Social Influence - Conformity

Question 1

Conformity

Answer 1

How an individual or small group change their behaviour or attitudes as a result of influence from a larger group

Question 2

Explanations of why people conform

Answer 2

• Informational social influence
• Normative social influence

Question 3

Informational social influence

Answer 3

The desire to be right
Some ppl will change their thoughts and actions because they are uncertain what to think or do in a situation, so look to the majority for information on what to do. More likely to occur in ambiguous situations . More likely to result in internalisation

Question 4

Normative social influence

Answer 4

The desire to be liked
Sometimes we change our behaviour because we want to be liked and accepted by those in the majority . Most likely to result in compliance, where we change our public behaviour for the period of time we are with the group, but maintain their own private beliefs and revert back to our former behaviour as soon as we leave the situation.

Question 5

Sherif’s study - explanations of conformity

Answer 5

Using auto kinetic gives support /

Question 6

Variables that affect conformity

Answer 6

• Group size (of majority)
• Unanimity
• Task difficulty

Question 7

Unanimity

Answer 7

When everyone in the groups agrees on one thing, all have the same attitude