Conformity Flashcards
Describe what is meant by conformity
A change in beliefs or behaviour to come in line with others views. For example wearing a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Describe explain and give an example of compliance.
Compliance is a change in behaviour to better fit in with a group when in reality you don’t believe it. For example saying you like a certain type of music to fit in a group but you don’t actually listen to that type of music.
Describe, explain and give an example of identification.
Identification is change in beliefs when you are in an environment but once you leave that environment your views change back. i.e. being a vegan when you live with a vegan but once you move out you go back to not being vegan.
Describe explain and give an example of internalisation
A permanent change in beliefs. i.e. being a vegan because you live with a vegan but once you move out you stay a vegan.
Describe normative social influence.
When someone conforms to fit in. An example of this is someone wearing nike shoes because everyone else is.
Describe informational social influence.
When someone conforms to be informed. E.G. copying someone in a test because you think they’re right.
Describe minority influence and give an example.
When the minority influences the majority to follow their beliefs. an example of minority influence is Hitler’s takeover of Germany
Factors behind minority influence
Commitment: When the minority refuses to back down on their beliefs
Flexibility: If the minority are not flexible with their views they are unlikely to convince the majority.
Consistency: To be consistent with your views.
Persuasiveness: the minority must have an argument that makes sense.
Explain and give evidence of individual factors of conformity
Gender: Females are more likely to conform than males which is shown by Mori and Arai
Self esteem: It has been shown that those with lower self esteem are more likely to conform.
Age: Research has shown that teenagers are more likely to conform.
Explain and give evidence of situational factors of conformity
Group size: Asch found that a group size of 3 other people was the perfect number for conformity.
Group unanimity: If everyone in a group agrees then you will be more likely to conform to the rest of the groups beliefs.
Task difficulty: Asch found that if the task is harder then people are more likely to conform.
Explain and give evidence of cultural factors of conformity
Collectivist cultures are more likely to conform than individualist cultures are they focus more on family and values unlike individualist cultures who focus more on the individual than family and values. Smith and Bond (1993) was a study that proved this.
The aim of Asch (1951)
Asch wanted to see whether people would conform to people’s obviously incorrect answers to a simple task.
The method of Asch (1951)
50 male participants were placed in groups with 7 people who they didn’t know were actors. They were shown a series of 18 cards and asked to match the line to the choice of 3 comparisons. the actors were told to give the same incorrect answer in 12 out of the 18 trials. The real participant was always one of last so they would have to choose whether to conform to the majorities obviously incorrect answer or not
The results of Asch (1951)
The average rate of conformity was 32% despite the correct answer being obvious. 75% of participants conformed at least once.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Asch (1951)
Strength: This study is a powerful demonstration of how a group can influence behaviour even if we know it is different to what we would answer if we were alone
Weakness: Study is unethical as the participants were deceived about the confederates.
Weakness: The sample used is biased as all participants were white American men all around the same age making the results less generalisable.
