Conformity Flashcards
Define conformity
The influence that a group can have over an individual to change his/her behaviours, attitudes and/or beliefs.
What is conformity also known as?
majority influence.
Compliance -
When we publicly change our behaviour and opinions to match those of the majority group. However, we privately disagree with the majority. The impact of the influence is temporary.
Identification -
When we change our behaviour and opinions to that of the majority of the group (both privately and publicly) but only while we are a member of that group.
Internalisation -
Occurs when a person accepts the majority group norms.
Leads to a public and private change in behaviour
Persists in the absence of group members.
What is ISI?
The desire to be right
What is ISI affected by?
Self confidence - as it increases the less likely you are to be affected by ISI
Task difficulty - The more difficult the test the more likely you are to engage in ISI.
What does ISI lead to?
internalisation
How does Jennes (1932) provide research for the role of ISI in conformity?
- asked participants to guess how many jellybeans in a jar
- assembled participants into groups of three
- asked to provide a group estimate through discussion
- after group discussion the participants were once again asked to guess how many jellybeans were in the jar.
- most participants adjusted their individual answer, following the group discussion.
- they wanted to give the correct answer (ISI)
How does Fein et al. (2007) provide supporter ISI playing a role in conformity?
Participants had to watch a US presidential debate on screen
Participants also saw the reactions of their fellow ‘participants’ (confederates) on screen during the debate.
the confederate’s response had a large impact on how the real participants responded to the debate. The real participants had a desire to react ‘correctly’ to the debate. Especially when they locked political knowledge.
What is NSI?
The desire to be liked
What is NSI affected by?
group size and social support
less social support, more likely to conform
larger the majority, more likely to conform.
What does NSI lead to?
identification and compliance
How does Asch offer research that supports the idea that NSI affects conformity?
Asch asked his participants why they confirmed during the line study - they responded like that because they did not want to look foolish among their peers.
What is the counter argument for NSI?
Some participants conformed because they genuinely believed that the majority was correct. (conformed as a result of ISI).
