Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Conformity - Types and Explanations - Coggle Diagram
Conformity - Types and Explanations
Conformity : A change in a persons behavior or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people
Elliot Aronson 2011
Internalisation : A deep type of conformity where we take on the majority view because we accept it as correct . Leads to a far reaching and permanent change in behaviour , even when the group is absent . For example faith conversion
Identification : A moderate type of conformity where we act in the same way with the group because we value it and want to be part of it . We don't necessarily agree with everything the majority believes For example in the army you may adopt the behaviour and beliefs of other soldiers but when you leave these may change
Compliance : A superficial and temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go along with the majority view but privately disagree with it . The change in our behavior only lasts as long as the group is monitoring us . For example pretending to support a football team because other your age do
Informational social influence (ISI) : An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we believe it is correct . We accept int because we want to be correct aswell .
This may lead to internalisation
Most likely to happen in situations that are new to a person , where there is ambiguity , crisis situations where decisions must be made quickly or when one person or group is deemed an expert
A cognitive process as it is to do with what you think
For example watching others to see what cutlery they use
For example Jenness ( 1932 ) gave participants a task with no clear answer - guessing the amount of jelly beans in a jar . He found that individual estimates moved towards those of others , showing that they generally believed these estimates
Normative social influence (NSI): An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we want to be accepted , gain social approval and be liked .
This may lead to compliance
It is emotional rather than a cognitive process
Most likely to occur in situations with strangers where you may be concerned about rejection , with people you know because we are most concerned about the social approval of our friends or in a stressful situation where you feel the need for social support
For example fashion
Herbert Kelman (1958) suggested the three ways in which people conform
Morton Deutsch and Harold Gerard ( 1955 ) developed the two process theory , ISI and NSI
Lucas (2006) asked students to give answers to maths problems that were easy or hard - there was greater conformity when the problems were harder and this was most true for students who rated their mathematical ability as poor
Research support for ISI
People who are less concerned about being liked are less affected by NSI
Those who have a need for association with others are called Affiliators ( more likely to conform )
ISI and NSI often work together so there is doubt over the view of of ISI and NSI as two processes operating independently
