what is conformity?

Question 1

what is conformity?

Answer 1

a form of social influence that results from exposure to the majority position.
leads to compliance with that position
- a change in a person’s behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people

Question 2

what are the three types of conformity?

Answer 2

compliance
internalisation
identification

Question 3

what is compliance?

Answer 3

when individuals change their behaviour / attitudes the voice IN PUBLIC so they’re in line w the majority
NO CHANGE TO PRIVATE views - only lasts while the group is present
superficial and temporary

Question 4

example of compliance

Answer 4

a person laughing at a joke they don’t find funny because everyone else laughs

Question 5

what is internalisation?

Answer 5

individuals change their behaviour in public so they’re in line w majority
they decide the majority is correct - ACCEPT GROUP’S BELIEF PRIVATELY also
deeper and more permanent

Question 6

example of internalisation

Answer 6

a student about to vote for head boy but classmates then explain why another candidate would be better. the student believes this and changes their mind to vote for the same candidate as classmates

Question 7

what is identification?

Answer 7

moderate type of conformity
conform to the beliefs of the group because WE VALUE THE GROUP and IDENTIFY with the group (eg friends)
we may disagree privately but it can also lead to internalisation

Question 8

example of identification

Answer 8

becoming a vegetarian because all your friends are but still liking meat

Question 9

who identified two reasons for conformity?

Answer 9

Deutsch and Gerard (1955)
- two-process theory

Question 10

what are the two reasons for conformity?

Answer 10

the desire to be ACCEPTED - NSI
the desire to be RIGHT - ISI

Question 11

this model views conformity as a … process

Answer 11

cognitive

Question 12

what is ISI?

Answer 12

informational social influence
- person conforms because they are UNSURE of the correct answer
- look t others for information
- need to be RIGHT

Question 13

Informational Social Influence is most likely when …

Answer 13

the situation is AMBIGUOUS
situation is DIFFICULT or complex
situation is a CRISIS - rapid action is required
we believe others to be experts

Question 14

what type of conformity is ISI more likely to lead to?

Answer 14

internalisation

Question 15

what is NSI?

Answer 15

normative social influence
- copy the behaviour of others to FIT IN
- need to be LIKED and accepted in the group
- avoid behaviour that will make others reject / ridicule us

Question 16

Normative Social Influence is more likely to occur …

Answer 16

in situations with STRANGERS - concerned about rejection
STRESSFUL situations - greater need for social support

Question 17

what type of conformity is NSI more likely to lead to?

Answer 17

compliance

Question 18

strength for the two process theory

Answer 18

there’s RESEARCH SUPPORT for both NSI and ISI

Question 19

research support for ISI

Answer 19

Lucas et al (2006)
- asked students to give answers to mathematical problems
- conformity occurred more to incorrect answers when problems were more difficult
- those who were poor at maths looked to others - felt thy had more knowledge
WHEN PARTICIPANTS WERE UNSURE, THEY LOOKED TO OTHERS

Question 20

research support for NSI

Answer 20

Asch (1951)
- many participants went along with a clearly wrong answer because other people did
- participants feared rejection - went along w wrong answer
- answers were not ambiguous or difficult - people still conformed due to NSI

Question 21

weaknesses for the two-process theory (2)

Answer 21

INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES in NSI and ISI
many supporting studies are lab studies - ack ECOLOGICAL VALIDITY

Question 22

individual differences in NSI

Answer 22

• some are not concerned about being liked
• nAffiliators - people who have a greater need for affiliation - being liked
  — more likely to conform (McGhee and Teevan - 1967)
• suggests that NSI explanation nay lack POPULATION VALIDITY
• doesn’t apply to everyone

Question 23

individual differences in ISI

Answer 23

• does not affect everyone’s behaviour in the same way
• Asch - students were not as conformist - 28% compared to 37%

Question 24

NSI and ISI lab studies lack ecological validity

Answer 24

• lab conditions
• cannot ensure participants’ behaviour in the lab will mirror the same behaviour in the real world
• NOT TRUE TO REAL LIFE