Conformity: types and explanations

• nAffiliators


  People who have a strong need for 'affiliation' (ie they want to relate to other people).
• Evaluation: Individual differences in NSI (limitation)

  NSI doesn't predict conformity in every case.

  Some people are greatly concerned with being linked by others, such people are called nAffilliators.

  Paul McGhee and Richard Teevan found that students who were nAffiliators were more likely to conform.

  Shows that NSI underlies conformity for some people more than it does for others, there are individual differences in conformity that can't be explained by one general theory of situational pressures.
• Evaluation: Research support for ISI (strength)

  There's research to support ISI.

  Lucas et al found that ppts confirmed more often to incorrect answers they were given when the maths problems were difficult.

  This is because when the problems were easy the ppts 'knew their own minds' but when the problems were hard the situation became ambiguous (clear).

  Ppts didn't want to be wrong, so they relied on the answers they were given.

  Shows that ISI is a valid explanation of conformity because the results are what ISI would predict.
• Evaluation: Research support for NSI (strength)

  There's evidence to support NSI as an explanation of conformity.

  When Asch interviewed his ppts, some said they confirmed because they felt self-conscious giving the correct answer and were afraid of disapproval.

  When ppts wrote their answers down, conformity fell to 12.5% - this is because giving answers privately meant there was no normative group pressure.

  Shows that at least some conformity is due to desire not to be rejected by the group for disagreeing with them (NSI).
• Informational social influence (ISI)

  Confirming because you believe that the group has more knowledge, the desire to be right.

  More likely to happen in an ambiguous or new situation because it's assumed that the group has superior knowledge.

  Most likely to be linked with internalisation, usually results in a long-term change and remains even if the group isn't present.

  Confirming for cognitive reasons.
• Normative social influence (NSI)

  Conforming due to a desire to be liked, people go along with the majority through fear of rejection.

  May publicly change their behaviour or views but privately disagree - most likely to be linked to compliance.

  Confirming for emotional reasons and leads to a temporary change.
• Internalisation

  A person genuinely accepts the groups norms - results in a public and private change of opinions/behaviour. Most permanent form of conformity as it usually lasts even if the group is no longer present. Most likely linked to ISI.
• Internalisation definition

  Where the behaviour or belief of the group is accepted by the individual and becomes part of his or her own belief system.
• Identification


  We identify with the group, so we want to be part of it. Publicly change out opinion/behaviour to be accepted by the group, even if we don't privately agree with everything the group stands for.
• Identification definition

  When we confirm to the opinions/behaviours of a group because there is something about the group that we value.
• Compliance


  Superficial and temporary, not a permanent form of social influence; it lasts only as long as the group is present. Likely to be linked to NSI.
• Compliance definition

  Where the individual changes their behaviour/opinions in public but not privately.
• Three types of conformity

  Compliance, identification, internalisation.