Social Influence- conformity Flashcards
What is conformity?
Type of social influence
Individuals change their attitudes, beliefs or behaviours to agree with the majority as a result of real or imagined group pressure
What are the 3 types of conformity?
Internalisation
Identification
Compliance
What is internalisation?
Deepest level of conformity
Becomes in-built and starts to genuinely reflect a person’s true values and beliefs
Take on views of others both publicly and privately
Publicly and privately changing behaviour/view to match that of the majority group
What is identification?
Middle level of conformity
Person changes public behaviour and private beliefs –> but only in presence of group
Short term change
Role models
Motivated to conform to role model as wan t them to like us and want to belong in their group
Conforming to behaviour of a role model group
What is compliance?
Person goes along with other people’s behaviour or attitudes –> does not really believe they are correct
Go along with others’ views but keep own, original view –> ‘keep the peace’ or fit in with group
Difference between public and private opinion, has not become internalised
*Publicly changing behaviour to match the majority group, whilst maintaining a different private view
What is normative social influence?
Explains conformity as being due to desire to fit in with majority group and not stand out
People want to be same as everyone else/part of the norm
Want to avoid rejection and conform to fit in
Results in compliance or superficial change in behaviour
What is informational social influence?
Explains conformity as happening when a person lacks knowledge of how to behave –> uses majority as source of guidance/information
Go along with group as assume group’s behaviour must be correct
Often results in internalisation
Tends to have more permanent effect than normative
What were the 4 variations of Asch’s study?
Size of group
Difficulty of task
Lack of group unanimity
Answer in private
How is social influence research often unethical?
Want to measure natural social behaviour so often use deception and lack of informed consent –> maintain validity
What is conformity to social roles?
When an individual adopts a particular behaviour and belief while in a particular social situation
What type of conformity does conformity to social roles represent?
Identification –> person changes public behaviuor and private beliefs but only while they are in a particular social role
What is deindividuation?
A social process no longer act as individuals when placed in a group situation
What happens during deindividuation?
No longer behave in same way as would when alone
Pass all responsibility for behaviour to the group
Identity becomes that of the group
How can deindividuation occur faster?
If group have a common identity which the individual can hide behind or lose themselves in
