evaluation for NSI and ISI

Question 1

there is research support for ISI

Answer 1

Lucas et al (2006) asked students to give answers to mathematical problems that were easily more difficult. There was greater conformity to incorrect answers when they were difficult rather than when they were easier ones

This was most true for students who rooted their math ability to be poor
Study shows people conform in situation where they feel they don’t know the answer, which is exactly the outcome predicted by the ISI explanation

Question 2

Individual differences in NSI

Answer 2

NSI does not affect everyone’s behaviour. Studies show this) in the same way
e.g. people who are less concerned with being liked are less affected by NSI than those who care more about being liked
-McGee and Teevan (1967) found that students in high need of affiliation were more likely to conform
This shows that to desire to be liked underlies conformity for some people more than others.
Therefore, there are individual differences in the way people respond

Question 3

Research support for NSI

Answer 3

Asch (1951) found that many of his participants went along with a clearly wrong answer just because other people did

So he asked them they did this
Some participants said they felt self-conscious giving the correct answer and they were afraid of disapproval when

Asch repeated his study but asked participants to write down their answers instead of saying them out loud and conformity rates fell 12.5%
This shows that at least some conformity is the result of a need not to appear foolish/ rejected by the group for disagreeing with them implying that NSI is a valid explanation for conformity of behaviour

Question 4

ISI and NSI work together

Answer 4

The idea of Deutsch and Gerrad’s “two- process” approach is that behaviour is either due to NSI or ISI.
But the truth is that, more often, both processes are involved

For example, conformity is reduced when there is one other dissenting participant in the Asch experiment. This dissenter may reduce the power of ISI (because there is an alternative source of information) or the power of NSI ( because the dissenter provides social support)
This shows that it isn’t always possible to be sure whether NSI or ISI is at work. This is the case in lab studies but is even true in real-life conformity situations outside the lab.

This casts serious doubts over the view of ISI and NSI and two processes operating independently in conforming behaviour

Question 5

extra ao1 marks (ISI)

Answer 5

ISI is most likely to happen in situations that are new to a person ( so you don’t know what is right) or situations where there is some ambiguity, so it isn’t clear what is right. It is also typical in crisis situations where decisions have to be more quickly.

It also occurs when one person (or group) is regarded as being more of an expert

Question 6

extra ao1 marks (NSI)

Answer 6

NSI is most likely to occur in situations with strangers where you may feel concerned about rejection

It may also occur with people you know because we are most concerned about social approval of people of friends.

It may be more pronounced in stressful situations where people have a greater need for social support