conformity

• What is the definition of conformity?


  a form of social influence where group pressure, implicit or explicit, results in a change to behaviour to suit the attitudes/beliefs around us
• What is the definition of compliance?


  temporary change to external behaviour to fit in with a social group
• What is the definition of identification?


  change of behavior to conform to a social role of a valued group where their beliefs may or may not be accepted privately
• What is the definition of internalisation?


  permanent change to behaviour as you accept the groups norms as a part of your belief system
• What is Normative social influence?


  a need for acceptance as part of a group while maintaining your own private opinions

  • leads to compliance
• What is Informational social influence?


  a need to be correct in ambiguous situations, looking to others to guide behaviour and opinions both internally and externally due to the belief they have more/correct information

  • leads to internalisation
• Outline Jennes study


  Investigating how humans conform based on the behaviour of the group surrounding them

  A large group of psych students estimated the amount of jelly beans in a jar and then split into groups of three to discuss, after discussion estimated again

  Almost all participants changed answers with women changing 383 on average and men changing 256 on average

  Judgments of individuals are affected by majority opinions in ambiguous situations - ISI
• What factors should be used when comparing types of conformity?


  • Public/Private
  • Temporary/Long lasting
  • Group needed?
  • Reason for conformity
• What are some examples of situational factors?


  • Group size
  • Task difficulty
  • Unanimity
  • Anonymity
• What are some examples of dispositional factors in conformity?


  • Mood
  • Gender
  • Culture
• How does mood affect conformity?

  Happiness = increase

  Anger = decrease

  Neutral = average
• How does gender affect conformity?

  Women = more likely to conform (empathy)

  Men = less likely to conform
• How does culture affect conformity?


  Collectivist country/culture = increase in conformity

  Individualist country/culture = decrease in conformity
• What are the types of conformity?

  • Identification
  • Internalisation
  • Compliance
• What are the reasons someone may conform?

  • Normative social influence
  • Informational social influence