Types and explanations of conformity

Question 1

What are the 3 types of conformity?

Answer 1

• Internalisation
• Identification
• Compliance

Question 2

What is internalisation?

Answer 2

Occurs when a person accepts the group norms. Private and public change- permanent. Occurs with and without the group

Question 3

What is identification?

Answer 3

We identify with the group, as they have something we value. Public but not private change- temporary. Occurs with and without the group

Question 4

What is compliance?

Answer 4

‘Going along with others’. Public but not private change- temporary. Occurs with the group only

Question 5

What are the 2 explanations for conformity?

Answer 5

• Informational social influence (ISI)
• Normative social influence (NSI)

Question 6

What is ISI?

Answer 6

• Need to be right
• Focus on better information
• Cognitive process
• Occurs in new situations/ when there is ambiguity
• Crisis situations
• Leads to internalisation

Question 7

What is NSI?

Answer 7

• Need for acceptance
• Focus on norms of the group
• Emotional process
• Occurs with strangers/friends
• Stressful situations
• Leads to compliance

Question 8

STRENGTH-
I- Research support for NSI

Answer 8

D- When Asch interviewed participants, some say they conformed as they felt self-conscious. When answers were written down, conformity fell to 12.5%. THis is because giving answers privately means there was no normative pressure
E- Shows some conformity is due to a desire not to be rejected by the group

Question 9

STRENGTH-
I- Research support for ISI

Answer 9

D- Lucas et al found participants conformed more to incorrect answers when maths tasks were harder. This is because the situation had become ambigious. They did not want to be wrong, so relied on provided answers
E- Shows ISI is a valid explanation

Question 10

LIMITATION-
I- NSI and ISI work together

Answer 10

D- Asch found conformity is reduced with one dissenting participant. Dissenter reduces power of NSI (provide social support) or reduces power of ISI (provide social info)
E- Hard to separate ISI and NSI- processes operate together in real life

Question 11

LIMITATION-
I- Individual-differences in NSI

Answer 11

D- nAffiliators (concerned with being liked)- strong need for affiliation. McGhee and Teevan found students who were nAffiliators were more likely to conform
E- Shows NSI underlies conformity for some more than others