Explanations for conformity

• What are the two explanations ?

  1. Normative social influence
  2. informational social influence
• What is normative social influence ?

  • need to be liked, accepted + gain social approval
• What does normative social influence lead to ?


  Compliance ( perform something publicly even though you disagree)
• What type of characteristic is NSI?

  Emotional - feelings as don’t want to be rejected
• What is informational social influence ?

  • Conform as you want to be right
  • believe the majority is correct
• What does ISI lead to ?


  Internalisation (permanently change your view point )
• What characteristic is ISI?

  cognitive- process wha you think
• When is ISI most likely to occur ?

  • in new situations
  • ambiguous situations
  • crisis
• Evaluation ?

  1. Linebeck & Perkins
  2. Lucas et al
  3. Lab studies/self report
• What did Linebeck and Perkins find ?

  • if young people told their peers don’t smoke they were less likely to smoke
  • practical application
• What did Lucas et al find ?

  • people would conform more when math questions were harder
  • especially those who are less intelligent
• What is wrong with lab studies and self report ?

  • low ecological validity
  • lie about why they conform