conformity - types & explanations

Question 1

who proposed types of conformity

Answer 1

kelman (1958)

Question 2

name the 3 types of conformity

Answer 2

• compliance
• identification
• internalisation

Question 3

describe compliance

Answer 3

• lowest level
• temporary/short term
• public belief changes/way you act but not in private
• usually result of normative social influence

Question 4

describe identification

Answer 4

• middle level
• changes public behaviour/way you act in presence of group
• usually short term/temporary
• often result of normative social influence

Question 5

internalisation

Answer 5

• deepest level
• changes public/private beliefs & behaviour
• long term change
• often result of informational social influence

Question 6

who proposed the explanations for conformity

Answer 6

deutsch & gerard (1955)

Question 7

name the 2 explanations for conformity

Answer 7

• normative social influence (NSI)
• informational social influence (ISI)

Question 8

describe normative social influence

Answer 8

• norm for social group
• want to fit in & avoid rejection
• accepts group behaviour to gain social approval
• emotional
• more pronounced in stressful situations (social support)
• leads to compliance/identification = often temporary

Question 9

describe informational social influence

Answer 9

• individuals unsure & lack knowledge
• look to group for guidance
• crisis situations
• want to be correct
• leads to internalisation = permanent
• cognitive

Question 10

AO3 +) practical application

Answer 10

E:
- schultz et. al (2008) gathered data from hotels over 1 week where guests were allocated rooms randomly (control or experimental)
- control: door hanger stating the environmental benefits of reusing towels
- experimental: door hanger stated ‘75% of guests chose to reuse their towels each day’
- found experimental condition reduced need for fresh towels by 25%

T: shows positive impact of NSI for encouraging people to be eco-friendly in society

Question 11

AO3 +) research support for ISI
-) counterpoint

Answer 11

E:
- lucas et. al (2006) found participants conformed more to incorrect answers when maths problems were more difficult
- situation was more ambiguous & didn’t want to be wrong

T: shows ISI is valid explanation of conformity as results align with predictions

HOWEVER: it is often unclear whether it is ISI or NSI at work in research studies or real life
- asch (1955) found conformity decreased with dissenting confederate
- could be reducing power of NSI (social support) or ISI (alternative source of information)

Question 12

AO3 -) NSI doesn’t predict conformity in every case

Answer 12

E:
- some people have a greater desire to be liked by others and are known as nAfilliators
- McGhee & Teevan (1967) found such students were more likely to conform

T: shows NSI underlies conformity for some more than others & there are individual differences in conformity which can’t fully be explained by 1 general theory of situational pressures

Question 13

AO3 +) research support for NSI

Answer 13

E:
- Asch (1951) interviewed participants after & some admitted to conforming to avoid group disapproval
- when participants wrote their answers down, conformity decreased to 12.5% due to elimination of normative group pressure

T: shows how at least some conformity is due to desire to fit in/avoid rejection