Conformity

Question 1

Define conformity.

Answer 1

Altering one’s attitudes and behaviours to go along with the rest of the social group. The influence of authority is indirect, and those who do not conform may feel ignored and marginalised.

Question 2

What are the three main types of conformity?

Answer 2

Compliance, identification and internalisation.

Question 3

Define the type of conformity: compliance.

Answer 3

An individual changes their public behaviour, but not their private beliefs. This is usually a short-term change.

Question 4

Define the type of conformity: identification.

Answer 4

An individual changes their public behaviour, taking on the views of individuals or groups that they admire. Their public behaviour and private beliefs are changed, but only while they are in the presence of the group, resulting in a short-term change.

Question 5

Define the type of conformity: internalisation.

Answer 5

An individual changes their public behaviour to match the group, as others have convinced them that their beliefs are right, and so the behaviour adjusts accordingly. Public behaviour and private beliefs are changed on a long-term basis.

Question 6

What are the two reasons for why people choose to conform?

Answer 6

Normative social influence and informational social influence.

Question 7

Define normative social influence.

Answer 7

When a person conforms to be accepted or to belong in a group due to it being socially rewarding or to avoid social punishment. This is associated with compliance and identification, which are short-term and usually the result of the desire to fit in when in the presence of the group.

Question 8

Define informational social influence.

Answer 8

When a person conforms to gain knowledge, or due to how they believe that someone else is right. This is associated with internalisation, which is long-term and the result of adopting a new belief system as they geniunely believe that their new beliefs are ‘right’. It can also occur in ambiguous or unfamiliar situations.

Question 9

What are the individual differences that can affect conformity?

Answer 9

Degree of familiarity in a group, personality traits and cultural factors.

Question 10

In terms of individual differences affecting conformity, how does an individual’s position in a group play a role?

Answer 10

Individuals who have a low status within a group or are unfamiliar with a particular situation are the ones most likely to conform.

Question 11

In terms of individual differences affecting conformity, how do personality traits play a role?

Answer 11

The concern with being liked or the desire to be right.

Question 12

In terms of individual differences affecting conformity, how do cultural factors play a role?

Answer 12

Certain cultures and more likely to value group harmony over individual expression, or vice versa.

Question 13

State and summarise the factors that can influence the level of conformity.

Answer 13

• Size of the group (conformity tends to increase as the size of the group increases)
• Lack of group unanimity (conformity decreases if people give different answers in thr group)
• Difficulty of task (more difficiult tasks leads to an increase occurance of conformity)
• Answer in private (conformity decreases when there is less group pressure - less suseptible to normative social influence in the absence of a social group)
• Anonymity (conformity decreases when there is less group pressure - less suseptible to normative social influence)
• Status of the majority group (people conform more readily to individuals of a high status)

Question 14

Define cognitive dissonance.

Answer 14

An unpleasant feeling of anxiety created by simultaneously holding two contradictory ideas.