conformity: types and explanations

• types of conformity - internalisation

  a deep type of conformity where we take on the majority view because we accept that it is the right answer, it leads to a permanent change even when the group are absent
• types of conformity - identification

  a moderate type of conformity where we act in the same way as the group because we value it and we want to be part of it, but don't necessarily agree with the groups beliefs
• types of conformity - compliance

  a superficial and temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go along with the majority view, but privately disagrees with it, our change in behaviour is only when the group is monitoring us - agree in public but disagree in private
• explanations of conformity - ISI

  informational social influence is an explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we will believe it is correct, we accept it because we want to be right as well

  this may lead to internalisation
• explanations of conformity - NSI

  normative social influence is an explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we want to gain social approval and be liked

  this may lead to compliance
• types and explanations evaluation strengths

  research support for NSI - when Asch interviewed the participants after the experiment they said that they conformed because they were self conscious giving the correct answer and were afraid of disapproval

  when participants wrote answers down, conformity fell to 12.5%
• types and explanations evaluation limitations

  it is unclear whether it is ISI or NSI at work in the real world as in Asch's study we don't know if adding a dissenter offers social support or another source of knowledge for the participant