Conformity: types and explanations

Question 1

What are the 3 types of conformity?

Answer 1

Compliance
Identification
Internalisation

Question 2

Explain compliance

Answer 2

Conforming publicly but continuing privately to disagree. It is the shallowest form of conformity. Involves simply ‘going along with others’ in public but privately not changing personal opinions/behaviour. Only results in a superficial change. Also means that a behaviour or opinion stops as soon as group pressure stops.

Question 3

explain identification

Answer 3

Identification: A moderate form of conformity where we act the same as the group because we share their values and want to be accepted. We conform as there is something about the group we value. This may mean we publicly change our opinions/behaviour to achieve this goal, even if we don’t
privately agree with everything the group stands for.

The change of belief or behaviour is often temporary. E.g., religious beliefs, political views or police officers upholding the law that are not their own personal, private beliefs.

Question 4

explain internalisation

Answer 4

Internalisation: A deep type of conformity where a person genuinely accepts the group norms. This results in a private as well as a public change of opinions/behavior. This change is likely to be permanent because attitudes have been internalised, i.e. become part of the way a person thinks.

The change in opinions/behavior persists even in the absence of the group. It is the deepest form of conformity. E.g., becoming vegetarian as you believe this is the right thing to do whether the group are present or not.

Question 5

What are the two explanations for conformity

Answer 5

Normative social influence

Informative social influence

Question 6

Describe normative social influence

Answer 6

Normative Social Influence
This occurs when we wish to be liked and accepted by the majority group, so we go along with them even though we may not agree with them. People do not like to appear foolish, and prefer to gain social support rather than be rejected. This is really just following the crowd in order to fit in with the ‘norm’ and be liked by the group. NSI is an emotional rather than a cognitive process.

NSI is most likely to occur in situations with strangers where you may feel concerned about rejection. It may also occur with people you know, because we are most concerned about the social approval of our friends. It may be more pronounced in stressful situations where people have a greater need for social support.

Question 7

Describe informational social influence

Answer 7

Informational Social Influence
ISI occurs when we look to the majority group for information as we are unsure about the way in which to behave; it is about who has the better information - you or the group. A person will conform because they genuinely believe the majority to be right and want to be right also. It is a cognitive process rather than an emotional one.

ISI is most likely to happen in situations that are new to a person and so it isn’t clear what is the right way to behave. It is also typical in crisis situations where decisions have to be made quickly. It also occurs when one person (or group) is regarded as being more of an expert.