SOCIAL INFLUENCE : conformity

Question 1

define social infleunce.

Answer 1

The process by which individuals’ and groups change each other’s attitudes and behaviour

Question 2

define conformity?

Answer 2

The tendency to change what we do, think or say in response to the influence of real or imagined pressure from a majority group.

Question 3

What did Kelman propose in 1958?

Answer 3

There are 3 ways in which people conform to the opinion of the majority:
-compliance
-identification
-internalisation

Question 4

what is compliance?

Answer 4

A temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go along with the majority view but privately disagree with it. The change in our behaviour stops as soon as group pressure stops.

Question 5

what is identification?

Answer 5

A moderate type of conformity where we act in the same way as the group because we value it and want to be a part of it. But we do not necessarily agree with everything the group believes.

Question 6

what is internalisation?

Answer 6

A type of conformity where we take on the majority view because we accept it as correct. It leads to a permanent change in behaviour even when the group is absent.

Question 7

what is the two process theory?

Answer 7

Deutsch and Gerald 1955 proposed two main theories why people conform:
ISI - informational social influence
NSI - normative social influence

Question 8

What is ISI?

Answer 8

informational social influence - the need to be right

Question 9

What is the NSI?

Answer 9

Normative social influence - the need to be liked

Question 10

Strengths and of NSI?

Answer 10

+ research support from Asch’s study = Ps said in an interview that they felt self-conscious giving the correct answer and they were afraid of disapproval. This shows that some conformity is due to a desire not to be rejected by the group for disagreeing with them.

Question 11

strengths of ISI?

Answer 11

+ there is research evidence to support ISI = Todd lucas et al (2006) = found that participants conformed more often to incorrect answers, when the maths problems were hard. This showed that participants did not want to be wrong so they relied on the answer they were given. ISI is a valid explanation for conformity because the results are what ISI would predict.

Question 12

limitations of NSI and ISI?

Answer 12

• Asch found that conformity is reduced when there is a dissenting participant.
  dissenter may reduce the power of the NSI because they provide social support
  dissenter may reduce the power of ISI because they provide an alternative source of social information.
  = it is hard to separate NSI and ISI.