Types and Explanations of Conformity

Question 1

Internalisation

Answer 1

This is a type of conformity that occurs when a person genuinely accepts the groups norms. This results in a private as well as public change of opinions/behaviours which is usually permanent i.e. it persists in the absence of other group members

Question 2

Identification

Answer 2

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 don’t necessarily agree with everything the group/majority believe

Question 3

Compliance

Answer 3

A superficial and temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go along with the majority view but privately disagree with it. The change in our behaviour only lasts as long as the group is monitoring us

Question 4

2 explanations of conformity

Answer 4

1. Informational social influence
2. normative social influence

The 2 process model was developed by Deutsch and Gerard which argues that there are 2 main reasons people conform. They are based on the two central human needs: the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI)

Question 5

Informational Social Influence

Answer 5

• This is an explanation of conformity that says we agree with the majority because we believe that it is correct.
• We accept it because we want to be correct as well- this may lead to internalisation
• ISI is likely to happen in situations that are new to us or where there is some ambiguity or crisis situations where quick decisions are made we assume the group is correct

Question 6

Normative Social Influence

Answer 6

• NSI is an explanation for conformityb that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we want to gain approval and be liked
• This may lead to compliance
• This is likely to occur in situations with strangers where you may feel concerned about social approval or more pronounced in stressful situations where people have a greater need for social support

Question 7

Research Support for NSI

Answer 7

• Asch (1951) interviewed his participants, some said they had conformed because they felt self conscious giving the correct answer and were afraid of disapproval
• When participants wrote their answers down, conformity fell to 12.5%- no normative group pressure
• Shows at least some conformity is due to a desire not to be rejected by the group for disagreeing

Question 8

Research Support for ISI

Answer 8

• Todd Lucas (2006)
• Lucas found that the participants conformed more often to incorrect answers when the maths problems were more difficult
• As the difficulty increased, the ambiguity of the answer increased
• The participants did not want to be wrong so relied on the answers they were given
• This shows that ISI is a valid explanation of conformity because the results are what ISI would predict

Question 9

Individual differences in NSI

Answer 9

• NSI does not predict conformity in every case
• Some people are greatly concrened with being liked by others- nAffiliators
• they have a strong need for affiliation
• McGhee and Teevan (1967) found that students who were nAffiliators were more likely to conform
• This shows that NSI underlies conformity for some people more than it does for others- individual differences that cannot be fully explained by general theories of situational pressures