conformity : types and explanations Flashcards
who suggested there are three types of conformity
kelman 1958
what are the three types of conformity
compliance
identification
internalisation
what is compliance
A superficial and temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go along with the majority view but privately disagree with it. The chance in our behaviour only lasts as long as the group is monitoring us.
Eg cutting animal produce when at vegan party
what is identification
A moderate type of conformity where we act in the same way as the group because we value it and want to be a part of it. But we don’t necessarily agree with everything the group/majority believes.
Eg part of a group of friend who are vegan in uni and you live a vegan lifestyle in uni when you leave uni you go back to eating animal produce
what is internalisation
A deep type of conformity where we take on the majority view because we accept it as correct. It leads to a far-reaching and permanent change in behaviour, even when the group is absent.
Eg become vegan
how can conformity be explained
deutsch and gerald 1955 two process theory
based on two central human needs - to be liked and to be right
Normative social influence- Based on the need to be liked,most likely when they are vulnerable to rejection and concerned about the social approval,Social comparison process ,Unambiguous setting,compliance
Informal social influence-Based on the need to be right ,Most likely to occur when an individual is in a new situation or when ambiguity ,Cognitive validation process ,Ambiguous setting,internalisation
strength for explanations of conformity
+ Research support for NSI
E-Asch (1951) Interviewed his participants and they revealed that they conformed because they felt self-conscious giving the right answer and they were afraid of disapproval. When participants wrote their answer down privately, conformity fell to 12.5%
A- Showing that at least some conformity was due to the desire to be liked and not be rejected by the group for disagreeing with them
C-Hence Asch’s research can be a support for NSI
E- HOWEVER low external validity
P- support for ISI
E- Lucas found that conformity to incorrect answers rose when
the maths problems became more difficult
A- which supports needing to be right because due to ambiguity, pps relied on answers given.
C-Therefore, both these findings validate the model’s reasons
for why we conform.
E- This means NSI and ISI can be used to predict future behaviour.
weakness of two-process theory
P- the model does not predict conformity in all cases
E-McGhee andTeevan found students who were nAffiliators were more likely to conform than those who were not
A-This demonstrates limited predictive value because some people conform because of individual differences [a greater need to belong], and not because of group pressure.
C- Therefore, the model is only a partial explanation for why people conform.
E-This means for a fuller understanding of why
people conform, the situation and disposition should be considered.
-
P-Does not take account of all types of conformity
E- Conformity can occur in the form of identification where individual changes their behaviour when they self-categories as a member of the group
A- Limitation–>implies that the two-process theory is not a comprehensive theory for the explanations of conformity
C/E- Abraham et al(1990) suggested a three-process theory which incorporates RSI(referent social influence) which is needed to provide a fuller understanding of conformity
