Conformity Flashcards
Conformity (majority influence)
Tendency to change our views or behaviours in response to the influence of a larger group. The pressure can be real or imagined.
What are the three main types of conformity?
- Internalisation
- Identification
- Compliance
Compliance
Superficial type of conformity. People will conform publicly with the views of the group but privately disagrees.
What is an example of compliance?
Laugh at a joke that others are laughing at while privately not finding it funny.
Identification
Moderate type of conformity. The individual will mostly privately accept the views and behaviours but the purpose of conforming is to be publicly accepted as a group member.
What is an example of identification?
A child may start smoking because that’s what their group do and they want to fit in with that group.
internalisation
Deepest level of conformity. They genuinely accept the majority group norms and adopt the viewpoint publicly and privately. Known as a conversion as the person changes their way of thinking even if the group isn’t present. Long lasting change.
What is an example of internalisation?
Someone who shares a flat with vegetarians and becomes a vegetarian themselves may stop eating meat for the rest of their life.
What is the difference between compliance, identification and internalisation?
Compliance is a ST change in behaviour + attitudes where they conform publicly but privately disagrees. It is superficial conformity. WHEREAS identification is a change that lasts as long as the person wants to be accepted. They will mostly privately accept but purpose is public acceptance. Moderate type of conformity. WHEREAS Internalisation is a LT change even if the group is absent and they will conform publicly + privately. Deepest level of conformity.
What is conformity also known as?
Majority influence
What is compliance?
This is where the person conforms publicly with the views/behaviours by others in a group, but privately (internally) do not agree.
Is compliance a long-term or short-term change?
Short-term (temporary change)
What type of conformity is compliance?
The most superficial type of conformity
What is internalisation?
This is where the person genuinely accepts the desired group norms, views, and behaviours both publicly and and privately. these changes are also present when the group is absent.
What is internalisation also known as?
Conversion (the individual ‘converts’ their private way of thinking).
Is internalisation a long-term or short-term change?
Long-term change
What type of conformity is internalisation?
The deepest type of conformity.
What is an example of internalisation?
An individual may share a flat with vegetarians and become a vegetarian themselves but may stop eating meat for the rest of their lives.
What is identification?
This is where the person conforms to the views/behaviours of the group because they identify with the group and want to be accepted by the group.
Identification combines elements of compliance and internalisation - the individual mostly privately accepts the views/behaviours however the purpose of conforming is for public acceptance by the group.
What is affinity?
This is the natural liking we seek from someone or multiple people (especially in identification).
Is identification a long-term or short-term change?
The change lasts as long as the person wants to be accepted by the group.
What type of conformity is identification?
Moderate type of conformity
What is an example of identification?
A child may start smoking because it is seen that ‘thats what the cool kids do’ and they may want to fir in with the ‘cool kids’.
