Conformity
Conformity - Behaving based on a majority group
Types of Conformity
- Internalisation
The group's ideologies can convince an individual to change their internal beliefs and public beliefs
E.g. Radicalism, Cult, SS Nazi Commanders
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- Identification
A person conforms with a group based on the opinions/values of the group that the individual can identify with. Public behaviours are changed but not all internals beliefs as may not agree with group norms.
E.g. Extremism, Female Fitness Craze
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- Compliance
An individual may change their public behaviours to go along with the majority. This doesn't affect their internal beliefs.
E.g. German Population, Misbehaving Class, Football Hooliganism
Explanations of Conformity
- Normative Conformity
This is where you conform as you need to be liked. You are concerned with the norms and typical behaviour of the majority and being accepted with a group. You would like to gain social approval than appear foolish and be rejected. This conformity is likely to occur when you are will familiar people and in stressful situations. This is an emotional process as you want to be liked.
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- Informational Conformity
This is where you conform as you need to be liked. You are concerned with going along with the majority because they want to appear right. This conformity is likely to occur when you are in an ambiguous situation and if someone is regarded as an expert. This is a cognitive process as its based on what an individual thinks
Explanations of Conformity
Normative social influence
•Humans have the need to be liked. An individual is concerned with the norms and typical behaviours of the majority. An individual would rather gain social approval than appear foolish and be rejected.
•NSI is likely to happen in with familiar people as there is increased concern about gaining the approval of friends or in a stressful situation as people have a greater need for social support when stressed.
•This is an emotional process as it is based on wanting to be liked and accepted by others.
Informational social influence
•Humans have the need to be right. An individual would go along with the majority because they want to appear right.
•ISI is most likely to happen in an ambiguous situation when it is unclear to the individual what is right or if someone in the group is regarded as an expert.
•ISI is a cognitive process as it is based on what an individual thinks.