Conformity in Psychology

Flashcards covering key concepts related to conformity and social influence in psychology.

Conformity

A phenomenon where individuals change their behaviors or beliefs to fit in with a group.

Compliance

A type of conformity where individuals publicly agree with the group while privately disagreeing.

Identification

A type of conformity where individuals adopt the behaviors or attitudes of a group temporarily to be included.

Internalisation

The strongest type of conformity where individuals accept and agree with the group both publicly and privately.

Normative Social Influence (NSI)

Conformity based on the desire to be liked and accepted by a group.

Informational Social Influence (ISI)

Conformity driven by the need for information and guidance in uncertain situations.

Asch's Study

An experiment conducted by Solomon Asch to study the effects of group pressure on conformity with visual perception.

Group Size

A variable in Asch's study indicating that conformity increases with group size up to a point.

Unanimity

The extent to which all group members agree; Asch found conformity decreased when one confederate gave a correct answer.

Task Difficulty

A variable affecting conformity where increased ambiguity leads to increased ISI as individuals look to the group for the correct answer.

Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment

A study that examined how individuals conform to assigned social roles in a simulated prison environment.

Deindividuation

A psychological state where individuals lose their self-identity and conform to group roles, often leading to extreme behavior.

Ethics in Zimbardo's Study

Concerns regarding lack of informed consent, the right to withdraw, and potential psychological harm to participants.

Resistance to Conformity

The ability of individuals to maintain their beliefs and behaviors in the face of social pressure.