AQA A level Psychology - Social influence Exam Questions & Answers Rated A+

Conformity - ANSWER -A change in a person's behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people Types of conformity - internalisation - ANSWER -Kelman (1958) Genuinely accepts group norms public + private change of opinions/behaviour Permanent/persist in absence of group members Attitudes have become part of how individual thinks (internalised) Types of conformity - identification - ANSWER -Identify with group we value, want to become part of it Publicly change opinions/behaviour even if privately don't agree with everything Types of conformity - compliance - ANSWER -'Going along with others' publicly No change in private opinion Superficial change - opinions/behaviour stops when group pressure ceases Explanations for conformity - 1: two process theory - ANSWER -Deutsch & Gerald (1955) Two main reasons for conformity 2 central human needs: right to be right (ISI) / liked (NSI) Explanations for conformity - 2: informative social influence (ISI) - ANSWER -Uncertain about what behaviours/beliefs are right or wrong E.g. do not know answer to question in class, most other students agree, go along (feel they are probably right) Cognitive process: desire to be right More likely in new/ambiguous situations (not clear what is right) Decisions need to be made quickly/group regarded as experts Explanations for conformity - 3: normative social influence (NSI) - ANSWER -What is 'normal' - typical behaviour for social group Regulate behaviour of groups/individuals Emotional process: don't want to look foolish, prefer social approval over rejection Strangers:don't know norms, look to others for how to behave, concerned about rejection Friends: concerned about their social approval More pronounced in stressful situations (greater need for social support) Explanations for conformity - ISI (research support) - ANSWER -Lucas et al: students give answer to easy/difficult maths questions More conformity to incorrect answers with difficult problems Most true for those who rated maths ability as poor People conform when they do not know the answer, predicted by ISI Look to other people: assume they must be better than us/are right