Social influence - conformity Flashcards
What is conformity?
A change in a person’s behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined group pressure
Compliance
The lowest level of conformity. Where public behaviour changes but not private. It’s temporary and usually a result of NSI
Identification
A moderate level of conformity. Where group behaviour is adopted because the group is valued, even if not everything is fully agreed with. It’s temporary and usually a result of NSI
Internalisation
The deepest level of conformity. Where the majority’s view is fully accepted as correct and public and private behaviour is changed. It’s a permanent change usually because of ISI
Who proposed the two process model for conformity?
Deutsch and Gerard (1955)
NSI
A person conforms because of a need to be liked and accepted by the group - social approval is preferable to rejection. An emotional process leading to a temporary change in behaviour
Which type of conformity does NSI lead to?
Compliance
What situations does NSI occur in?
Occurs mostly in unambiguous situations but can be more pronounced in stressful ones
ISI
When a person conforms because of a need to appear correct. It’s a cognitive process that leads to a permanent change in behaviour
Which type of conformity does ISI lead to?
Internalisation
What situations does ISI occur in?
Occurs mostly in ambiguous and new situations
What is a strength of NSI theory? - Empirical supporting evidence
===> Asch’s classic line study. 36.8% of naïve ppts. gave an incorrect answer in the line study, dropped to 12.5% when they wrote answer down. Post-experiment interviews revealed ppts. changed their answer to avoid disapproval
What is a strength for ISI theory? - Empirical supporting evidence
===> Lucas et al (2006) asked students maths questions. Greater conformity to difficult questions than easy, most true for those that rated their maths ability as poor - increases validity of explanation
What is a limitation for Deutsch and Gerrard’s two process model? - Doesn’t offer a complete explanation
===> Turner (2008) argues people conform to maintain the norms of the group - as they see themselves belonging to the ‘in-group’ (referent informational influence - RII) based on social identity theory. Suggests people may conform due to reasons that the two process model doesn’t measure
What is a limitation for the two process model? - Doesn’t consider individual differences
===> McGhee and Teevan (1967) found students with a high need for affiliation (nAffiliators) were more likely to conform - NSI affects people differently. Perrin and Spencer (1980) found very little conformity in replication of Asch study with engineering students. Challenges validity of explanation
