types of conformity

what is conformity

how a person changes their behaviour in response to real or imagined group prepssure

what are the 2 types of conformity

Compliance and internalisation

what is compliance

changing behaviour in response to a direct request/social pressure form others

- changing public behaviour but disagreeing provately to gain approval/avoid social rejection

what is compliance due to

normative social influence

weakest type of conformity

compliance

why is compliance the weakest type of conformity

short term, only involves surface superficial change

how long does compliance last

lasts only as long as the group is present

strength of compliance

supported by Asch's line judgement study

pps. conformed to obviously incorrect majority answer

many later reported they went along to avoid social disapproval despite agreeing

clear example of compliance

social pressure -> superficial conformity

weakness of compliance

difficult to accurately measure outside lab exps.

individuals hide true beliefs to avoid conflict/gain approval

hard to determine if sum1 truly complying or actually agreeing

reduces validity of conformity research, especially when relying on observable behaviour w/o access to internal thought processes

what is internalisation

where individual adopts beliefs, attitudes or behaviours of a group and accepts them as their own both privately and publicly

when does internalisation occur

individual genuinely believes groups norms are correct

what does internalisation lead to

long-lasting change that persists even when no longer in presence of group

what causes internalisation

informational social influence

strength of internalisation

results in deep, long-term changes in beliefs and behaviour even if group members no longer present

happens as individual genuinely accepts group norms as correct both publicly and privately

e.g. religious/political changes- adopt new set of llong lasting values

internalisation explains how conformity leads to enduring social or attitudinal change

strong explanatory power, esp for social change movements

weakness of internalisation

difficult to distinguish from compliance

individual may appear to internalised a belief but are simply complying due to situational pressures

problematic in lab-based studies, e.g. Asch's line study- not clear if changes in behaviour reflect true internal belief or a temporary response to social pressure

reduce validity of research that claims to demonstrate it- difficult to measure