Types & Explanations for Conformity

Question 1

Conformity

Answer 1

1. A change in a persons behaviour or opinion

2. As a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people

Question 2

Internalisation

Answer 2

1. Genuinely accepts the groups norms (believe it is correct)
2. A public and private change of opinion or behaviour
3. Change may be permanent because attitudes have been internalised- deep
4. Change in opinion and behaviour persists even in the absence of group members

Question 3

Identification

Answer 3

1. Act in the same way as the group because we value it and want to be part of it
2. Identify with the group and want to be a part of it
3. Publicly change opinions and behaviours
4. Might not agree privately about everything the majority believes
5. Moderate type

Question 4

Compliance

Answer 4

1. Agreeing with majority in public but privately not changing opinion or behaviour
2. Superficial/ shallow /temporary change
3. Behaviour stops as soon as group pressure stops

Question 5

Informational Social Influence

Answer 5

1. Cognitive process
2. Agree with majority because we believe they are correct
3. We want to be correct too
4. May lead to internalisation
5. Happens in :
   * ambiguous situations
   * when you’re new
   * decisions being made quickly
   * if there is someone regarded as an expert
6. Who has the best information

Question 6

Normative Social Influence

Answer 6

1. Agree with opinion of majority because we want ti be accepted, liked, gain social approval
2. Compliance
3. About Norms
4. Emotional process
5. Situations:
   * people feel concerned about rejection
   * people you know well (social approval from friends )
   * stressful situations- need social support

Question 7

Research support for ISI

Answer 7

Lucas et al (2006)

Students

1. Maths problems (easy- difficult)
2. Greater conformity for wrong answers when question was harder
3. True for students that rated their maths skills as poor

Question 8

Research Support for ISI- Explanation

Answer 8

1. Study shows people conform when they don’t know the answer
2. Outcome predicted by ISI
3. Look to other people and assume they know better than us and must be right

Question 9

Research Support for NSI

Answer 9

Asch (1951)

1. People went along with clearly wrong answers because others did
2. He asked them why they did this
3. Participants said they felt self conscious giving right answer and they were afraid of disapproval
4. Asch repeated - write answers instead of say aloud
5. Conformity rates fell to 12.5%

Question 10

Individual Differences in ISI

Answer 10

1. Does not affect everyone equally
2. Asch (1955)
   - students were less conformist (28%)
   - other participants (37%)
3. Perrin and Spencer (1980)
   - science and engineering students
   - very little conformity

Question 11

Individual differences in NSI

Answer 11

1. Doesn’t affect everyone the same
2. There are some people that are less concerned about being liked and are affected by NSI less than those that are nAffiliators
3. McGhee and Teevan (1967)
   - students high in need for affiliation more likely to conform
4. Desire to be liked underlies conformity for some people more than others

Question 12

nAffiliators

Answer 12

People who have greater need for affiliation- a need for being in a relationship with others

Question 13

NSI and ISI work together

Answer 13

1. Deutsch and Gerrards- two process
   - behaviour is either due to NSI or ISI
2. However both usually are involved
3. Dissenting participant in Asch experiment reduces conformity
4. Dissenter reduces power of NSI (provides social support)
5. Reduce ISI (alternative source of information)
6. Lab studies , real life conformity situations - can’t tell is it’s NSI or ISI
   - do they work independently?