Conformity: Types and explanations

Question 1

What is conformity?

Answer 1

A change in a persons behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or a group of people

Question 2

What are the three types of conformity?

Answer 2

Internalisation, identification and compliance

Question 3

What is internalisation?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What is identification?

Answer 4

A moderate type of conformity where we act in the same way with the group because we value it and want to be a part of it. We don’t necessarily agree with everything the majority believes

Question 5

What is compliance?

Answer 5

A superficial and temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go along with the majority view, but privately disagree with it. The change in our behaviour only lasts as long as the group is monitoring us

Question 6

What are the two explanations for conformity?

Answer 6

Informational Social influence
Normative Social influence

Question 7

What is informational social influence?

Answer 7

We agree with the opinion of others because we believe it to be correct and we believe that they are more informed than us. We want to be correct as well