Outline and evaluate explanations of conformity (NSI and ISI)

Question 1

Summary

Answer 1

The two process theory of conformity (Deutsch and Gerrard 1955) argues that there are two separate explanations for conformity.

Normative social influence occurs when people conform to fit in because they want to be liked or accepted by others. People change their public behaviour because they worry about rejection or social exclusion from the majority group.

NSI is most closely linked to compliance because it usually results in a short-term change that only remains whilst the majority group is present.

Informational social influence occurs when people conform because they want to be right and they believe that others hold the correct answer. People change their public and private attitudes or behaviour because they are uncertain how to behave in a situation and assume that the majority group must know better.

ISI is most often shown in ambiguous situations, where there is no obvious answer or where information is scarce. It is most likely linked to internalisation because it usually results in a long-term change that remains even if the majority group is no longer present

Question 2

Strength

Answer 2

Strength of two-process model is that it has strong research to support it from Lucas

Who found participants who rated themselves as having poor maths ability were more likely to conform to answers for more difficult maths questions than easy questions

Similarly, Asch found participants said they conformed because they felt self-conscious and were afraid of disapproval

This shows that people conform in situations where they dont feel they know the answer (ISI) or because they want to fit in (NSI)

Question 3

Limit 1

Answer 3

Limitation of the two-process model is that individual differences affect conformity

People who care more about being liked will be more affected by NSI than others

These people are known as nAffiliators and McGhee and Teevan found that these people, who have a greater need for social relationships, were more likely to conform

This suggests that desire to be liked explains conformity in some people more than others, and therefore, the two-process model may not fully explain conformity

Question 4

Limit 2

Answer 4

Overly simplistic as it states that conformity is either due to NSI or ISI, however, often, both processes are involved

This is because Asch found conformity was reduced when one of the confederates said the obviously right answer and did not conform.

This person may have reduced the effect of NSI (by offering support to the genuine participant) or reduced the effect of ISI (as they may have been seen as correct)

Therefore, it is not always possible to be sure whether conformity is due to ISI or NSI and it may be that the two processes do not operate independently of each other