Conformity: Types and explanation Flashcards
What did Deutsch and Gerrard develop?
a two- process theory
What did the two - process theory argue?
there are two main reasons why people conform
Why do people like to conform ?
based on two central needs:
- the need to be right
- the need to be liked
Normative Social Influence
an explanation of conformity that refers to performing behaviour, or supporting an opinion in order to gain acceptance from surrounding peers
What is an example of normative social influence?
dressing like a group of people and saying you like the same things as them with the intention of becoming friends with them
Why do people continue to act in a manner they may not privately agree with?
to avoid censure and rejection
What is Normative Social Influence described as?
emotional process rather than cognitive
What are the strengths of Normative Social Influence?
- Research support by Asch
- practical value of NSI explanation
What did Asch do?
-when given an unambiguous line length test participants wold choose the incorrect answer when the incorrect answer was selected by confederates
Kelman suggested 3 levels of conformity?
- compliance (shallow)
- identification (intermediate)
- internalisation ( deep)
Type: Compliance
agreeing with the group but keeping personal opinions.
- results in a temporary change in behaviour
Type: Identification
we value membership of a group so we will conform to their behaviour or ideas to be a part of the group even if we don’t fully agree
Type: Internalisation
deepest level of conformity, personal opinions genuinely change to match the group
- results in permanent change in belief
Explanation: Informative Social Influence
in situations where the correct behaviour is uncertain, we look to the majority for guidance on how to behave because we want to be correct
- results in internalisation, permanently adopting view of the majority
Explanation: Normative Social Influence
in situations when the individual wants to appear normal and be one of the majority, so they are approved not rejected
- results in compliance or a superficial change in behaviour
Conformity
is a change in a persons behaviour or opinions a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or a group of people
What did Asch find when interviewed afterwards?
participants said they conformed to avoid rejection by others
What did Asch’s findings show?
people will show compliant behaviour in order to fit in and be approved by the majority
What is a criticism of Asch’s experiment?
the task in Asch’s line experiment was unusual and not a task performed in everyday life therefore lacks mundane realism and could be argued that conformity would act differently in real life situations
How much did the participant conform in Asch’s study? [%]
- gave the wrong answer 36.8% of the time
- overall conformed 75% of the time
What is the practical value of NSI?
recent research by Garandeau and Cillessen emphasised the role of NSI in bullying
What did Garandeau and Cillessen show?
how groups with a low quality offriendship may be may be manipulated by a bully so that victimisation of another child provides the group with a common goal creating pressure on all group members to comply
Why is Garandeau and Cillessen’s findings a strength?
research illustrates that sometimes the desire for acceptance is so strong It outweighs an individuals moral code which shows NSI assumption is supported
What are the strengths on Informational Social Influence ?
-supporting evidence for ISI from Jenness
