Types Of And Explanations For Conformity

What are the three types of conformity?

Internalisation, identification and compliance.

What is internalisation?

A deep type of conformity where we take on the majority view because we accept it as correct.

WIth internalisation, is the change of attitudes/behavipur permanent?

Yes (usually), because attitudes have been internalised, i.e. become part of the way a person thinks.

With internalisation, is there a change in public or private views?

Both.

What is identification?

A moderate type of conformity where we act in the same wy as the group because we value it and want to be part of it. But we don’t necessarily agree with everything the group/majority believes.

With identification, is there a change in public or private views?

Public.

Why does identification occur?

Because there is something about that group that we value. We identify with the group, so we want to be part of it.

What is compliance?

A superficial and temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go along with the majority view, but privately disagree. The change in behaviour lasts as long as the group is with us.

With compliance, is there a change in public or private views?

Public.

Who developed the two process theory, and what does it argue?

Morton Deutsh and Harold Gerard (1955), it argues there are two main reasons people conform. They are based on two cenral human needs: the need to be right (ISI) and the need to be liked (NSI).

What are the two explainations for conformity?

Informational and normative social influence.

What is informational social influence all about?

The need to be right.

What is informational social influence?

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 internalisaton.

What is normative social influence all about?

The need to be liked.

What is normative social influence?

An explaination of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we want to gain social approval and be liked.

What is the strength of NSI?

Research support.

How is research support a strength of NSI?

When Asch (1951) interviewed his participants, some said they conformed because they felt self-conscious giving the correct answer and they were afraid of disapproval. When participants wrote their answers down, conformity fell to 12.5%. This is because giving answers privately meant there was no normative group pressure.

What does the research support mean for NSI?

It shows that at least some conformity is due to a desire not to be rejected by the group for disagreeing with them (i.e. NSI).

What is the strength of ISI?

Research support.

How is research support a strength of ISI?

Lucas et al. found that participants conformed more often to incorrect answers they were given when the maths problems were dificult. This is because when the problems were easy the participants 'knew their own minds' but when the problems were hard the situation became ambiguous (unclear). The participants did not want to be wrong, so they relied on the answers they were given.

What does the research support mean for ISI?

It shows that ISI is a valid explanation of conformity because the results are what ISI would predict.

What is the counterpoint for Research support for ISI?

However, it is often unclear whether it is NSI or IS at work in research studies (or in real life). For example, Asch found that conformity is reduced when there is one other dissenting participant. The dissenter may reduce the power of NSI (because they provide social support), or they may reduce the power of ISI (because they provide an alternative source of social information). Both interpretations are possible.

What does the counterpoint to the research support for NSI mean?

That therefore, it is hard to separate ISI and NSI and both processes probably operate together in most real-world conformity situations.

What is the limitation of NSI?

Individual differences.

How are individual differences a limitation of NSI?

NSI does not predict conformity in every case. Some people are greatly concerned with being liked by others - nAffiliators are people with a strong need for 'affiliation' (i.e. they want to relate to other people). McGhee and Teevan found that students who were nAffiliators were more likely to conform. This shows that NSI underlies conformity for some people more than it does for others.

What do the individual differences in NSI mean?

That there are individual differences in conformity that cannot be fully explained by one general theory of situational pressures.