Conformity: Types and Explanations

Question 1

Define Conformity:

Answer 1

A change in behaviour or belief as a result of real or imagined group pressure

Question 2

What are the explanations of conformity?

Answer 2

• Normative Social Influence

- Informational social Influence

Question 3

What are the types of conformity?

Answer 3

• Compliance
• Internalisation
• Identification

Question 4

Who suggested the types of conformity?

Answer 4

Kelman

Question 5

When did Kelman suggest the types pf conformity?

Answer 5

1958

Question 6

What is the order of the strengths (starting with weakest) of the types of conformity?

Answer 6

• Compliance
• Identification
• Internalisation

Question 7

Define Compliance:

Answer 7

• Agree in public
• Disagree privately
• Does not change the beliefs privately
• Temporary

Question 8

Define Identification:

Answer 8

• Individual takes on the view

- Not necessarily result in chance of beliefs privately

Question 9

Define Internalisation:

Answer 9

• Agrees publicly
• Agrees privately
• Longer lasting effect

Question 10

Who proposed the explanations for conformity?

Answer 10

Deutsch and Gerard

Question 11

When did Deutsch and Gerard propose the explanations for conformity?

Answer 11

1955

Question 12

What did Deutsch and Gerard (1955) propose?

Answer 12

• Two-process theory
• Two central human needs
• Normative social influence
• Informational social influence

Question 13

Define Normative Social Influence:

Answer 13

• Individual wish to be liked by majority
• Go along with majority
• Following the crowd to fit in with the norm

Question 14

Define Informational Social Influence:

Answer 14

• Individual looks to majority for information

- Majority are thought to be genuinely right

Question 15

Supporting research for NSI:

Answer 15

Schultz et al (2008)

Question 16

What did Schultz et al (2008) find?

Answer 16

Hotel guests exposed to normative message that 75% guests re-used their towels each day (rather than requiring a fresh one) reduced their own towel use by 25% suggesting that people shape their behaviour out of a desire to fit in with their reference group.

Question 17

Supporting research for ISI:

Answer 17

Wittenbrink and Henley (1996)

Question 18

What did Wittenbrink and Henley (1996) find?

Answer 18

Participants exposed to negative information about African Americans (which they were led to believe was the majority view) later reported more negative beliefs about a black individual.

Question 19

Lucas et al (2006) findings:

Answer 19

In a maths tests students we more likely to conform when they were faced with more difficult questions, than easier ones.

Question 20

Which explanation does Lucas et al (2006) support?

Answer 20

Informative Social Influence

Question 21

What is a major limitation to research into explanations and types of conformity?

Answer 21

• Temporal validity

- It is possible that the culture at the time caused different reasons for conformity.

Question 22

Can the two-way process be merged? (Give an example)

Answer 22

• Yes
• Asch conformity decreased when someone else went against the majority, this means that not wanting to get it wrong and also be liked was considered

Question 23

What did McGhee and Teevan (1976) suggest?

Answer 23

• Not everyone is as easily influenced by normative social influence
• High need of affiliation were more likely to conform.