Explanations For Conformity

Question 1

What is Informational Social Influence?

Answer 1

When a person conforms because they are unsure of what to do and they assume the majority is right

Question 2

What is Normative Social Influence?

Answer 2

This is when a person conforms so they can be normal and liked

Question 3

Which type of conformity is ISI?

Answer 3

Public = private
So it is an eg of Identification

Question 4

Which type of conformity is NSI?

Answer 4

Public /= private
So it is an eg of compliance

Question 5

What are some characteristics of ISI?

Answer 5

High uncertainty
low social pressure

eg: If Jessica chooses UCL because her teachers suggested it. She does not care if the teachers know or not, but since she’s ucnertain and percieves them to be right she follows their opinion

Question 6

Explain Jenness’ Jelly bean experiment procedure?

PROOF FOR ISI

Answer 6

1) asking how many JB in a jar
2) Discussing the answers as a group
3) Asking how many JB are in a jar again

Question 7

What were the results of Jenness’ JB experiment?

Answer 7

• The post-group estimate was much closer to the group estimate

Question 8

Explain the results of Jenness’ JB experiment?

Answer 8

• They conformed to the group estimate by internalisation
• They conformed due to HIGH uncertainty and LOW social pressure
• Conformity is explained using informational social influence (they think it is right)

Question 9

What are some criticism of Jenness’ JB experiment?

Answer 9

• Involved NSI not ISI
  The first and also final estimate was given privately. @ The final, they were asked to write a report about the group discussion.
  Ppts might think the group would see the report so would conform to be liked (NSI)
• Doesnt tell us about non-ambiguous situation/ltd applications
  Makes more logical sense to group together to reach a closer answer, unlike real life clear situations

Question 10

How did Asch differ from Jenness?

Answer 10

He used more realistic, easy tasks

Question 11

Explain Asch’s Line experiment procedure

Answer 11

Asked a group of confederates and 1 ppt to choose the line most similar to line X, confederates were told to say the incorrect answer

Question 12

What were the results of Asch’s Line experiment?

Answer 12

75% of ppts conformed w confederates in at least 1 trial
They conformed 36.8% of the time
Control group - 0.4% error rate