types of conformity

Question 1

What are the three types of conformity?

Answer 1

Internalisation, Identification, Compliance

These types were suggested by Herbert Kelman in 1958.

Question 2

Define conformity.

Answer 2

A change in a person’s behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people

Definition by Elliot Aronson (2011).

Question 3

What is internalisation in the context of conformity?

Answer 3

A deep type of conformity where one takes on the majority view because it is accepted as correct, leading to a permanent change in behaviour

This change persists even in the absence of the group.

Question 4

What characterizes identification as a type of conformity?

Answer 4

Conforming to a group because one values it and wants to be part of it, without necessarily agreeing with everything the group believes

This leads to public changes in behaviour.

Question 5

Describe compliance in terms of conformity.

Answer 5

A superficial and temporary type of conformity where one outwardly agrees with the majority view but privately disagrees

The change lasts only as long as the group is monitoring.

Question 6

What is informational social influence (ISI)?

Answer 6

An explanation of conformity where one agrees with the majority because they believe it is correct, often leading to internalisation

ISI is a cognitive process related to the need to be right.

Question 7

Define normative social influence (NSI).

Answer 7

An explanation of conformity where one agrees with the majority to gain social approval and be liked, often leading to compliance

NSI is an emotional process related to the need to be liked.

Question 8

Who developed the two-process theory regarding conformity?

Answer 8

Morton Deutsch and Harold Gerard in 1955

They proposed that conformity is based on the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

Question 9

In what situations is ISI most likely to occur?

Answer 9

In new situations, ambiguous situations, crisis situations, or when a group is regarded as more of an expert

People follow the majority because they want to be correct.

Question 10

When is NSI most likely to occur?

Answer 10

In situations with strangers, with people one knows, or in stressful situations where social support is needed

People prefer to gain social approval rather than face rejection.

Question 11

Fill in the blank: Internalisation leads to a _______ change in behaviour.

Answer 11

permanent

Question 12

True or False: Identification leads to a private change in opinions.

Answer 12

False

Identification often results in public changes, while private opinions may not change.

Question 13

What is the main focus of normative social influence?

Answer 13

Gaining social approval and avoiding rejection

NSI is more pronounced in stressful situations.

Question 14

What did Lucas et al. (2006) find regarding conformity in difficult mathematical problems?

Answer 14

Greater conformity to incorrect answers occurred when problems were difficult, especially for students who rated their mathematical ability as poor

This supports the idea that individuals conform when they feel uncertain about their knowledge.

Question 15

What is the explanation for why people conform according to the ISI model?

Answer 15

People assume others know better and must be right when they feel unsure of the answer

This is a key concept in the Informational Social Influence (ISI) theory.

Question 16

Who are Affiliators in the context of individual differences in NSI?

Answer 16

Individuals who have a greater need for affiliation and are more affected by normative social influence

This term describes those who prioritize relationships with others.

Question 17

What did McGhee and Teevan (1967) find about students with a high need for affiliation?

Answer 17

They were more likely to conform

This indicates that the desire to be liked influences conformity levels among individuals.

Question 18

What is Deutsch and Gerrard’s ‘two-process’ approach?

Answer 18

Behavior is attributed to either NSI or ISI, but often both processes are involved

This model suggests that conformity can arise from a combination of social influence types.

Question 19

How does a dissenting participant affect conformity in the Asch experiment?

Answer 19

It reduces the power of NSI by providing social support or reduces ISI by offering an alternative source of information

This illustrates the complexity of conformity dynamics in social situations.

Question 20

What did Asch (1955) discover about conformity rates among students?

Answer 20

Students conformed less (28%) compared to other participants (37%)

This suggests individual differences in susceptibility to social influence.

Question 21

What was the outcome of Perrin and Spencer’s (1980) study on conformity?

Answer 21

They found very little conformity among science and engineering students

This raises questions about the generalizability of conformity findings across different groups.

Question 22

What did Asch (1951) conclude about participants’ reasons for conforming?

Answer 22

Many participants conformed to avoid disapproval and felt self-conscious giving the correct answer

This supports the normative social influence (NSI) explanation.

Question 23

What effect did asking participants to write down their answers have on conformity rates in Asch’s study?

Answer 23

Conformity rates fell to 12.5%

This indicates that the pressure to conform decreases when responses are private.

Question 24

Fill in the blank: Individual differences in _______ indicate that not everyone is affected by normative social influence in the same way.

Answer 24

NSI

This highlights the variability in how individuals respond to social pressures.