Types + explanations

• Internalisation

  When someone genuinely accepts the group's norms.

  Private and public change of behaviour and opinions.

  Usually a permanent change. Occurs in absence of other group members.
• Identification

  Someone will conform as there is something about the group that they value.

  Identify with the group so they want to be a part of it.

  Publicly change behaviour and opinions even if they don't agree with everything the group stands for.
• Compliance

  Going along with others in public but not privately changing behaviours and opinions.

  Only results in a superficial change.

  Stops as soon as group pressure stops
• Types of conformity

  • identification
  • internalisation
  • compliance
• Explanations for conformity

  • informational social influence
  • normative social influence
• Informational social influence

  Agree with the opinion of the majority as you believe it is correct.

  Accept it as you want to be correct as well.

  Cognitive process

  Leads to internalisation and permanent change.
• Normative social influence

  Agree with the opinion of the majority because you want to be liked and gain social approval.

  Emotional process

  Leads to compliance
• Strength - research support NSI

  Asch's study

  Interviewed participants after the procedure.

  Some said they were self-conscious and afraid of disapproval

  When participants could write down their answer, conformity fell to 12.5%
• Strength - research support ISI

  Lucas et al

  Participants conformed more often when they were given difficult maths problems due to the situation being ambiguous.

  This is because they wanted to be correct
• Counterpoint for research support

  Unclear whether it is ISI or NSI

  Asch found conformity reduced when there was one other dissenting participant.

  Could reduce NSI as they provide social support but could also support ISI because they provide an alternative source of social information.
• Limitation - individual differences in NSI

  NSI doesn't predict conformity in every case.

  Some people are greatly concerned with being liked by others - nAffiliators and are more likely to conform.