Conformity-Types & Explanations Flashcards
A01
Define conformity
‘a change in a person’s behaviour or opinion as a result of a real or imagined pressure
from a person or group of people’
A01
KELMAN-3 types of conformity
Kelman suggested 3 ways in which people conform to the opinions of a majority:
* Internalisation
* Identification
* Compliance
A01
What is Internalisation?
deep type of conformity
>person accepts groups norms of majority view, as their own
>results in private & public change of opinions/behaviours
>Leads to permeant change in attitudes
Internalisation is an effect of nformational social influence.
e.g. of internalisation- being brought up in a religious household, & becoming religious yourself.
A01
What is Identification?
Moderate type of conformity
* we conform to opinions of group because we value it
* publicly change opinions to be accepted by group
* even if privately disagree
e.g. of indentification acting more professional & less silly when you arrive at your
office to work.
A01
What is Compliance?
Temporary type of conformity
>going along with others in public
>privately disagree
>Compliance results in a superficial change of opinions that stops when
> group pressure stops
Complaince - occur as a result of normative social influence
compliance e.g someone may only eat vegetarian food & claim to be vegetarian with group but eat meat when not with group
A01
Outline two Explanations for conformity refer to
Deutsch & Gerard-two process theory
2 main reasons ppl conform
> Informational social influence(ISI)
Normative social influence(NSI)
A01
What is Informational social influence (ISI)
Explanation for conformity
we conform to opinion of majority because we want to be right
>internalisation is an effect of ISI because ppl are motivated by a desire to be correct
>leads to a permanent change in behaviour (Internalisation)
>ISI likely to happen in new & ambiguous situations
ISi is cognitive process-is to do with what you think
ISI likely to happen in new & ambiguous situations- where we do not have the knowledge to make our own decisions e.g. a person following the direction of the crowd in an emergency
A01
What is Normative social influence (NSI)
Explanation for conformity
> we conform to opinion of majority because we want to gain social approval & be liked
results in compliance because ppl are motivated by a desire to be accepted-socially rewarding
occurs when vulnerable to rejection & in social situations requiring social support
e.g. a person starting to smoke because they are surrounded by other people who smoke
NSI- is emotional process
A03
Research support for (NSI) Asch study-interviewing p
strength
In Asch study-when he interviewed p they said they conformed:
>felt self-conscious giving correct answer & afraid of social disapproval
>when participants wrote answer down
conformity decreased 12.5%
>private answers-no normative group pressure
>shows conformity is due to desire not to be rejected by group
A03
Outline how Individual differences in NSI
Limitation ( NAFFILATORS)
Individual differences in NSI
NSI-does not predict conformity in every case
some ppl greatly concerned with being liked by others-NAFFILATORS, they have strong need for affiliation(wanting to relate to others)
>naffilators are more likely to conform
>shows NSI underlines conformity for some ppl more than others
>Individual differences in conformity
A03
Outline Research support for ISI-lucas et al conform to ambigious stituations
strength
Lucas et al -found conformity to incorrect maths answer greater when Q’s was more difficult & p rated their own maths ability unfavourably.
This shows individuals likely to turn to others when lack info to make their own decisions i.e. in an ambiguous situation
shows ISI is valid explanation of conformity as results are what ISI predicts
counterpoint: difficult to differentiate between NSI & ISI sometimes
