types of conformity

Question 1

compliance

Answer 1

• occurs when an individual accepts influence because they hope to achieve a favourable reaction from those around them.
• A behaviour is adopted because of the rewards of approval associated with its adoption.
• Public not private

Question 2

internalisation

Answer 2

• occurs when an individual accepts influence because the content of the behaviour is the same with their own value system.
• both publicly and privately

Question 3

identification

Answer 3

-a form of influence where an individual adopts a behaviour because they want to be associated with a particular person or group.

Question 4

normative social influence

Answer 4

• a form of influence whereby an individual conforms with the expectations of the majority in order to gain approval/avoid disapproval.
• the individual must feel they are under close observation by the group for normative social influence to take place

Question 5

informational social influence

Answer 5

• a form of influence, which is the result of a desire to be right. Looking at others as a way of gaining evidence about reality.
• informational social influence is more likely to take place when the right course of action isn’t clear or when others are experts

Question 6

explain the research support for normative social influence

Answer 6

• Linkenbach and Perkins found that teenagers exposed to the message that the majority of their age peers didn’t smoke were then less likely to take up smoking.
• Schultz found that hotel guests exposed to the message that 75% of guests reused their towels each day reduced their own towel usage by 25%

Question 7

explain the research support for informational social influence

Answer 7

-Wittenbrink and Henley found that participants exposed to negative info about African Americans (view of the majority) later reported more negative beliefs about a black individual.

Question 8

explain the disadvantage that normative influence may not be detected

Answer 8

• research has questioned whether individuals do recognise that behaviour of other as a factor in their own behaviour.
• Nolan investigated whether people detected the influence of social norms on their energy conservation.
• people believed the behaviour of neighbours had the least impact on their own energy conservation, yet results showed if had the strongest impact.

Question 9

explain the disadvantage that informational influence is moderated by type of task

Answer 9

• features of the task moderate the impact of majority influence.
• e.g. “Bristol is the most highly populated city in the south west of England” can be determined by physical means such as statistics
• but “Bristol is the most fun city in the south west of England” cannot be made using objective Crimea but instead relies on expert opinions