Psychology: Conformity Types, Explanations, and Variables

Flashcards covering types of conformity (internalisation, compliance), explanations (ISI, NSI), and Asch's conformity study and variations.

What is the definition of conformity?

Adopting new behaviours or beliefs to match others, usually that of a larger group.

What is internalisation and what kind of effect does it produce?

Adopting a group's behaviour or beliefs in public AND private, even in the absence of the group; it produces a strong, long-lasting effect.

How is compliance defined in the context of conformity?

Agreeing publicly BUT maintaining original beliefs privately in the absence of the group; it is a superficial, temporary change.

What characterizes Informational Social Influence (ISI)?

It affects people with the desire to be right, is more likely to occur with ambiguity, assumes the group knows more, and is a cognitive process.

What were the procedure and findings of the Jenness jellybean study?

Participants estimated the number of jellybeans in a jar alone, discussed their guesses together, and then guessed alone again; the second estimate was closer to the group estimate, indicating Informational Social Influence (ISI).

What characterizes Normative Social Influence (NSI) and what type of conformity is it linked to?

It is driven by the need to be liked or the fear of rejection, where a lack of cohesion may cause anxiety leading to behavioural adjustment; it is linked to compliance.

What did McGhee & Teevan (1967) find when investigating students' need for acceptance?

Using surveys to compare scores, they found that nAffiliators (high scorers) were much more likely to conform.

What was the methodology and sample used in Asch's study on majority influence?

$123$ male American students served as naive participants, each sitting with $6$ to $8$ confederates and identifying which of $3$ lengths matched a standard line across $18$ total trials ($12$ critical trials).

What were the conformity findings on critical trials in Asch's original study?

There was a $36.8\%$ conformity rate on critical trials, and $75\%$ of participants conformed at least once.

What evaluation points were raised regarding the reliability and validity of Asch's study?

A standardised procedure allowed replication with consistent results (high reliability); Occurring during the civil rights and feminist movements - it may lack temporal validity; and the ease of the task might have led to demand characteristics, reducing validity.

How did varying group size affect conformity rates (CR) in Asch's variations?

With $1$ confederate the conformity rate was $3\%$, with $2$ confederates it was $12.8\%$, and with $3$ confederates it was $31.8\%$, showing that conformity rate peaks with $3$ confederates.

What effect did unanimity have on the conformity rate in Asch's research?

When $1$ confederate resisted and gave the right answer, the conformity rate dropped to $5\%$.

How does task difficulty relate to Informational Social Influence (ISI) and Normative Social Influence (NSI)?

Greater ambiguity leads to a higher conformity rate via Informational Social Influence (ISI), whereas choosing an obvious wrong answer involves Normative Social Influence (NSI).