Conformity: Types & explanations Flashcards
Who suggested that there are three ways people conform?
Kelman
What is internalisation?
-A deep type of conformity where a person genuinely accepts the group norms as it has become apart of their value system
-change usually permanent> has been internalised
-change persists even in absence of group members
What is identification?
-A moderate type of conformity where we conform to the opinions/behaviours of a group because we value the group & want to be a part of it
-leads to a public change in behaviour to be accepted by group but privately disagree
What is compliance?
-A temporary & superficial type of conformity where we go along with others in public but privately not changing personal opinions/and or behaviour
-behaviour stops when group pressure stops
Who developed the two-process theory for explaining why people conform?
Deutsch and Gerald
What is informational social influence?
-An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we feel that they are right
-Leads to internalisation, a permanent change in beliefs
-more likely to occur in situations that are new to a person or ambiguous
What is normative social influence?
-An explanation for conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because of the need to be liked
-This may lead to compliance -temporary change in opinions/behaviour
-more pronounced in stressful situations
What research support is there for NSI?
-Asch interviewed his participants
-some said they conformed because they felt self-conscious giving the correct answer & were afraid of disapproval
-when p’s wrote answers down conformity fell to 12.5%
=no normative group pressure
shows conformity is due to desire not to be rejected
What research support is there for ISI?
-Lucas et al found p’s conformed more often to incorrect answers they were given when maths problems were difficult
-when problems were easy p’s knew own minds but when it was hard=situations became ambiguous
-did not want to be wrong so relied on answers given
What is a counterpoint for research support for ISI?
-often unclear whether it is NSI or ISI at work in research studies or real life
-e.g. Asch found conformity reduced when there is one other dissenting p- reduce power of NSI (social support)
-may also reduce power of ISI ( provide alternative source of social information)
-hard to separate work together
What is a weakness of NSI explanation?
-does not predict conformity in every case
-some greatly concerned with being liked by others (nAffiliators) -want to relate to others
-McGhee & Teevan found that students who were nAffiliators were more likely to conform
-individual differences in conformity that can not be fully explained
