Conformity Types And Explainations AO3 Flashcards
What is one strength of the explanations of conformity ?
P - one strength of NSI + ISI is that there s research support
E - Asch found man participants conformed rather than give the correct answers because they were afraid of disapproval and when the task was more difficult they were afraid of being wrong
E - This shows that at least some conformity is due to a desire not to be rejected by the group for disagreeing with them as found by Asch’s research on NSI
What is one limitation of the explanations of conformity?
P - One limitation is individual differences in NSI
E - Some people are concerned about being liked by others - nafiliators who have a strong need to related to other people. McGhee and Teevan found that students who were nafiliators were more likely to conform
E - This shows NSI underlies conformity for some people more than for others - an individual difference not explained by a theory of situational differences.
What is another strength of the explanations of conformity ?
P - Another strength is that the distinction between NSI and ISI is useful
E - Although sometimes it is hard to tell which one is operating , Asch’s research supports both NSI and how people conform due to the disapprovals of a Unanimous group and ISI and how people assume the unanimous group knows better than you.
E - therefore overall both concepts are useful because they can be identified and used to explain the reasons for conformity in studies and real-world situations
What is internalisation ?
Think the group is right.
This is where you take away something to try and end up enjoying it or agreeing with it so you internalise it, e.g. making it one of your beliefs or actions. It is usually permanent and can happen in private or public settings
What is identification ?
When we identify with something when we are in that specific group but when we leave the group we no longer do it or free with it. This is a temporary change and happens privately
What is compliance ?
When we follow the majority and agree with what they say solely to get people to like you since you agree with them. This is a temporary change and happens in public settings
What is ISI ?
Informational social influence (ISI) :
ISI is about information , a desire to be right.
Often we are uncertain about what behaviour or beliefs are right or wrong. You may not know the answer to a question in class but if most of your class gives an answer you will probably go along with them since you think they are right. ISI is a cognitive process - people generally want to be right and it leads to internalisation.
It happens in foreign situations o some with ambiguity
What is NSI ?
Normative social influence (NSI) :
NSI is about norms , a desire to behave like others and not look foolish
NSI concerns what is ‘normal’ behaviour for a social group. Norms regulate the behaviour of groups and individuals.
NSI is an emotional rather than cognitive process - people prefer social approval rather than rejection. NSI leads to compliance.
NSI occurs in unfamiliar situations and with people you know. NSI is most likely in situations where you don’t know the norms and look to others about how to behave. NSI occurs in situations with strangers if you don’t want to be rejected
