Social Influence: Types + explanations for conformity

Question 1

Define Conformity

Answer 1

A tendency for people to adopt the behaviour, attitudes + values as a result of real or imagined pressure form a person or group of people.

Question 2

What are 3 types of conformity?

Answer 2

Compliance
Identification
Internalisation

Question 3

Who proposed he 3 types of conformity + what year?

Answer 3

Kelman - 1958

Question 4

Define Compliance

Answer 4

The shallowest level of conformity.
Individual only accepting the views of a person/ group to achieve a favourable reaction to those around them but doesn’t accept this attitude/ behaviour privately.

Question 5

Define Identification

Answer 5

Between the two.
Individual adopting a behaviour/ attitude to be associated with group but only lasts until they leave the group, and their original behaviours/ beliefs return.
Only identifies with this attitude/ behaviour for as long as they’re associated with this group.

Question 6

Define internalisation

Answer 6

The strongest level of conformity.
Individuals’ want to be associated with another person/ group so adopts both their behaviours + beliefs in order to be associated with that group.

These behaviours are present both publicly and privately e.g. a person may recycle more after joining a green peace group.

Question 7

What are the two explanations for conformity?

Answer 7

Informational Social Influence (ISI)
Normative Social Influence (NSI)

Question 8

Define ISI

Answer 8

characterised by the desire to be right —> individual will look to other as a way of gaining evidence about reality.

Question 9

Define NSI

Answer 9

characterised by the desire to be liked / fit in—> individual conforms with the expectations of the majority in order to gain approval or avoid social disapproval

Question 10

What is the supporting study for ISI?

Answer 10

Jenness sweet study

Question 11

Outline Jenness’s study

Answer 11

Ppts were asked how many sweets they thought were in a jar privately + then in a group. After group discussion they found that ppts changed their opinion.

Question 12

What is the key study that acts as supporting evidence for NSI?

Answer 12

Asch’s line study 1951

Question 13

What are the 4 AO3 points for types + explanations for conformity

Answer 13

+NSI - supporting evidence
-NSI - individual differences
+ISI - supporting evidence
-ISI individual differences

Question 14

(+AO3) Who was the researcher who conducted the supporting evidence for NSI?

Answer 14

Schultz et al. (2007)

Question 15

(+AO3) What was the supporting evidence for NSI?

Schultz et al. (2007)

Answer 15

Found that when hotel guests saw a message that 75% of guests refused to use their original towels, they requested/ used new towels themselves.

Question 16

(-AO3) How do individual differences impact NSI?

Answer 16

NSI doesn’t affect everyone’s behaviour in the same ay e.g. people who are less concerned with being liked are less affected by NSI than those who care more.

Question 17

(+AO3) Who was the researcher who conducted the supporting evidence for ISI?

Answer 17

Lucas (2006)

Question 18

(+AO3) What was the supporting evidence for ISI?

Lucas (2006)

Answer 18

Asked students to give answers to maths questions that were easy or more difficult. There was greater conformity to incorrect answers when they were difficult.
Found greater conformity with harder question than easier which shows that people are more likely to conform when the correct answer isn’t obvious.

Question 19

(-AO3) How do individual differences impact ISI?

Answer 19

Assumes that we all perceive reality in the same way. Asch (1955) found that students were less conformist (28%) than other ppts (37%).