Social Influence- Conformity: Types and explanations Flashcards
Conformity -
A change in a person’s behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people’ (Elliot Aronson 2011).
Internalisation - A deep type of conformity where we take on the majority view because we accept it as correct.
It leads to a far-reaching and permanent change in behaviour, even when the group is absent.
Identification -
A moderate type of conformity where we act in the same way with the group because we value it and want to be part of it. But we don’t necessarily agree with everything the majority believes.
Compliance -
A superficial and temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go along with the majority view, but privately disagree with it. The change in our behaviour only lasts as long as the group is monitoring us.
Informational social influence (ISI) -
An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we believe it is correct. We accept it because we want to be correct as well. This may lead to internalisation (see above).
Normative social influence (NSI) -
An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we want to be accepted, gain social approval and be liked. This may lead to compliance (see above).
What are the three types of conformity proposed by Herbert Kelman?
Internalisation, Identification, and Compliance.
What is Internalisation in conformity?
Internalisation occurs when a person genuinely accepts the group norms, resulting in both private and public changes of opinions or behaviour. This change is likely to be permanent because the attitudes have been internalised, becoming part of the person’s way of thinking. The change persists even in the absence of other group members.
What is Compliance in conformity?
Compliance involves publicly ‘going along with others’ but privately not changing personal opinions or behaviour. This results in only a superficial change, and the behaviour or opinion stops as soon as group pressure stops.
What is Normative Social Influence (NSI)?
NSI occurs when individuals conform to gain social approval or avoid rejection. It is an emotional process where people follow group norms to appear normal or avoid appearing foolish. NSI is most likely in situations with strangers, with friends, or in stressful situations where social support is needed.
What is Informational Social Influence (ISI)?
ISI occurs when individuals conform because they believe the group has better information. It is a cognitive process where people follow the group’s behaviour or beliefs because they want to be right. ISI is most likely in new, ambiguous, or crisis situations, or when someone is regarded as an expert.
What is Identification in conformity?
Identification occurs when we conform to the opinions or behaviour of a group because there is something about that group we value. We identify with the group and want to be part of it, leading to public changes in opinions or behaviour, even if we don’t privately agree with everything the group stands for.
What are the two main reasons people conform according to Deutsch and Gerard’s two-process theory?
The need to be right (Informational Social Influence, ISI) and the need to be liked (Normative Social Influence, NSI).
What did Lucas et al. (2006) find about ISI?
Lucas et al. found greater conformity to incorrect answers in difficult mathematical problems compared to easier ones, especially among students who rated their mathematical ability as poor. This supports ISI, as people conform when they feel uncertain and assume others know better.
How do individual differences affect NSI?
NSI does not affect everyone equally. People who are less concerned with being liked are less affected by NSI, while those with a higher need for affiliation (e.g., Affiliators) are more likely to conform. McGhee and Teevan (1967) found that students with a high need for affiliation conformed more.
How do ISI and NSI work together in conformity?
While Deutsch and Gerard’s two-process theory suggests behaviour is due to either NSI or ISI, both processes often work together. For example, in the Asch experiment, a dissenting participant reduces conformity by providing social support (reducing NSI) or offering an alternative source of information (reducing ISI).
What did Asch (1951) find about NSI?
Asch found that participants conformed to a clearly wrong answer because they feared disapproval. When participants wrote down their answers instead of saying them aloud, conformity rates dropped to 12.5%, supporting the NSI explanation that people conform to gain social approval.
What are individual differences in ISI?
ISI does not affect everyone equally. For example, Asch (1955) found students were less conformist (28%) than other participants (37%). Perrin and Spencer (1980) found very little conformity among science and engineering students, showing individual differences in how people respond to ISI.
Why are individual differences a limitation of the ISI explanation?
Individual differences, such as varying levels of confidence or expertise, mean that ISI does not affect everyone uniformly. This variability challenges the idea that ISI operates consistently across all individuals and situations.
How does Asch’s research support the NSI explanation?
Asch’s research shows that participants conformed to avoid social disapproval, and when the pressure to conform was reduced (e.g., writing answers privately), conformity rates dropped. This supports NSI by demonstrating the role of social approval in conforming behaviour.
Why is research support for NSI a strength of the explanation?
Research like Asch’s provides empirical evidence that people conform due to the desire for social approval and fear of rejection, validating the NSI explanation and its relevance in understanding social behaviour.
