Evaluation of types of conformity

Question 1

It is difficult to establish between compliance and identification. why is this a problem (Evidence)?

Answer 1

We can’t be sure if they believe others are right whether they may change when they are in private.

Question 2

It is difficult to establish between compliance and identification. why is this a problem (Explanation)?

Answer 2

They could have forgotten information given by the group as they have received new information that has changed their minds. It’s difficult to determine what is and what is not compliance

Question 3

There is research to support the role played by normative social influence in affecting people’s behaviour. Why is this a strength (Evidence)

Answer 3

Linkenback found that teens who were told that the majority of their peer group didn’t smoke were subsequently less likely to take up smoking themselves

Question 4

There is research to support the role played by normative social influence in affecting people’s behaviour. Why is this a strength (Explanation)

Answer 4

Real life application: teaching people will be aware of the bias and influence decision making.
Supporting evidence increases validity of normative social influence

Question 5

Informational social influence is mediated by the type of task and there is research to support this. Why is this a strength (Evidence)

Answer 5

Laughlin found that if task had an objective answer e.g. the population of the UK relied less on others’ opinions, than when they were subjective ideas.

Question 6

Informational social influence is mediated by the type of task and there is research to support this. Why is this a strength (Explanation)

Answer 6

Suggests there is a mediating factor which is the ambiguity of the answer.
This is an explanation for conformity is more complicated than the theory suggests.

Question 7

There is research to support informational social influence in affecting people’s behaviour. Why is this a strength (Evidence)

Answer 7

Wittenbrink found participants exposed to negative information about African Americans later reported more negative attitude towards black people

Question 8

There is research to support informational social influence in affecting people’s behaviour. Why is this a strength (Explanation)

Answer 8

The theory is accurate and valid explanation for why people conform