SOCIAL INFLUENCE
PSYCHOLOGY PAPER 1
, Gender bias • is the theory based on research carried out on an unrepresentative sample?
• does the theory/approach attempts to explain phenomena in terms of basic
Reductionism elements?
• is the theory based on research carried out in one particular type of culture
Ethnocentrism (i.e. Individualistic culture) ?
• Does the theory/approach explain phenomena in terms of nature i.e.
Nature/Nurture genetics neglecting other factors i.e. social factors?
• Situate the theory in one approach (biological, behavioural, cognitive,
Approach psychodynamic)
• Does the theory/approach acknowledge a sense of individual free-will or
Determinism does it argue that our behaviour is determined by a particular set of
factors?
• Does the theory/approach propose/research issues which could be socially
Ethics controversial ? (i.e. correlation between race and IQ)
Scientific method • Is the theory based on evidence which is objective/ valid/ reliable?
, Compliance
weakest form
of conformity/
shallow
Identification: deeper
than compliance but
weaker than
internalisation
CONFORMITY: TYPES &
Internalisation
deepest form of
conformity
EXPLANATIONS
, Types of conformity
1. Internalisation
● Occurs when a person genuinely accepts the group norms
● Results in a private as well as a public change of opinions/behaviour
● This change is likely to be permanent because attitudes have been internalised [become
part of the way the person thinks]
● The change in opinions/behaviour persists even in the absence of other group members
2. Identification
● When we conform to the opinions/behaviours of a group because there’s something
about the group we value
● We identify with the group so we want to be part of it. This may mean we publicly change
our opinions/behaviour to achieve this goal, even if we don’t privately agree with
everything the group stands for
PSYCHOLOGY PAPER 1
, Gender bias • is the theory based on research carried out on an unrepresentative sample?
• does the theory/approach attempts to explain phenomena in terms of basic
Reductionism elements?
• is the theory based on research carried out in one particular type of culture
Ethnocentrism (i.e. Individualistic culture) ?
• Does the theory/approach explain phenomena in terms of nature i.e.
Nature/Nurture genetics neglecting other factors i.e. social factors?
• Situate the theory in one approach (biological, behavioural, cognitive,
Approach psychodynamic)
• Does the theory/approach acknowledge a sense of individual free-will or
Determinism does it argue that our behaviour is determined by a particular set of
factors?
• Does the theory/approach propose/research issues which could be socially
Ethics controversial ? (i.e. correlation between race and IQ)
Scientific method • Is the theory based on evidence which is objective/ valid/ reliable?
, Compliance
weakest form
of conformity/
shallow
Identification: deeper
than compliance but
weaker than
internalisation
CONFORMITY: TYPES &
Internalisation
deepest form of
conformity
EXPLANATIONS
, Types of conformity
1. Internalisation
● Occurs when a person genuinely accepts the group norms
● Results in a private as well as a public change of opinions/behaviour
● This change is likely to be permanent because attitudes have been internalised [become
part of the way the person thinks]
● The change in opinions/behaviour persists even in the absence of other group members
2. Identification
● When we conform to the opinions/behaviours of a group because there’s something
about the group we value
● We identify with the group so we want to be part of it. This may mean we publicly change
our opinions/behaviour to achieve this goal, even if we don’t privately agree with
everything the group stands for
