Explanations for conformity

• Who identified two explanations for conformity in 1954?


  Deutch and Gerrard
• What are the two explanations for conformity identified by Deutch and Gerrard?


  • Normative Social Influence (NSI)
  • Informational Social Influence (ISI)
• What is normative social influence (NSI)?


  NSI occurs when individuals conform to feel solidarity with a group and avoid alienation.
• Why do people conform under normative social influence?


  People conform to avoid negative impacts on the group and to gain social approval.
• What type of conformity is often associated with normative social influence?


  Compliance conformity, which is temporary and based on emotion.
• What did Asch's study in 1951 demonstrate about normative social influence?


  It showed that 74% of participants conformed to an obviously wrong answer to avoid standing out.
• What did participants in Asch's study admit about their conformity?


  They admitted they conformed to avoid standing out from the group.
• What was the purpose of Deutch and Gerrard's variation of Asch's study?


  To emphasize a sense of inclusion in the group and observe conformity under that condition.
• How many errors did participants make in Deutch and Gerrard's variation of Asch's study?


  They made twice as many errors.
• What did seven out of fifteen participants mention in Deutch and Gerrard's study?


  They mentioned an obligation to the other group members.
• What is informational social influence (ISI)?


  ISI occurs when individuals conform because they believe others in the group are correct.
• When does informational social influence typically occur?


  It often occurs in difficult tasks when individuals are unsure of the correct answer.
• What type of process is informational social influence considered to be?


  It is considered a cognitive process.
• What is the outcome of informational social influence on an individual's opinion or behavior?


  It often leads to internalisation, resulting in a permanent change.
• What did Baumeister et al (2012) study regarding informational social influence?


  They studied how students were influenced by a confederate while driving.
• What was the effect of the confederate's instructions in Baumeister et al's study?


  The students were influenced by the confederate's instructions even when driving alone later.
• What did Lucas et al (2006) find in their study on conformity?


  They found greater conformity to incorrect answers when problems were difficult.
• What does the increased conformity in difficult problems suggest about participants' beliefs?


  It suggests that participants believed others were more knowledgeable than them.