types of conformity Flashcards
What are the three types of conformity?
Internalisation, Identification, Compliance
These types were suggested by Herbert Kelman in 1958.
Define conformity.
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).
What is internalisation in the context of conformity?
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.
What characterizes identification as a type of conformity?
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.
Describe compliance in terms of conformity.
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.
What is informational social influence (ISI)?
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.
Define normative social influence (NSI).
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.
Who developed the two-process theory regarding conformity?
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).
In what situations is ISI most likely to occur?
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.
When is NSI most likely to occur?
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.
Fill in the blank: Internalisation leads to a _______ change in behaviour.
permanent
True or False: Identification leads to a private change in opinions.
False
Identification often results in public changes, while private opinions may not change.
What is the main focus of normative social influence?
Gaining social approval and avoiding rejection
NSI is more pronounced in stressful situations.
What did Lucas et al. (2006) find regarding conformity in difficult mathematical problems?
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.
What is the explanation for why people conform according to the ISI model?
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.
Who are Affiliators in the context of individual differences in NSI?
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.
What did McGhee and Teevan (1967) find about students with a high need for affiliation?
They were more likely to conform
This indicates that the desire to be liked influences conformity levels among individuals.
What is Deutsch and Gerrard’s ‘two-process’ approach?
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.
How does a dissenting participant affect conformity in the Asch experiment?
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.
What did Asch (1955) discover about conformity rates among students?
Students conformed less (28%) compared to other participants (37%)
This suggests individual differences in susceptibility to social influence.
What was the outcome of Perrin and Spencer’s (1980) study on conformity?
They found very little conformity among science and engineering students
This raises questions about the generalizability of conformity findings across different groups.
What did Asch (1951) conclude about participants’ reasons for conforming?
Many participants conformed to avoid disapproval and felt self-conscious giving the correct answer
This supports the normative social influence (NSI) explanation.
What effect did asking participants to write down their answers have on conformity rates in Asch’s study?
Conformity rates fell to 12.5%
This indicates that the pressure to conform decreases when responses are private.
Fill in the blank: Individual differences in _______ indicate that not everyone is affected by normative social influence in the same way.
NSI
This highlights the variability in how individuals respond to social pressures.
