Types And Explanations Of Conformity

Question 1

Define the three types of conformity

Answer 1

Compliance - Outwardly going along with the majority but privately disagreeing. The change in behaviour is superficial and temporary.

Identification - We act in the same way as the group because we value it. Opinions may be publicly changed, but we don’t agree with everything the majority believes.

Internalisation - We take the majority view because we believe it is correct leading to a permanent change in behaviour.

Question 2

Explain the two-process theory

Answer 2

Informational social influence
- An individual follows the group because
they want to be right.
- It is common in crisis’ where fast decisions
need to be made and when a person or group is
seen as more of an expert.

Normative social influence
- An individual follows group norms to gain social
approval and so they aren’t rejected from the
group.

Question 3

Evaluate the two-process theory

Research for ISI

Answer 3

• Lucas et al
• students given easy or difficult maths
  problems
• there was a greater conformity to incorrect
  answers when the questions were more difficult,
  especially for students who rated their
  mathematical ability as poor.
• more likely to conform when we are unsure, as
  we assume others know better.
• supports ISI

Question 4

Evaluate two-process theory

Individual differences

Answer 4

Research shows people who care more about being liked are more affected by NSI.

Asch also found that students (28%) were less likely to conform than other participants (37%)

Question 5

Evaluate the two-process theory

NSI/ISI

Answer 5

Often both processes are involved rather than either NSI or ISI as the theory suggests.

For example
- in Asch’s experiment conformity was reduced when there was another dissenting participant
- this could be due to the dissenter providing
social support, reducing NSI
- or due to there being an alternative source of
information, reducing the power of ISI.

Question 6

Evaluate the two-process theory

Research for NSI

Answer 6

Asch’s study
When asked why they conformed and gave the wrong answer many said they felt
self-conscious and were afraid of disapproval.

When the study was repeated with participants writing down their answer instead of saying them aloud conformity fell by 12.5%