Types and explanations of conformity

Define social influence

when one person causes a change in the behaviour of another person

What is conformity?

a change in a person’s behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people

What are the 3 types of conformity?

internalisation, identification and compliance

What is internalisation?

Making the beliefs, values, attitude and behaviour of the group your own (the strongest type of conformity). An individual’s change of view is permanent and persists in the absence of other group members. Involves private and public agreement

What is identification?

Temporary/short term change of behaviour and beliefs only in the presence of a group (middle level). We conform to the opinion/behaviours of a group because there is something about that group we value

What is compliance?

This means to follow other people’s ideas/to go along with the group to gain their approval or avoid disapproval. You publically agree but privately disagree (lowest/ weakest level of conformity).

What is normative social influence (NSI)?

an explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we want to be accepted, gain social approval and be liked. This may lead to compliance

What is informational social influence (ISI)?

an explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we believe it is correct. We accept it because we want to be correct as well. This may lead to internalisation.

How is the fact that NSI has evidence to support it as an explanation of conformity a strength? (+counter/development)

because it shows that at least some conformity is due to a desire to not be rejected by the group for disagreeing with them.

C: however, it can be argued that the research used to support this argument is weak as it may not fully represent real-world situations as Asch’s study lacks mundane realism

Give an example of this strength

for example, when Asch interviewed his participants, some said they conformed because they felt self-conscious giving the correct answer and they were afraid of disapproval

How is the fact that the 2 explanations might not be completely exclusive from each other a weakness?

as it is hard to tell which one is actually at play in a real-life situation and so both explanations might be needed to fully understand why some people conform

Give an example of this weakness

for instance, Deutsch and Gerrard described NSI and ISI as separate causes of conformity in their two-process model but they might actually work together and are difficult to study alone

How is the fact that there is research evidence to support ISI a strength?

as it proves that ISI is a valid explanation of conformity because the results are what ISI would predict

Give an example of this strength

for example, Lucas et al asked students to give answers to maths problems that were easy or difficult. There was greater conformity to incorrect answers when they were difficult rather than when they were easy ones

How is the fact that NSI does not predict conformity in every case a weakness?

because it shows that NSI underlies conformity for some people more than it does others. There are individual differences in conformity that can’t be fully explained by one general theory

Give an example of this limitation

for instance, McGhee and Teevan found that students who were nAffiliators were more likely to conform