Types of conformity

• Conformity definition A01

  The change in a persons behaviour in a group setting in order to fit in.
• Compliance definition A01

  - Lowest level of conformity

  - Change in public behaviour but not private beliefs

  - Short-term
• Identification definition A01

  - Middle level of conformity

  - Change in public behaviour and private beliefs (but only when with group they are identifying with)

  - Short term
• Internalisation definition A01

  -Deepest level of conformity

  - Change in public behaviour and private beliefs

  - Long term change
• informational social influence A01


  Conforming to gain knowledge and the need to be right, avoiding standing out.

  It's a cognitive process, and often happens in. Ambiguous or new situation, where others are experts in the situation.

  Can change beliefs as internalise information/behaviour.
• Normative social influence A01


  Conforming to be accepted and belong to a group, to avoid social rejection

  It's an emotional process and often happens when a person believes they are under surveillance by a group.

  It doesn't change private behaviour or beliefs as they are only complying.
• Evaluation of the explanations of conformity- Normative A03


  POINT- One strength is that there is research support for normative social influence as an explanation as to why people conform.

  EVIDENCE- Shultz et al concluded that people who were given normative information into re-using towels in a hotel room reduced their need to clean towels by 25%.

  EXPLAIN- This is an example of conforming in order to avoid social rejection in a real life setting, as the people may feel pressure from others to re-use towels.

  LINK- Thus, we can see NSI has ecological validity as its clearly present in real life settings life hotel rooms.
• Evaluation of the explanations of conformity- Informational A03

  POINT- One strength into informational social influence is that there is research support as an explanation as to why people conform.

  EVIDENCE- Jenness conducted a study where he asked people to make an estimate into how many bean were in a jar in private, then in a group setting and once more in private. He found there was a change in opinions after being in the group setting, conforming to the estimates of others.

  EXPLAIN- Therefore there is an internalisation of group beliefs, and they occur especially in unfamiliar, ambiguous situations.

  LINK- This shows that people conform as they believe others answers are right.