LS2 - Explanations Of Conformity Flashcards
Who came up with ISI and NSI
Deutsch & Gerard (1955)
Informational Social Influence (ISI)
When an individual conforms because they are unsure of the correct answer/how to behave so they look to others for information. The reason for this is usually the need to be right, if the majority are correct the conformer will be too, and if they’re wrong the conformer won’t stand out.
What Makes ISI Likely?
An ambiguous situation.
A difficult/complex situation.
A crises where rapid action is required.
When we believe others to be more expert than us.
What does ISI lead to?
Internalisation
Normative Social Influence (NSI)
When an individual conforms because they want to be accepted by others/become part of a group, in fear of rejection or being ridiculed.
What Makes NSI Likely?
When you’re with strangers and concerned about rejection.
When in stressful situations.
When an individual needs social support.
What Does NSI Lead To?
Compliance
Strengths Of NSI & ISI
There is research support for both
Research Support (NSI)
Asch (1951) found that many of his participants went along with a clearly wrong answer because other’s did, the participants feared rejection so conformed. The answers in these experiments weren’t ambiguous but people still conformed.
Research Support (ISI)
Lucas Et Al (2006) asked students to give answers to maths problems that were easy or harder, conformity occurred more on harder Qs rather than easy, this was bare true for kids with poor maths skills. Which supports that people conform more when the situation is ambiguous/difficult.
Weaknesses Of NSI & ISI
There are individual differences between then.
Supporting studies ecological validity.
They can work together in explaining conformity rather than separately.
Differences Between ISI & NSI (-)
Not every individual shows NSI< some people don’t care about being liked, which means it lacks population validity. ISI doesn’t affect everyone in the same way e.g. Asch (1955) found that 28% didn’t conform as much as another 37% of participants, meaning even if the situation is ambiguous we don’t always look to others for support.
nAffiliators
People concerned about being liked
ISI & NSI Working Together (-)
ISI & NSI can both be involved for the reason of conformity e.g. in Asch’s experiments conformity was reduced when there is one dissenting participant, by providing social support he reduces the power of NSI or reduce the power of ISI because the participant alternative source of information from the dissenter, meaning it’s not always clear whether something is ISI or NSI.
ISI & NSI Lacking Ecological Validity (-)
NSI & ISI experiments were carried out in lab conditions like Asch’s meaning they lack ecological validity Asch also did tasks that wouldn’t be done in real life.
