conformity: types and explanations

Question 1

what is conformity

Answer 1

a change in belief or behaviour due to group pressure

Question 2

who suggested the three types of conformity and what are their meanings

Answer 2

Kelman
compliance
identification
internalisation

Question 3

what is compliance

Answer 3

• individual changes behaviour to fit in with a group
• may not agree with the behaviour or belief but go along with it publicly
• not permanent, only lasts in the groups presence
• linked to NSI

Question 4

what is identification

Answer 4

• individual changes behaviour and personal beliefs to fit in with a group
• look to group for guidance - conform opinions/behaviour of group bc something about it is valued but dont agree with everything
• not permanent, only last in groups presence
• linked to NSI

Question 5

what is internalisation

Answer 5

• behaviour/belief of majority accepted by the individual and becomes part of their belief system
• deepest level of conformity and the most permanent form of conformity that usually lasts even if the majority is not present
• linked to ISI

Question 6

what are two explanations for conformity?

Answer 6

deutsch + gerard

• informational social influence > need to be right
• normative social influence > need to be liked

Question 7

what is Normative Social Influence?

Answer 7

• group pressure leading to a desire to fit in with the group
• all about ‘norms’ typical behaviour for social group
• for social approval - emotional rather than cognitive process
• may be more pronounced in stressful situations where greater need for social support

Question 8

what is Informational Social Influence?

Answer 8

• when a person lacks knowledge of how to behave + looks to the group for guidance
• cognitive process - to do with what you think
• leads to permanent change in opinion/behavior (internalisation)
• likely to happen in new situations/ where there is some ambiguity also in crisis situations where decisions have to be made quickly

Question 9

what is research to support ISI?

Answer 9

lucas

Question 10

what is research to support NSI?

Answer 10

• asch
• interviewed ptp’s - some said conformed because felt self-conscious giving correct answer - afraid of disapproval
• when wrote answers down - conformity fell to 12.5% - because privately no normative group pressure
• supports NSI - avoid rejection

Question 11

how is individual differences a limitation of NSI?

Answer 11

• does not predict conformity in every case
• some people greatly concerned with others liking them - nAffiliators
• mcghee + teevan found students who were nAffiliators were more likely to conform
• shows NSI underlies conformity for some people more than others - individual differences which cant be explained by just NSI

Question 12

how is hard to distinguish a limitation for NSI + ISI?

Answer 12

• unclear whether NSI/ISI are at work in research studies
• ex asch found conformity reduced when there is one other dissenting ptp - may reduce power of NSI (because provide social support) / may reduce power of ISI (provide alternate source of info) - both possible
• hard to seperate them + probably operate together in real-life situations

Question 13

research to support ISI being used in ambiguous situations?

Answer 13

• jenness ambiguous situation - glass bottle with 811 white beans
• individ psych students estimated number
• divided into groups of 3 asked another est through discussion
• ptp asked again - nearly all changed og answer
• ambiguous situation