Explanations of Conformity

• Define ‘Informational Social Influence’ (3 Marks)

  • Driven by the desire to be right
  • Individual is unsure / lacks knowledge about how to behave
  • Conform by seeking information from a group
  • Assume the group is right
  • Cognitive process
  • Leads to internalisation
• Define ‘Normative Social Influence’ (3 Marks)

  • Driven by desire to be liked
  • Go along with group behaviour to: avoid ridicule, gain acceptance and fit in
  • Emotional process
  • Leads to complience
• AO3- Research to support ISI

  1. conducted by Jenness
  2. Ppt asked to individually estimate number of jelly beans in a jar, then group estimate, then private individual guess
  3. Found 2nd private estimate was significantly closer to group estimate than original own
  4. Supports ISI because task of guessing was ambiguous and ppt were unsure so sought information from the group + changed public and privately to be right.
• AO3- evaluate Jenness’ research

  1. Lacks ecological validity, took place in an artificial environment (Lab)
  2. Difficult to generalise findings that individuals conform due to a desire to be right to real life ISI
  3. In real life, people are less likely to conform to a group because there are consequence. Unlike in an artificial lab setting.
  4. Reduces external validity.
• AO3- Research to support NSI

  1. Conducted by Asch
  2. Ppt asked to state which line ‘a, b or c’ was closest in length to stimulus line ‘ x ‘ whilst confederates answered first and gave incorrect answers
  3. Found ppt conformed and said same wrong answer as confederates 37% of the time
  4. Supports NSI because task was unambiguous, ppt later stated they knew the answers but conformed to avoid ridicule from the group
• DISCUSSION: Asch’s research

  Found when participants wrote down their answers, conformity dropped to 12.5%- because it was private there was no normative group pressure. So supports NSI.
• AO3- evaluate Asch’s research

  1. Criticised for Gender bias, only males were tested.
  2. Difficult to generalise findings to females
  3. Females are more conformist, more concerned about social relationships and being liked by peers (Neto.1995)
  4. Reduces external validity