Conformity: Types and explanations

Question 1

Compliance

Answer 1

Publicly conforming to the behaviour of others but privately containing ones own views.

Question 2

Internalisation

Answer 2

A true change of public and private views, a permanent alteration to behaviour. (external + internal)

Question 3

Identification

Answer 3

Complying to a groups behaviour whom we identify or value in some way, but there is no complete change to private views. Can be related to performing a role such as a job.

Question 4

Normative social influence

Answer 4

Conformity due to a need for social approval.

leads to compliance

Question 5

Informational social influence

Answer 5

Conformity due to a need to be right.

leads to internalisation

Question 6

Which study supports ISI? How?

Answer 6

Lucas et al.
Maths questions- easy and hard
Students conformed less when the questions were easy, and more when the questions were difficult. This supports ISI because it shows that people look to others for guidance when they doubt themselves.

Question 7

What did McGhee and Teevan find? What is this evidence for in relation to NSI?

Answer 7

They found that students who were in high need of affiliation were more likely to conform. This is evidence that NSI is different with each individual, depending on their concern to be accepted.

Question 8

What is a limitation of the two-process theory by Morton Deustsch and Harold Gerard?

Answer 8

Their idea was that each of NSI and ISI work together. However they can more often work together.
Because of Asch’s variation of a given dissenter, they provided social support and more information. Therefore, it is hard to determine which one is at work.

Question 9

What part of Asch’s study is a strength to support NSI?

Answer 9

• Participants told Asch the reason they conformed: most said because they were afraid of disapproval.
• Also, when participants were told to write down their answers instead, conformity fell to 12.5%.