,1
SOCIAL
INFLUENCE
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
Types of conformity: internalisation, identification and compliance.
Explanations for conformity: informational social influence and
normative social influence, and variables affecting conformity including
group size, unanimity and task difficulty as investigated by Asch.
Conformity to social roles as investigated by Zimbardo.
Explanations for obedience: agentic state and legitimacy of authority,
and situational variables affecting obedience including proximity and
location, as investigated by Milgram, and uniform. Dispositional
explanation for obedience: the Authoritarian Personality.
Explanations of resistance to social influence, including social support
and locus of control.
Minority influence including reference to consistency, commitment and
flexibility.
The role of social influence processes in social change.
, SOCIAL INFLUENCE
1.1. TYPES OF CONFORMITY: INTERNALISATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND
COMPLIANCE.
Conformity exists on a spectrum. According to the specification, there are three
types you need to be aware of: internalisation, identification and compliance. You
need to know what these mean; so how to define them, how to explain them, and
relating them to a stem question.
Internalisation is where the behaviour or belief of the majority is accepted by the
individual and becomes part of his or her own belief system. It is the most
permanent form of conformity as it usually lasts even if the majority is no longer
present.
Identification is where an individual conforms to the opinions of the group as there
is a characteristic of the group that they value, they conform both publicly and
privately, but only in the context of the group. This type of conformity only lasts in
the presence of the group, as the aim is to be accepted by them.
Compliance is where the individual changes his or her own behaviour to fit in with
the group. They may not necessarily agree with the behaviour / belief but they go
along with it publicly. It is not a permanent form of social influence; it lasts only as
long as the group is present.
Type of Conformity Change In Context
Internalisation Public AND Private All
Identification Public AND Private Group Context
Compliance Public Group Context
, Practice Questions
● Explain what is meant by internalisation (3 marks)
● Explain what is meant by compliance (3 marks)
● Explain what is meant by identification (3 marks)
SOCIAL
INFLUENCE
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
Types of conformity: internalisation, identification and compliance.
Explanations for conformity: informational social influence and
normative social influence, and variables affecting conformity including
group size, unanimity and task difficulty as investigated by Asch.
Conformity to social roles as investigated by Zimbardo.
Explanations for obedience: agentic state and legitimacy of authority,
and situational variables affecting obedience including proximity and
location, as investigated by Milgram, and uniform. Dispositional
explanation for obedience: the Authoritarian Personality.
Explanations of resistance to social influence, including social support
and locus of control.
Minority influence including reference to consistency, commitment and
flexibility.
The role of social influence processes in social change.
, SOCIAL INFLUENCE
1.1. TYPES OF CONFORMITY: INTERNALISATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND
COMPLIANCE.
Conformity exists on a spectrum. According to the specification, there are three
types you need to be aware of: internalisation, identification and compliance. You
need to know what these mean; so how to define them, how to explain them, and
relating them to a stem question.
Internalisation is where the behaviour or belief of the majority is accepted by the
individual and becomes part of his or her own belief system. It is the most
permanent form of conformity as it usually lasts even if the majority is no longer
present.
Identification is where an individual conforms to the opinions of the group as there
is a characteristic of the group that they value, they conform both publicly and
privately, but only in the context of the group. This type of conformity only lasts in
the presence of the group, as the aim is to be accepted by them.
Compliance is where the individual changes his or her own behaviour to fit in with
the group. They may not necessarily agree with the behaviour / belief but they go
along with it publicly. It is not a permanent form of social influence; it lasts only as
long as the group is present.
Type of Conformity Change In Context
Internalisation Public AND Private All
Identification Public AND Private Group Context
Compliance Public Group Context
, Practice Questions
● Explain what is meant by internalisation (3 marks)
● Explain what is meant by compliance (3 marks)
● Explain what is meant by identification (3 marks)
