Types of and explanations of conformity Flashcards
What is conformity?
A form of majority influence where the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours of people in a particular group are adopted in response to real or imagined group pressure
What is Compliance?
Publicly conforming to the behaviour of or views of others in a group to be accepted or avoid disapproval, but privately maintaining one’s views.
What type of change is involved in compliance?
Temporary change in behaviour
How long does the change last in compliance?
As long as group pressure is present
What is identification?
when individuals adjust their behaviour and opinions to those of the group because they identify with them (seen as role models)and want to become part of it (membership is desirable)
why is identification a stronger type of conformity than compliance?
in both public and private acceptance(involves elements of compliance internalisation)
What type of change is identification?
it is generally temporary though, and is not maintained when the individual leaves the group
What is internalisation?
-a conversion of private views to match those of the group
-The behaviour or belief of the majority is accepted by the individual and becomes part of their own belief system
what type of change is internalisation?
permanent change- it is the most permanent form of conformity, as it usually lasts even if the majority influence is no longer present
What did Deutsch and Gerard do?
in 1955, they developed dual-process model, arguing that there are two main reasons why people conformed
what are the two reasons why people conform?
normative, social influence
Informational, social influence
What are nsi and isi based on?
Two Central human needs: they need to be liked, and the need to be right
what does normative social influence explain?
People conform, because they have a desire to be liked by the other members of the group, and also want to avoid being rejected (need for acceptance and social approval)
what is normative to social influence associated with?
Compliance
what does informational social influence explain?
It is based on the desire to be right and occurs when we turn to others who we believed to be correct in an attempt to gain information about how to act in an ambiguous situation when there is no clear answer
