types and explanations for conformity Flashcards
What is compliance?
Outwardly agreeing with a group but privately disagreeing.
Why do people comply?
To gain approval or avoid conflict.
What is identification?
Conforming to a group to build or maintain a relationship.
Is identification permanent?
No
What is internalisation?
Truly adopting a group’s beliefs as your own.
Is internalisation permanent?
Yes
What is normative social influence?
Conforming to fit in and gain social approval.
When is NSI most likely to occur?
When people feel watched or judged.
What type of conformity is linked to NSI?
Compliance and identification.
Give an example of NSI.
Peer pressure or workplace group dynamics.
What is informational social influence?
Conforming due to a desire to be correct.
When is ISI most likely to occur?
In ambiguous situations or when experts are present.
What type of conformity is linked to ISI?
Internalisation.
Give an example of ISI.
Following others’ actions in an emergency.
What did Asch’s study show about NSI?
Participants conformed to fit in despite knowing the correct answer.
What happened in Asch’s variation with written answers?
Conformity dropped to 12.5%.
What did Asch’s post-experimental interviews reveal?
Participants changed answers to avoid disapproval.
What does Asch’s study support?
NSI as an explanation for conformity.
What did Lucas et al’s study show about ISI?
More conformity in difficult math problems
What does Lucas et al’s study support?
ISI as an explanation for conformity.
What are individual differences in NSI?
Some people are more influenced by NSI than others.
Who found evidence of individual differences in NSI?
McGhee and Teevan (1967).
What type of people are more affected by NSI?
People with a high need for affiliation.
Who found evidence of individual differences in ISI?
Perrin and Spencer (1980).
What did Perrin and Spencer’s study show?
Engineering students showed very little conformity.
What does Perrin and Spencer’s study suggest?
ISI affects people differently.
Why do individual differences challenge NSI/ISI?
They show not everyone conforms in the same way.
How can NSI be applied in real life?
Used in campaigns to encourage positive behavior.
What did Linkenbach and Perkins’ study show?
Teens told “most people don’t smoke” were less likely to start smoking.
What was the effect of teens hearing “most people do smoke”?
More teens began smoking.
How can governments use NSI for social change?
By promoting positive social norms to improve public health.
What is an alternative explanation to NSI/ISI?
Referent informational influence (RII).
What is RII based on?
Social identity theory.
What does RII suggest?
People conform to maintain their group identity.
Who proposed RII?
Turner (2008).
Why does RII challenge the two-process model?
It suggests conformity is about group norms
What does RII emphasize?
Self-categorisation and group identity.
What type of influence is RII similar to?
Both NSI and ISI
What does the two-process model overlook?
The role of group identity in conformity.
What is a strength of NSI?
Research evidence supports its role in social conformity.
What is a strength of ISI?
Research evidence supports its role in uncertain situations.
What is a limitation of NSI?
It does not affect everyone equally.
What is a limitation of ISI?
It does not affect everyone equally.
What is a limitation of the two-process model?
It oversimplifies reasons for conformity.
How does RII improve our understanding of conformity?
It highlights the role of group identity in social influence.
