Types of conformity

Question 1

Define compliance

Answer 1

Publicity, but not privately going along with the majority influence to gain approval.
Occurs due to a desire to fit in. Is fairly weak and a temporary form of conformity.

E.g. You may claim to support a certain football team because many others of your age do and you want to be accepted and not ridiculed by them. However, privately, you may have no interest in football.

Question 2

Define identification

Answer 2

Public and private acceptance of majority influence in order to gain group acceptance.
Occurs when membership in the group is desirable and is generally temporary and is not maintained once left the group.

E.g. In the army, you adopt the behaviour and beliefs of fellow soldiers but on leaving the army new behaviours and opinion will be adopted.

Question 3

Define internalisation

Answer 3

Public and private acceptance of the majority influence through the adoption of the majority groups belief system.
Known as true compliance and is long lasting and strong.

E.g. You are interested in Buddhism. You research it and convert to Buddhism. The beliefs and practices affect your thoughts and behaviour for the duration of your life.

Question 4

Define conformity

Answer 4

Yielding to group pressure

Question 5

Define normative social influence

Answer 5

Where a person conforms in order to be accepted and belong to a group.

Question 6

Define informative social influence

Answer 6

Where a person conforms to gain knowledge, or because they believe someone else is ‘right’.