Conformity - Majority Influence Flashcards
What is conformity?
When someone gives in to group pressure. They will act in the same way as the group, even if this is not how they want to act.
What are the 3 types of conformity?
Compliance
Identification
Internalisation
What is compliance?
Very transient, doesn’t last very long. No change in attitude or beliefs. Only changing for a second to fit in with the group, and revert back immediately.
What is identification?
More motivation to change behaviour and attitude as you want to fit in. No permanent behaviour change though you identify with the group
What is internalisation
Permanent behaviour and attitude change no matter who you are with, as you see your behaviour as ‘correct’
What are the two explanations for conformity?
Informational social influence (ISI)
Normative social influence (NSI)
What is informational social influence?
Explains conformity in terms of wanting to be right. You conform to the majority because we doubt your own knowledge
humans have a basic need to feel confident that their ideas and beliefs are correct as it helps them feel in charge of their lives
What is normative social influence?
The need to be accepted or to fit in. We conform to fit in the group
What are the positive evaluation for NSI and ISI?
Good face validity
Explanation is supported by research (Asch)
What are the negative evaluation points for NSI and ISI?
- explanation ignores role played by biological factors such as neurotransmitters m, so could be criticised for being reductionist
- cannot account for non-conformity and why some people can resist to conform
What are social roles? How do they affect conformity?
A set of connected behaviour rights, obligations, beliefs and norms as conceptionalized by people on a social situation.
Where does informational social influence (ISI) usually occur?
in unfamiliar situation, like knowing which cutlery to use when in a restaurant for the first time
in ambiguous situations where there is no clear answer, like watching a film and not knowing what to make of it
How does someone use informational social influence in an unfamiliar situation or an ambiguous situation?
watching others to see which cutlery they use
asking others what they thought of a film, helps you make up your mind
How can ISI be seen to have an evolutionary basis to it?
looking to others for guidance in new situations that are potentially dangerous could have a survival value
What research did Asch do?
got P’s to conform to answers given by others that were obviously incorrect, if the Ps gave the correct answers, they risked being ridiculed by the majority
