Explanations Of Conformity

Question 1

What is normative social influence

Answer 1

• To fit in or be liked.
• Compliance.
• Tends to be with unfamiliar people.

Question 2

What is informational social influence

Answer 2

• Assuming others have more knowledge.
• Identification.
• Ambiguity and task difficulty.

Question 3

Evaluation- Support for NSI causing conformity

Answer 3

One strength is that there is research support for NSI causing conformity. Asch found that many of his participants went along with a clearly wrong answer just because other people did. The interviews showed participants were afraid of disapproval from the group. This shows that public behaviour changed to fit in with the group, however internal views were different. However, if conformity was entirely situational, Asch’s findings would have shown 100% as opposed to the 25% who didn’t conform on the critical trials.

Question 4

Evaluation- Support for ISI causing conformity

Answer 4

There is research support for ISI also. Lucas et al asked students to give answers to mathematical problems that were easy or more difficult. This shows that participants conformed due to task difficult and because they thought other people had more knowledge and expertise, so they wanted the correct answer. Therefore, the explanation could be both NSI and ISI working symbiotically.

Question 5

Evaluation- Criticism of using ISI to explain conformity

Answer 5

There is research support to suggest individual differences need to be taken in consideration when using ISI to explain conformity. Some research shows that not everyone’s behaviour is affected in the same way. For example, Asch found that students were less conformist (28%) than others (37%). This shows that whether we conform or not depends on our self efficacy. If we have confidence, then we won’t conform but if we do then we will conform. This shows that our personality characteristics affect conformity. However, some research shows that there are individual differences between peoples personality. McGhee and Teevan found that students in high need to be liked were more likely to conform than others.