types and explanations for conformity

• types of conformity


  compliance

  identification

  internalisation
• compliance 


  involves going along with others

  short term

  changing public opinion

  not changing private opinion

  e.g. Asch's line experiment
• identification


  agreeing with a group's ideas because we wish to identify with them

  short term

  changing public beliefs

  not changing private beliefs

  e.g. listening to a certain song in the presence of a group
• internalization 


  involves permanent change in attitude because the person truly agrees with something

  long term

  changes public belief

  changes private belief

  e.g. changing religion
• explanations for conformity


  informational social influence

  normative social influence
• informational social influence 


  when a person conforms because they want to be right

  mostly happens in situations where we do not know the answer

  normally leads to internalisation

  e.g. accepting answer the whole class give because you are unaware of the answer
• normative social influence 


  when a person conforms to fit in

  mainly happens due to peer pressure

  normally leads to compliance

  e.g. following the latest fashion trends in order to fit in
• research support for NSI

  P: strength - evidence for NSI from Asch

  E: When participants were interviewed, many conformed due to social approval

  E: when answers were written conformity decreased to 12.5%

  L: therefore some conformity is due to a desire of wanting to fit in
• research support for ISI

  P: strength - evidence for ISI

  E: researcher found conformity rates increased when maths problems became harder

  E: this is due to the situation becoming unclear and the participants wanted to be correct

  L: therefore this proves that some conformity is due to people wanting to be right
• counterpoint 


  P: limitation - hard to differentiate NSI and ISI

  E: Asch found conformity decreased when there was a dissenting participant present

  E: this could have led to a decrease in NSI (by providing social support) or a decrease in ISI (by providing an alternative source of information)

  L: therefore hard to determine whether conformity is due to ISI or NSI
• individual differences 


  P: limitation - NSI doesn't predict conformity all the time

  E: some people are greatly concerned with being liked by others - nAffiliators

  E: people who are nAffiliators were more likely to conform

  L: therefore individual differences may affect conformity