Types and explinations of conformity Flashcards
What is conformity
Choosing an action which is approved by the majority of the group members
What are the three types of conformity
-Compliance
-Internalisation
-Identification
Who identified the three types of conformity
Kelman
What is compliance
When individuals go along with the group in order to gain approval or avoid disapproval. This doesn’t affect underlying attitude, only public behaviour and views
What is Internalisation
When a person goes along with a group because they have accepted their views. Conversion happens particularly when the group is seen as trustworth or you have agreed with them in the past. Leads to both public and private acceptance of the group’s views
What is Identification
Whn you accept a groups beliefs because you want to be associated with a group or individual. Has elements of both compliance and internalisation, as by identifying with a groups belief, they feel more a part of the group, but the reason they accept these beliefs is to become part of the group, showing conformity
What are the two expliantions of conformity
Normative and Informational social influence
What is Normative social influence
It corresponds to compliance. As a social species we have an innate need for companionship and fear of rejection, which causes a person to go along with a group without accepting their point of view. A necessary element of this is that they must feel they are under the survaillance of the group
What is informational social influence
When an individual accepts information from others as evidence about reality. Humans have an innate desire to feel that their views are correct. Initially people make objective tests of their views, but when this isn’t possible they turn to the views of others. This form of influence is more likely in ambigous situations or when we believe others have more expertise than we have. Changes both public and private beliefs
Where has research support for normative social influence come from
Linkenbach and Perkins found that adolescents exposed to the simple message that the majority of their peers didn’t smoke were less likely to take up smoking. Likewise, Schultz et al found that hotel guests exposed to normative social influence in the form of a message saying that 75% of guests reused their towels each day reduced their own towel use by 25%.
Why is it difficult to determine whether internalisation or compliance is actually taking place
It is possible that a person accepts the groups view in public, for example at a protest or rally, but this acceptance of views dissipates when in private. This could be labelled as internalisation or compliance, making it difficult to determine
Why is it difficult to detect normative social influence
It is possible that we do not identify the behaviours of others as a causal factor in our own behaviour. Nolan et al supported this claim when investigating influence of social norms on energy saving behaviours. When asked what factors most influenced energy conservation, people believed the behaviour of neighbors had the least effect, but research showed it had the largest impact. This can have a profound effect on self-report techniques
Who found that neighbors had the most effect on energy saving behaviours
Nolan et al
Who used normative influence to stop smoking
Linkenbach and Perkins
Who found tha hotel guests would conserve if they were told to
Schultz
