P1 Social Influence: Conformity - Types And Explanations For Conformity

Question 1

Define conformity

Answer 1

A change in a person’s behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure

Question 2

What are the three types of conformity

Answer 2

Compliance
Identification
Internalisation

Question 3

Talk about compliance

Answer 3

• shallowest level
• change in public behaviour but not private beliefs
• temporary change
• want to be accepted or fit in with the group (NSI)

Question 4

Talk about internalisation

Answer 4

• deepest and most permanent level
• change in public behaviour and private beliefs
• change occurs publicly and privately whether the group is there or not
• adopted behaviours and beliefs of the group
• often result of ISI

Question 5

Talk about identification

Answer 5

• moderate level
• conformity occurs because a person wants to be associated with another person or group
• we identify with the group and want to be recognised as being a part of it
• beliefs are internalised in order to gain approval

Question 6

What are the 2 explanations for conformity

Answer 6

Normative social influence
Informational social influence

Question 7

What is ISI

Answer 7

When a person conforms to gain knowledge or because they believe that someone else is right.
- usually associated with internalisation
- a cognitive process

Question 8

What is NSI

Answer 8

When a person conforms to be accepted and to be liked
- usually associated with compliance and identification
- emotional process

Question 9

Ao3
How does Asch’s (1951) study support normative social influence (NSI)?

Answer 9

P: Asch’s study provides research support for NSI
E: when asked to judge the length of the line many agreed with wrong answers. In post experimental interviews pots said they did this to avoid disapproval. In a variation where answers were written privately, conformity dropped to 12.5%.
T: This shows that people conform to avoid rejection, demonstrating the influence of NSI.

Question 10

Ao3

How does Lucas et al. (2006) provide evidence for informational social influence (ISI)?

Answer 10

P: Lucas et al. (2006) supports the idea of informational social influence (ISI).
E: Students were more likely to conform to incorrect answers for difficult math problems because they found the situation ambiguous and relied on others’ answers.
T: This demonstrates that ISI is a valid explanation of conformity, as people conform when they are uncertain and want to avoid being wrong.

Question 11

Ao3

What is a counterpoint to Lucas et al. (2006) regarding explanations for conformity?

Answer 11

• Point: It is often unclear whether normative social influence (NSI) or informational social influence (ISI) is at work in research or real-life situations.
• Evidence or Explain: For example, Asch (1955) found that conformity decreased when one other dissenter was present. This could happen because the dissenter reduced NSI by offering social support or reduced ISI by providing an alternative source of information. Both explanations are possible.
• Therefore: This suggests that it is difficult to separate ISI and NSI, and both processes likely work together in real-world conformity situations.