Conformity Flashcards
Definition
Changes in individuals behavior and/or beliefs because of real or images group pressure
Types of conformity
Kerman (1958) suggested that there are three ways in which people conform to the opinion of a majority. These reflect the amount of change that has taken place to a persons view or actions
Compliance
This is the most superficial and least permanent change In attitude.
Individuals publicly change their beliefs and behaviors to be in line with a group and to fit in but in private revert back to original belief system and behaviors when the group pressure stops.
Compliance is linked to NSI
Identification
This is a stinger type or conformity involving possible private ad well as public acceptance.
This occurs when individuals look to a group for guidance and adjust their behavior and believes system to those of a group because membership or the group is desirable and the take on a role within the group.
When the group is no longer seen as valuable behavior may revert back
Internalization
This is the deepest and most permanent change in attitude.
Individuals publicly and privately change their behavior and belief systems to go along with a group norm because we accept their attitudes in to our own cognitions, the behaviour lasts when the majority are no longer present.
Internalization is linked to ISI
Explanations of conformity
The two process theory developed by Deutsch and Gerald identifies two reasons for conformity.ISI AND NSI
Informational social influence (ISI)
ISI is driven by the desire to be right
When an individual is unsure lacks knowledge about how to behave they conform by seeking information from the group about how to behave and assume that it’s he right. This is a cognitive process
This explanation of conformity leads to internalization in which individuals publicly and privately change their views to be in line with a group
Normative social influence (NSI)
NSI is driven by our desire to be liked
An individual will go along with a groups behavior in order to avoid ridicule and gain acceptance from them and fit in .
This is an emotional process
This explanation of conformity leads to compliance in which individuals publicly change their views to be in line with a group but privately revert back to their original view
AO3
P- Research to support isi as an explanation of conformity was conducted by Jeanne’s
E- ppts were asked to individually estimate the number of jelly beans in a jar then decided on a group estimate and finally have a last private individual guess.
E- Jenness found that ppts second private estimate was significantly closer to the groups estimate than their own original estimate.
L- therefore supporting isi as an explanation of conformity because the task was ambiguous and as the participants were unsure of the answer they sought info from the group and changed their estimate publicly and privately to be right
