Psychology- social influence

• What is the definition of conformity according to Elliot Aronson (2011)?

  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 is internalisation in the context of conformity?

  A deep type of conformity where we take on the majority view because we accept it as correct, leading to a permanent change in behaviour
• How does identification differ from internalisation?

  Identification is a moderate type of conformity where we act like the group because we value it, but we don't necessarily agree with everything the majority believes
• What is compliance in terms of conformity?

  Compliance is a superficial and temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go along with the majority view but privately disagree with it
• What is informational social influence (ISI)?

  ISI is an explanation of conformity where we agree with the majority opinion because we believe it is correct and want to be correct as well
• What is normative social influence (NSI)?

  NSI is an explanation of conformity where we agree with the majority opinion to gain social acceptance and be liked
• What are the three types of conformity according to Herbert Keman (1958)?

  • Internalisation
  • Identification
  • Compliance
• What happens during internalisation?

  During internalisation, a person genuinely accepts the group norms, resulting in a private and public change of opinions/behaviour
• Why do people conform through identification?

  People conform through identification because they value the group and want to be part of it, even if they don't agree with everything the group stands for
• What is the outcome of compliance?

  Compliance results in only a superficial change in behaviour that stops when group pressure ceases
• In what situations is informational social influence (ISI) most likely to occur?

  ISI is most likely to occur in new situations, ambiguous situations, or crisis situations where quick decisions are needed
• How does normative social influence (NSI) affect behaviour?

  NSI affects behaviour by regulating what is considered 'normal' or typical for a social group, leading individuals to seek social approval
• When is NSI most likely to occur?

  NSI is most likely to occur in situations with strangers or in stressful situations where social approval is highly valued
• What did Luca et al. (2006) find regarding ISI?

  Luca et al. found greater conformity to incorrect answers when the problems were difficult, especially among students who rated their mathematical ability as poor
• What are individual differences in NSI according to McGhee and Trevan (1967)?

  McGhee and Trevan found that students high in need for affiliation are more likely to conform than those who are less concerned with being liked
• How do ISI and NSI work together in conformity?

  ISI and NSI often work together, as conformity can be influenced by both the desire to be right and the desire to be liked
• What did Asch (1951) find regarding NSI?

  Asch found that many participants conformed to a clearly wrong answer due to fear of disapproval, and conformity rates dropped when answers were written down
• What was the practical application of Schultz et al. (2008) regarding conformity?

  • Printed messages encouraged hotel guests to save energy
  • Messages highlighted that other guests were using fewer bath towels
  • This approach successfully changed guest behaviour
• What is meant by behavioral categories in the context of observational studies?

  Behavioral categories are specific behaviors that researchers define to observe and measure in a study
• What is event sampling in observational research?

  Event sampling is a method where researchers record specific behaviors during predetermined events or time periods
• Why might people conform when starting new jobs?

  People might conform when starting new jobs due to informational social influence, wanting to fit in and be accepted by their new colleagues
• How can conformity be observed in a naturalistic setting?

  Conformity can be observed in a naturalistic setting by watching individuals in their everyday environments without manipulation
• What is the significance of the Asch experiment in understanding conformity?

  The Asch experiment demonstrated how group pressure can lead individuals to conform to incorrect answers, highlighting the power of normative social influence
• What limitations exist in the explanations of ISI and NSI?


  Limitations include the difficulty in determining whether ISI or NSI is at work in real-life situations, as both processes often operate simultaneously