Types of conformity and explanations for coformity

What is the definition of social influence in psychology?

The scientific study of how other people effect the way we think

What is conformity?

Adopting the behaviour, attitudes and values of the majority in order to fit in with social norms.

Who proposed the three types of conformity?

Keenan (1958)

What are the three types Kelman proposed?

Compliance, Internalisation, Identification

Explain Compliance.

Confirming with the group in public in in order to gain their approval, but still keeping the same underlying attitude in private.

When exposed to the attitudes of the majority, individuals may engage in a process of social comparison - concentrating on what others say or do so they can adjust their own actions to fit in with them.

Explain internalisation.

Conforming with the group because of acceptance of their views both publicly and privately.

When exposed to views of the group, individuals are encouraged to engage in a validation process - examining their own beliefs to see if others are right.

Close examination of the group’s views may convince the individual that they are wrong and the group is right.

Explain identification.

Conforming because of the desire to be associated with the group. By adopting the group’s attitudes and behaviour, they feel more a part of it.

Identification has elements of compliance and internalisation, as the individual accepts the views as right and true (internalisation), but the purpose of adopting them is to be accepted as a member of the group (compliance).

Eg a child may start smoking because ‘that’s what cool kids do’ when they want to be seen as a ‘cool kid’.

What’s the difference between the different types of conformity?

Each type has a particular set of motivating conditions that leads to a conforming response.

What are the two explanations for conformity?

Normative social influence, Informational social influence

Explain normative social influence.

Going along with the majority without accepting their point of view (literally just compliance)

An important condition for normative influence to occur is that the individual must believe they are under surveillance by the group.

In the case of normative social influence, people conform to the majority position in public but don’t internalise this view as it doesn’t carry over into private settings or endure over time.

What forms the basis for normative social influence?

The belief that, as humans are a social species, they have a fundamental need for social companionship and acceptance and a fear of rejection.

Explain informational social influence.

Accepting information from others as evidence about reality (literally internalisation).

This is more likely when the situation is ambiguous or where others are experts.

Initially, individuals may make objective tests against reality (checking the facts), but if this is not possible they feel they must rely on the opinions of others.

As a result, the individual complies in behaviour and changes their own behaviour in line with the group’s position. This involves changing both public and private attitudes and behaviour.

What forms the basis for informational social influence?