explanations of conformity Flashcards
what is conformity?
the change in an individual’s behaviours or opinions as a result of imagined or real pressure from people
what are the three types of conformity?
internalisation
identification
compliance
definition for internalisation
internalisation is a deep type of conformity where the individual genuinely accepts the group’s norms which results in a permanent change of behaviour as issues have been internalised,( alters the way the individual thinks). the opinion of the group still persists when absent.
definition of identification
a moderate type of conformity where the individual takes on the group’s norms as they wish to identify with them, they publicly alter their behaviours but not privately as they do not necessarily agree with what the group says.
definition of compliance
a superficial and temporary type of conformity where the individual outwardly goes with the majority views but privately disagrees as the particular behaviour/opinion stops after the group pressure stops.
what did deutsch and gerald create to explain types of conformity
Deutsch and Gerald created the two-process theory arguing that there are two main reasons why people conform, the need to be liked (NSI) and the need to be right (ISI) based on the two central human needs
what are the two explanations for conformity.
informational social influence
normative social influence
what is ISI
informational social influence refers to any instances where the individual is likely to conform as they are uncertain about what to do in a particular situation often looking to others for guidance, this type of explanation leads to internalisation.
what is NSI
normative social influence refers to the instances where an individual is likely to conform to the group’s norms in order to fit and gain approval from other group members or to avoid disapproval, leading to compliance
research support for ISI
Lucas (2006)conducted a study asking students to solve mathematical problems that were either difficult or easy, and results show that there is a greater conformity to incorrect answers for the difficult questions rather than the easier ones. this shows that people are more likely to conform when they are uncertain, which is the outcome predicted by the informational social influence theory, individuals assume that people know better than them so they must be correct
evaluation for the normative social influence
research shows that normative social influence doesn’t affect everyone in the same way due to individual differences. for example, some people may value being accepted and well-liked than others and those with a greater need for affiliation are more likely to conform to the group’s norms
evaluation for the two-process model.
the two-process model states that behaviour is either due to normative or informational social influence, however both processes are involved. for example, when there is one other dissenting participant conformity is reduced in Asch’s experiment, the dissenting participant might reduce the effect of informational social influence as an alternative explanation has been given or normative social influence as a sense of social support is given
