Conformity And Its Explanations

Question 1

What are the three types of conformity?

Answer 1

Compliance - agreeing publicly, disagreeing privately. (short term)

Identification - public behaviour and private beliefs changed in presence of a particular group.
(Short term)

Internalisation - agreeing with group behaviour publicly and privately. (Long term)

Question 2

What are the two explanations of conformity?

Answer 2

Normative social influence and informational social influence

Question 3

What is meant by normative social influence?

Answer 3

Where an individual conforms in order to gain approval

Question 4

What is meant by informational social influence?

Answer 4

Where an individual conforms due to a desire to be right.

Question 5

Give two strengths of conformity and its explanations?

Answer 5

1. Research support for ISI
   Lucas et al: pps conformed to incorrect answer when math problem became hard.
   Shows pps conform due to fear of being wrong.
2. Research support for NSI
   Schultz et al: hotel guests exposed to message that 75% of guests reused their towels each day reduced their rowel use y 25%.

Question 6

What is a limitation of conformity and its explanations?

Answer 6

1. Doesn’t account for individual differences.
   Researchers found that students who were nAffiliators (great need for social relationships) were more likely to conform.