Paper 1: 1. Social Psychology

Question 1

1)What are the three types of conformity?

Answer 1

Compliance

Identification

Internalisation

Question 2

2) What is compliance?

Answer 2

• This type of conformity is when you ‘go along with others’ PUBLICLY but still have their own private beliefs.
• Compliance only results in a superficial, temporary change.
• This also means a particular behaviour or opinion stops as soon as group pressure stops.

Question 3

3) What is an example of compliance? (hint: joke)

Answer 3

When a friend makes a joke in a group and you laugh along with everyone else BUT you don’t personally don’t find it funny.

Question 4

4) What is identification?

Answer 4

• This type of conformity is when you conform to a group’s opinions / behaviour because there’s something about the group you value and identify with.
• This means you might publicly change your opinions / behaviour to become a part of this group, but you might privately disagree with everything the group stands for.

Question 5

5) What is an example of identification? (hint: army)

Answer 5

When joining the army, an individual may adopt the behaviour and beliefs of fellow soldiers, but on leaving the army for civilian life you may have different views or form new views.

Question 6

6) What is internalisation?

Answer 6

• This conformity is when a person genuinely accepts the group’s norms.
• This results in a private & public change of opinions and behaviour. This change is likely to be permanent as attitudes have been internalised and part of the way the person thinks.
• The change remains even if other group members aren’t around them.

Question 7

7) What is an example of internalisation?

Answer 7

If an atheist hangs around with his Muslim friend, he might slowly start to believe in God and feel this way even when his friend isn’t around him.

Question 8

8) What are the two explanations for conformity?

Answer 8

1) Normative Social Influence [NSI]

2) Informational Social Influence [ISI]

Question 9

9) Explain the emotive explanation for compliance - Normative Social Influence [NSI]

Answer 9

• NSI refers to instances where people conform in order to fit in with a group.
• They conform in order to be liked, gain social approval or avoid disapproval from the group.
• NSI leads to compliance.

Question 10

10) Whats an example of NSI?

Answer 10

A social smoker - Someone who only smokes in group settings in order to fit in with the group.

Question 11

11) Explain a cognitive explanation to conformity - ISI?

Answer 11

• Occurs in situations where you are uncertain about what to do so you look to others for guidance in a hope they can show you what’s right.
• ISI usually happens in situations where there is some ambiguity and it’s not clear what is right.
• ISI leads to internalisation.

Question 12

12) What is an example of ISI?

Answer 12

In France, it is the norm to kiss people a upon greeting them. A tourist from the UK however, might not know this and see