Types and explanations of conformity

    Subdecks (1)

    Cards (14)

    • Compliance
      Going along with the group in order to gain approval or avoid disapproval - Does not result in any change in the person's underlying attitudes—only the views they express in public - Temporary change
    • Internalisation
      Occurs when an individual accepts influence because of an acceptance of their views - Engage in a validation process—examining their own beliefs - Acceptance of the group's point of view is both public and private
    • Identification
      An individual adopts an attitude or behaviour because they want to be associated with a particular person or group - Has elements of both compliance and internalisation public and private - Permanent change
    • Normative social influence

      An individual conforms with the expectations of the majority in order to gain approval or avoid disapproval (emotional process) - Go only with the majority without really accepting their point of view—public only - Individual must believe they are under surveillance by the group - Based on the idea that humans have a fundamental need for social companionship and a fear of rejection
    • Normative social influence

      • Key study – Asch (1956) – followed majority to gain approval
    • Informational social influence

      Occurs when an individual accepts information from others as evidence about reality (cognitive process) - The result of a desire to be right - More likely if the right course of action is unclear, or if others are experts - Change their public and private attitudes
    • Informational social influence
      • Key study – Fein et al (2007)