell to 12.5%.
evaluation of NSI - limitation
McGhee and Teevan found that students who were nAffiliators were more likely to conform.
Lucas et al
gave students easy and difficult maths questions, more conformity with the more difficult questions rather than easier ones.
