SI - Conformity

Question 1

What is internalisation?

Answer 1

When a person genuinely accepts group norms. Results in private & public change of opinion. Change is permanent.

Question 2

What is identification?

Answer 2

When we identify with a group we want to be apart if it. Publicly change our views even if we don’t agree with them in private.

Question 3

What is compliance?

Answer 3

Involves “going along with the others” in public but privately not changing opinions/behaviour. Superficial change & stops when group pressure ceases.

Question 4

What is Informational Social Influence?

Answer 4

Cognitive process. You go with majority because they are probably right and you want to be right. Most likely in ambiguous situations. Leads to internalisation.

Question 5

What is Normative Social Influence?

Answer 5

Emotional process. People want social approval and don’t want to be rejected, so conform to other’s opinions. Leads to compliance. Most likely when you don’t know social norms -e.g. around strangers

Question 6

Research support for ISI

Answer 6

Lucas et al: participants conformed more to incorrect answers when problems were difficult. Hard problems = ambiguous situation = relied on answers given. Does what ISI predicts.

Question 7

Limitation of NSI - individual differences

Answer 7

Some people want to be liked by others. NAffiliators have a strong need for “affliation” = more likely to conform. NSI underlines conformity for some more than others - an individual difference not explained by a theory of social pressures