1.1.4 Types and explanations of conformity

Question 1

conformity

Answer 1

a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behaviour in order to fit in with a group .
This change is in response to real or imagined group pressure.

Question 2

Examples of group pressure

Answer 2

bullying, persuasion, teasing, criticism

Question 3

Reasons for conformity

Answer 3

1. desire to fit in or be liked (normative)
2. desire to be correct (informational)
3. to conform to a social role (identification)

Question 4

first psychologist to study conformity

Answer 4

Jenness 1932

Question 5

Describe Jenness’s 1932 conformity experiment

Answer 5

He asked participants individually to estimate how many beans the bottle contained. Jenness then put the group in a room with the bottle and asked them to provide a group estimate through discussion. Participants were then asked to estimate the number on their own again to find whether their initial estimates had altered based on the influence of the majority. Jenness then interviewed the participants individually again and asked if they would like to change their original estimates or stay with the group’s estimate. Almost all changed their individual guesses to be closer to the group estimate.

Question 6

results of Jenness’s 1932 conformity study

Answer 6

Almost all changed their individual guesses to be closer to the group estimate.

Question 7

which psychologist distinguishes between three different types of conformity

Answer 7

Kelman 1958

Question 8

3 types of conformity

Answer 8

compliance (group acceptance)
internalisation (genuine acceptance of group norms)
identification (or group membership)

Question 9

compliance

Answer 9

occurs ‘when an individual accepts influence because he hopes to achieve a favourable reaction from another person or group. He adopts the induced behaviour because he expects to gain specific rewards or approval and avoid specific punishment or disapproval by conformity’

Question 10

internalisation

Answer 10

• occurs ‘when an individual accepts influence because the content of the induced behaviour - the ideas and actions of which it is composed - is intrinsically rewarding. He adopts the induced behaviour because it is congruent [consistent] with his value system’ .
• This is the deepest level of conformity where the beliefs of the group become part of the individual’s own belief system. This means the change in behaviour is permanent.

Question 11

identification

Answer 11

occurs ‘when an individual accepts influence because he wants to establish or maintain a satisfying self-defining relationship to another person or group’

Individuals conform to the expectations of a social role

Question 12

ingrational

Answer 12

when a person conforms to impress or gain favor/acceptance from other people.

It is similar to normative influence but is motivated by the need for social rewards rather than the threat of rejection

Question 13

who gave the explanations of conformity

Answer 13

Deutsch and Gerrard (1955)

Question 14

2 reasons why people conform according to Deutsch and Gerrard

Answer 14

1. Normative social influence

2. informational social influence

Question 15

normative social influence

Answer 15

• Yielding to group pressure because a person wants to fit in with the group. E.g. Asch Line Study.
• Conforming because the person is scared of being rejected by the group.
• This type of conformity usually involves compliance – where a person publicly accepts the views of a group but privately rejects them

Question 16

informational social influence

Answer 16

This usually occurs when a person lacks knowledge and looks to the group for guidance.

Or when a person is in an ambiguous (i.e. unclear) situation and socially compares their behaviour with the group. E.g. Sherif’s Study.

This type of conformity usually involves internalization – where a person accepts the views of the groups and adopts them as an individual.

Question 17

non conformity

Answer 17

Not everyone conforms to social pressure. There are many factors that contribute to an individual’s desire to remain independent of the group.

For example, Smith and Bond (1998) discovered cultural differences in conformity between western and eastern countries. People from Western cultures (such as America and the UK) are more likely to be individualistic and don’t want to be seen as being the same as everyone else.

This means that they value being independent and self-sufficient (the individual is more important that the group), and as such are more likely to participate in non conformity.

In contrast, eastern cultures (such as Asian countries) are more likely to value the needs of the family and other social groups before their own. They are known as collectivist cultures and are more likely to conform.