Conformity: types & explanations

• What is conformity?

  A change in behavior due to group pressure
• What is internalisation in conformity?

  A deep acceptance of the majority view
• What does identification mean in the context of conformity?

  Acting like a group to belong, but not agreeing
• What is compliance in conformity?

  A superficial agreement without personal change
• What is informational social influence (ISI)?

  Conforming because we believe the majority is correct
• What is normative social influence (NSI)?

  Conforming to be accepted and liked by others
• When does internalisation occur?

  When a person genuinely accepts a change in beliefs
• What happens during compliance?

  Behavior changes only while under group pressure
• What are the two main reasons people conform according to Deutsch and Gerard?

  The need to be right and the need to be liked
• In what situations is ISI most likely to occur?

  When people are uncertain about right or wrong
• What is a typical scenario for NSI to occur?

  In situations where social approval is important
• What did Lucas et al. (2006) find regarding conformity?

  Greater conformity in difficult problems for poor students
• What did McGhee and Teevan (1967) discover about nAffiliators?

  They conform more due to a need for affiliation
• How does the presence of a dissenting participant affect conformity?

  It reduces the power of NSI and ISI
• What did Asch (1951) find about participants' reasons for conforming?

  Participants felt self-conscious and feared disapproval
• What happened to conformity rates when participants wrote answers down in Asch's study?

  Conformity rates fell to 12.5%
• What is a limitation of the ISI explanation regarding individual differences?

  Not everyone conforms in the same way
• What did Perrin and Spencer (1980) find about conformity in their study?

  Very little conformity among science students
• What are the key terms related to conformity?

  • Conformity: Change in behavior due to group pressure
  • Internalisation: Deep acceptance of majority view
  • Identification: Moderate conformity to belong
  • Compliance: Superficial agreement without personal change
  • Informational social influence (ISI): Conforming to be correct
  • Normative social influence (NSI): Conforming to be liked
• What are the two processes involved in conformity according to Deutsch and Gerard?

  • Informational Social Influence (ISI)
  • Normative Social Influence (NSI)
• How do ISI and NSI interact in real-life situations?

  • Both processes often occur together
  • Dissenters can reduce the influence of both
  • Difficult to determine which process is at work
• What are the implications of Schultz et al. (2008) findings on conformity in hotels?

  • Guests conform to social norms
  • Increased towel reuse when informed of others' behavior
  • Demonstrates real-life application of NSI
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the ISI and NSI explanations of conformity?

  Strengths:

  • Supported by research evidence
  • Explains different motivations for conformity

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Individual differences in conformity
  • Overlap between ISI and NSI processes
• What is the reason individuals often conform to the majority opinion?

  People want to be right.
• In what situations is informational social influence (ISI) most likely to occur?

  In new or ambiguous situations.
• What is normative social influence (NSI) primarily concerned with?

  Gaining social approval from others.
• What type of change does internalisation lead to?

  Permanent change in opinions/behaviour.
• How does identification differ from internalisation?

  Identification is about valuing the group.
• What characterizes compliance in conformity?

  Public agreement without private change.
• What are the two main reasons people conform according to Deutsch and Gerard's theory?

  • Need to be right (ISI)
  • Need to be liked (NSI)
• What does informational social influence (ISI) involve?

  Determining who has better information.
• What did Lucas et al. (2006) find regarding conformity in difficult situations?

  Greater conformity in difficult questions.
• Who are described as nAffiliators?

  People who need social relationships.
• How do individual differences affect normative social influence (NSI)?

  Some are less affected by NSI.
• How do ISI and NSI interact according to Deutsch and Gerard?

  Both can influence conformity simultaneously.
• In what type of situations is NSI most likely to occur?

  With strangers or in stressful situations.
• What did Asch (1955) find about student conformity rates?

  Students conformed less than other participants.
• What does the term 'ambiguity' refer to in the context of ISI?

  Uncertainty about what is right or wrong.
• How does the presence of a dissenting participant affect conformity?

  It can reduce the power of NSI or ISI.
• What is the implication of NSI being more pronounced in stressful situations?

  People need more social support then.