Types/Explanations of conformity Flashcards
What is conformity(A01)
Changing your beliefs/attitudes due to pressure from an individual or group
Define compliance(A01)
Lowest level of conformity
Temporary change in public behaviour
Happens when you want to go along with the group
E.g. Asch
Define identification(A01)
Middle level of conformity
Change in public/private beliefs in the presence of the group
Occurs when there’s something about the group/individual that we value(identify with the group because we want to be part of it)
E.g. Zimbardo
Define internalisation(A01)
Deepest level of conformity
Permanent change in public and private beliefs
Occurs when a person genuinely accepts the group norms
E.g. Sherif and/or Lucas
Why do people conform(A01)(Explanations for conformity)
Normative social influence and Informational social influence
Who came up with the two process theory for conformity(NSI and ISI)(A01)
Deutsch and Gerrard
What is normative social influence(A01)
People want to be accepted by groups and fear rejection
Occurs when people want to make a good impression
Associated with compliance and identification
What is informational social influence(A01)
People want to avoid being wrong/believe others are more likely to be right
Happens in ambiguous situations/crisis
Associated with internalisation
Aim of Sherif’s experiment
To show that people conform to group norms in ambiguous situations
Method for Sherif’s experiment
Lab experiment in a dark room
Spot of light projected onto a screen(visual illusion that looks like it moves)
Participants individually tested on their estimates on how far the spot moved
Participants then tested in groups of 3
Sherif put 2 people with similar estimates in a group with someone with a different answer
Results for Sherif’s experiment
Person in the group with different answer conformed to the estimate of the other two
Conclusion for Sherif’s experiment
People conform to the majority view in order to be correct as they believe others are more likely to be right
A03 for informational social influence
Supporting research for Deutsch and Gerrard
Lucas et al - Participants who rated their maths skills as poor conformed more on difficult math problems compared to easy problems
A03 for normative social influence
Supporting research for Deutsch and Gerrard
Mcgee/Teevan - Some people are in greater need of affiliation/ are more affected by NSI
A03 for Sherif’s experiment
Doesn’t take into account other factors e.g personality. Some people may naturally conform more due to personality
