Types of Conformity and Explanations for Conformity Flashcards
What is conformity?
Conformity is a type of social influence defined as yielding to group pressures or a change in a person’s behaviour or opinion due to real or imagined pressure from a group.
What are the three types of conformity proposed by Kelman?
The three types of conformity are Internalisation, Identification, and Compliance.
What is Internalisation?
Internalisation is the strongest type of conformity where an individual adopts the beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviour of the group as their own, leading to a permanent change.
Example: Becoming religious after being raised in a religious household.
What is Identification?
Identification is a temporary change of behaviour and beliefs that occurs only in the presence of a group.
Example: Acting more professional at the office.
What is Compliance?
Compliance is the weakest form of conformity where an individual publicly agrees with the group but privately disagrees, often to gain approval or avoid disapproval.
Example: Drinking alcohol to fit in with friends.
What is Informational Social Influence?
Informational Social Influence occurs when someone conforms because they want to be right and look to others for information, especially in uncertain situations.
Example: Following a crowd in an emergency.
What evidence supports Informational Social Influence?
Fein et al. found that participants changed their vote after seeing others vote for a different candidate, demonstrating the impact of wanting to be correct.
What is Normative Social Influence?
Normative Social Influence occurs when someone conforms to be liked or accepted by a group, often to avoid embarrassment.
Example: Starting to smoke because peers smoke.
What evidence links Normative Social Influence to bullying?
Garandeau and Cillissen found that a boy could be manipulated by a bully to victimize another child to avoid disapproval from his friends.
What did Lucas et al. find regarding Informational Social Influence?
Lucas et al. found that conformity to incorrect answers increased when questions were difficult and participants rated their math ability unfavorably, indicating reliance on others for information.
How do NSI and ISI relate according to Deutsch and Gerrard’s ‘Two Process Model’?
NSI and ISI may not be mutually exclusive; a dissenting confederate can provide social support, reducing NSI and ISI effects by offering an alternative viewpoint.
