Explanations of conformity

• Dual process dependancy Model

  Two reasons to conform: desire to be right and desire to fit in
• Informational social influence (desire to be right)


  Occurs when unsure how to behave in situation or what to think. Conform because don’t know what to do. Majority likely to be right so blend in and not be wrong
• Type of conformity:


  Informational = deep, similar to internalisation

  normative = shallow, privately disagree, similar to compliance
• Normative Social influence (desire to fit in)

  Occurs when need to be accepted or belong to group, fear rejection and need companionship
• Strength of normative social influence

  Supporting study: Asch line study, extent social pressure from majority affects conformity, 33% conformed with clearly wrong majority, said wanted to fit in and knew was wrong
• Strength of informative social influence

  Supporting study: sheriff light study. Extent ambiguous situation affects conformity. Common estimates of distance - person with different answer conformed. Show they look to others for guidance
• Weakness of explanations of conformity

  Studies were lab based: lack ecological validity. Normally conformity happens with people we know, studies used strangers in an overt lab. Not valid or based on real life behaviour
• Another Weakness of explaNations of conformity

  Hard to distinguish = Asch difficulty variation don’t know if people conformed to fit in or be right. Asch unanimity variation the dissenter provided social support for normative and answer for informative