Social influence Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is conformity?
The tendency to change behaviour or attitudes in response to the influence of a larger group of people. This can be real or imagined.
What is conformity also known as?
Majority influence
Example of conformity (real)
Being offered a cigarette
Example of conformity (imagined)
Fitting in with fashion trends.
What are the three types of conformity?
> Kelman suggested there are three ways we can conform. Compliance, identification, internalisation.
Define compliance
Conforming publicly but privately you don’t agree. This is only temporary, the opinion stops when the group pressure stops.
Example of compliance
Friends talking about favourite football team, but you don’t agree, but you nod your head to look like you agree.
Define identification
Adapting the views and behaviours of a group. Only temporary and whilst in the company of the group (they are something you want to be or value.
Example of identification
Being away at uni and eating vegetarian food with friends due to their diet, but when going home, eating whatever food
Define internalisation
Adapting to the behaviours of a group in private as well as public. The change is likely to be permanent as the attitude is internalised (becomes part of you).
Example of internalisation
Religion
What is the dual process model
Deutsch and Gerald
the two explanations of conformity.
> The need to be right
> The need to be liked
What are the two explanations of conformity?
Informational social influence (ISI)
Normative social influence (NSI)
What is informational social influence?
If we are uncertain about what behaviour/belief is right or wrong we are likely to go with the group consensus.
When is ISI most likely to happen?
(3 points)
> When we are in new situations, so we don’t know what is right.
When a decision is needed to be made quickly
When someone is considered an expert in the group
What is normative social influence?
Wanting to be liked/ part of the group ‘being normal’, to gain social approval.
When is NSI most likely to occur?
(2 points)
> With strangers when we are scared of rejection.
With friends when we are concerned with social approval
What study did Sherif conduct
> First study to demonstrate conformity.
Used an optical illusion called the auto kinetic effect (If you stare at a light in a dark room it appears to move).
P’s were required to estimate how far they thought the light moved, then estimate again in groups of 4
Results- Views and estimates are changed when P’s are in a group.
What is one problem with Sherifs study.
There was no correct answer with the autokinetic effect, it is an illusion.
Aim, method and results of Asch’s study
Aim- To test whether people would conform in an unambiguous situation.
Method- 50 Male American sample.
7 to 8 students took part in the experiment completing related measures (18 trials, 12 critical trials). One Naive participant, rest confederates. They were shown a standard line and 3 comparisons.
Results- 75% of participants conformed at least once. During critical trials, gave incorrect answer 37% of the time.
Where is ISI and NSI shown in Asch’s study?
ISI- Participants started to doubt their eyesight.
NSI- Participants wanted to fit in and avoid rejection.
What were the three variations of Asch’s study.
> Group size (number of confederates increase)
Unanimity (Confederate agrees with naive participant)
Task difficulty (Lines closer together)
Explain group size as a variable affecting conformity (Asch variation)
> When there are more people (confederates) conformity increases, however only to around 7-8 people. Further increases does not increase conformity.
Too many confederates can even lead to a decrease in conformity. This could be because the naive participant becomes too suspicious if there are too many confederates
Explain task difficulty as a variable affecting conformity (Asch variation)
> Conformity increases when the answer becomes more ambiguous, such as when the comparison line becomes more similar to the standard line.
The more familiar we are with a task the more likely we are to conform.
