Social Influence - ISI & NSI

Question 1

Define social influence

Answer 1

The process by which an individuals beliefs and/or behaviours change because of the real or imagined presence or action of others.

Question 2

Is conformity a majority or minority influence?

Answer 2

majority influence

Question 3

Define conformity

Answer 3

A change in belief or behaviour as a result of real or imagines group pressure

Question 4

Good implications of conformity

Answer 4

Allows society to function smoothly e.g if there is a queue we join the back of a queue because we conform to the social norms

Question 5

Bad implications of conformity

Answer 5

It reduces independence with harmful outcomes e.g dictatorships

Question 6

What are the 3 types of conformity and who came up with them

Answer 6

Kelman (1958)
compliance
identification
internalisation

Question 7

What is compliance

Answer 7

A type of conformity where one simply goes along with others in public but privately not changing personal opinions/ behaviour. This type of conformity is only a superficial change and that behaviour/ opinion will stop as soon as the group pressure stops. This is a temporary change

Question 8

What is identification?

Answer 8

A type of conformity where we follow opinions/behaviours of a group because there is something about the group we value i.e friendship. We identify with the group and so want to be a part of it. So we may publicly change our opinions/behaviour to be part of the group even if we don’t privately agree with everything the group believes in. This is a temporary change

Question 9

What is internalisation

Answer 9

A type of conformity where one genuinely accepts the group norms. So that person privately and publicly agrees with the opinions/behaviours. This will see a permanent change, and will exist in the absence of the group members

Question 10

What study can be looked at for compliance

Answer 10

Asch’s line study (1951)

Question 11

What are the 2 explanations for conformity and who came up with them?

Answer 11

Deutsch and Gerard (1955) developed a two process theory arguing that there is 2 main reasons to conform - the need to be right (NSI), and the need to be liked (ISI)

Question 12

What is informational social influence?

When is it most likely going to happen?

Answer 12

Its about who has the better information. E.g. you may know the answer to a question in class, but if most of the class agrees to one answer you accept the answer because you feel that they are likely to be right. It is a cognitive process as it involves the way you think.
 This would normally happen in situations that are new to a person or ambiguous situations.

Question 13

What is normative social influence?

When is it most likely going to happen?

Answer 13

It is about norms. Norms regulate behaviour of groups and individuals. People dont like to appear foolish/silly and would rather gain social approval than be rejected. This is an emotional process as it involves feelings/emotions
It is most likely to happen in situations with strangers where you fear rejection. It could happen with people you know be cause we are more worried about their social approval.

Question 14

Evaluation - Research support for ISI

Answer 14

Lucas et al (2006) asked students to give answers to math problems that were easy or difficult. There was more conformity to wrong answers in difficult questions. This was true for most students who believed they had poor mathematical abilities. This shows that people conform in situations where they feel like they don’t know the answer, we assume others know better and must be right.

Question 15

Evaluation - Individual differences in NSI

Answer 15

NSI doesnt affect everyones behaviour in the same way. E.g. people who dont care about being liked are less affected by NSI. E.g McGhee and Teevan (1967) found that students with high need of affiliation were more likely to conform. This shows that there is individual differences in the way people respond

Question 16

Evaluation - NSI and ISI work together

Answer 16

Both processes are often involved.E.g conformity reduced when theres a dissenting participant in Asch study. They reduce NSI by providing social support and reduce ISI as they are another source of information. We can never know the real reason why participants conform in studies of conformity. Ps cant be asked at the time as it can lead to demand characteristics so we can only assume

Question 17

Evaluation - Research support for NSI

Answer 17

Ascg (1951) found that many ps went along with a clearly wrong answer just because others did. Some ps said it was because they felt self conscious giving the correct answer. When Asch repeated study but asked ps to write their answers conformity fell to 12.5%. This shows that NSI is a valid explanation of at least some conformity behaviour.