conformity

Question 1

definition of conformity

Answer 1

adjusting behaviour to thinking to others or a group situation. this can be public OR private

Question 2

definition of internalisation

Answer 2

conformity when a person actually changes their viewpoint. BOTH public and private

Question 3

definition of compliance

Answer 3

conformity for a favourable reaction from others. this is public NOT private

Question 4

definition of identification

Answer 4

conformity when a person takes on attitudes and behaviours of a group they want to feel apart of. BOTH public and private

Question 5

research into majority influence: ASCH 1951 -
- aim
- prodecure
- results
- conclusion

Answer 5

AIM: if pp’s would conform to social influence and give incorrect answers in unambiguous situation.
PROCEDURE: 123 male American asked to do ‘vision test’, all but one were confederates, pp’s shown cards of lines and had to match them up. confederates gave wrong answer on 12/18 trials. real pp’s answers last
RESULTS: 75% conformed at least once, conformed 36.8% of critical trials.
CONCLUSION: even in unambiguous situations, strong group pressure to conform. leads to compliance.

Question 6

ASCH 1951 evaluation
(3 points)

Answer 6

POOR GENERALISABILITY: all men, American culture (individualistic), temporal validity
CONTROLLED: good cause/effect, repeated, highly reliable
APP TO REAL LIFE: social norms intervention, use knowledge of conformity to help people (covid masks, smoking) by manipulating peoples desire

Question 7

variables affecting conformity - task difficulty

Answer 7

differences in line length made smaller so difficulty is increased (more ambiguous). rate increased due to harder task so group pressure increased. result of ISI, individuals look to the group for guidance.

Question 8

variables affecting conformity - group size

Answer 8

one individual: 3% conformed
two individuals: 12.8% conformed
3/4 individuals: 32% conformed. less confidence as group grows and less social support with more confederates.

Question 9

variables affecting conformity - disrupted unanimity

Answer 9

real pp’s given support from another real pp’s or confederate giving same answer.
confederate who gave correct answer: 5% conformed,
confederate who gave different answer: 9% conformed
social support reduces conformity. group unanimous position is broken

Question 10

normative social infleunce

Answer 10

want to be LIKED, compliance, temporary behaviour

Question 11

informational social influence

Answer 11

want to be RIGHT, internalisation, permant behaviour

Question 12

ISI research- LUCAS (2006)
peel study

Answer 12

asked students to give answers to maths problems that were easy or difficult, greater conformity to incorrect answers when difficult questions, most true for those who had poor maths ability, when asked again they would give incorrect answers (internalisation)

Question 13

EVALUATION of explanations of conformity

Answer 13

PEEL 1: SUPPORT NSI
P - Asch research support
E - 75 % conformed once, self conscious, wrote answers down reduced to 12.5%
E - pressure gone, knew answer in condition 1, NSI = VALID
L - temporal validity, 1950s, Cold War, increased conformity ????
PEEL 2: SUPPORT ISI
P - Lucas research support
E - conformity higher on difficult questions
E - expert, wanted be right, internalisation, ISI = VALID
L - NSI can also explain this
PEEL 3: CRITICISM OF NSI/ISI
P - other factors
E - disrupted unanimity
E - social support reduced conformity, unanimous position broke
L - dispositional factors, personality, student sample