Exam Questions – Social Influence
Conformity: Types and Explanations
1. One type of conformity is internalisation. Explain what psychologists mean by the term internalisation. (2
marks)
Internalisation is the deepest level of conformity. Internalisation is when you change your private and public
beliefs, attitudes and behaviour. This is a result of informative social influence. It is usually a permanent
change. An example would be converting religions.
2. Explain what is meant by the term informational social influence in relation to conformity (2 marks)
Informational social influence is an explanation for conformity. ISI causes internalisation. This means when
you conform because you want to be right. This usually occurs in an ambiguous situation or when another
group or a person is regarded as an expert and you don’t have the knowledge about a situation. You look to
them and copy their behaviour to be right.
3. Outline normative social influence as an explanation for conformity (4 marks)
Normative social Influence is an explanation for conformity. It suggests that conformity occurs because we
want to gain social approval from the group or person. You want to fit into the group hence base your
decision on what the group or person is saying as norms regulate the behaviour of the group. This usually
happens in situations with strangers when you are concerned with rejection or with people we know to gain
social approval. NSI leads to compliance and it is only a temporary change.
4. Compliance is a type of conformity. What do psychologists mean by compliance? (2 marks)
Compliance is the lowest and weakest level of conformity. This is when we change our public attitudes,
behaviour and beliefs but not or private ones. You publicly agree with the group or person but privately
disagree. Compliance is a result of normative social influence and occurs because we want to gain social
approval rather than rejection. This is a temporary change. An example would be doing cigarettes with
friends even though you don’t want to.
5. In the context of conformity, explain what psychologists mean by the term identification. (2 marks)
Identification is a moderate level of conformity. This is when you change your public and private beliefs but
only in the presence of a group. It is a result of normative social influence. An example would be acting
professional in a workplace rather than being silly.
6. Internalisation, identification and compliance are all types of conformity. Outline one difference between
any two of these. (2 marks)
Internalisation is the deepest level of conformity. This is when you permanently change your private and
public beliefs, attitudes and behaviour and is a result of informative social influence. However, compliance is
the lowest level of conformity. Compliance is when you change your public beliefs but not your private ones
and is a result of normative social influence.
7. It is Anais's first day at Zombie High and she naturally wants to see how the other students behave so she
doesn't feel left out. Explain how Anais is likely to behave in terms of compliance. (2 marks)
Anais will change her public beliefs, attitudes and behaviour to gain social approval rather than rejection as
she is new and no one knows her. This is only a temporary change. Her public behaviour will change but not
her private beliefs
8. OIiver has smoked like a chimney for the past two years. But now he has a new girlfriend who says she
doesn't like kissing an ashtray. So Oliver has not only given up smoking, he is going round telling all his mates
to do the same. Explain which type of conformity Oliver is showing. (2 marks)
Oliver is showing the deepest level of conformity, internalisation. He is changing his changing his private and
public behaviour by not smoking. Him telling his friends shows how internalised his view on smoking is and is
a result of informative social influence.
, 9. Explain what is meant by the term normative social influence in relation to conformity. (2 marks)
Normative social influence is an explanation for why people conform. It is based on the need to be liked and
gain social approval from people rather than rejection. Normative social influence is most likely to occur
when you are with strangers or people you know and want to gain their social approval NSI leads to
compliance and is only a temporary change of behaviour.
10. Explain two differences between informational social influence and normative social influence. (2+2 marks)
One difference between ISI and NSI is that ISI is based on the need to be right whereas NSI is based on the
need to be liked. ISI is when someone conforms because they want to be right as they lack the knowledge or
expertise that someone else have. NSI is when someone conforms because they want to gain social approval
as they fear rejection.
Another difference is that ISI leads to internalisation whereas NSI leads to compliance.
11. Psychologists believe that there are different explanations for conformity. Read the following descriptions of
behaviour. Hyacinth has some dodgy friends who like to go robbing stuff every now and then. They have just
called round for her on the way to their next shopping trip. Although Hyacinth does not really think that
shoplifting is a good idea, she decides to go along with her friends anyway. Asgarth thinks that he does not
really like 'heavy metal' music. However, all his mates are long-haired metallers who are well into the genre.
After talking things over with them, and listening to some Motorhead and Cradle of Filth, Asgarth now thinks
that heavy metal is the best thing since sliced bread. Using your knowledge of social influence, explain why
Hyacinth conformed with her dodgy friends. (3 marks)
Hyacinth conformed with her dodgy friends because of normative social influence. He wanted to gain social
approval and to fit in within the group norms as he feared rejection. Therefore, he ends up agreeing with his
friends opinions in public despite not actually agreeing with it in private. This is identification as this
conformity only happens in the presence of the group.
12. Using your knowledge of social influence, explain why Asgarth now thinks that heavy metal is ace. (3 marks)
Asgarth now things that heavy metal is ace because she has changed her public and private beliefs in the
present of the group. This is known as identification. This is only a temporary change and has only occurred
as Asgarth wanted to gain social approval and fit in.
Conformity: Types and Explanations
1. One type of conformity is internalisation. Explain what psychologists mean by the term internalisation. (2
marks)
Internalisation is the deepest level of conformity. Internalisation is when you change your private and public
beliefs, attitudes and behaviour. This is a result of informative social influence. It is usually a permanent
change. An example would be converting religions.
2. Explain what is meant by the term informational social influence in relation to conformity (2 marks)
Informational social influence is an explanation for conformity. ISI causes internalisation. This means when
you conform because you want to be right. This usually occurs in an ambiguous situation or when another
group or a person is regarded as an expert and you don’t have the knowledge about a situation. You look to
them and copy their behaviour to be right.
3. Outline normative social influence as an explanation for conformity (4 marks)
Normative social Influence is an explanation for conformity. It suggests that conformity occurs because we
want to gain social approval from the group or person. You want to fit into the group hence base your
decision on what the group or person is saying as norms regulate the behaviour of the group. This usually
happens in situations with strangers when you are concerned with rejection or with people we know to gain
social approval. NSI leads to compliance and it is only a temporary change.
4. Compliance is a type of conformity. What do psychologists mean by compliance? (2 marks)
Compliance is the lowest and weakest level of conformity. This is when we change our public attitudes,
behaviour and beliefs but not or private ones. You publicly agree with the group or person but privately
disagree. Compliance is a result of normative social influence and occurs because we want to gain social
approval rather than rejection. This is a temporary change. An example would be doing cigarettes with
friends even though you don’t want to.
5. In the context of conformity, explain what psychologists mean by the term identification. (2 marks)
Identification is a moderate level of conformity. This is when you change your public and private beliefs but
only in the presence of a group. It is a result of normative social influence. An example would be acting
professional in a workplace rather than being silly.
6. Internalisation, identification and compliance are all types of conformity. Outline one difference between
any two of these. (2 marks)
Internalisation is the deepest level of conformity. This is when you permanently change your private and
public beliefs, attitudes and behaviour and is a result of informative social influence. However, compliance is
the lowest level of conformity. Compliance is when you change your public beliefs but not your private ones
and is a result of normative social influence.
7. It is Anais's first day at Zombie High and she naturally wants to see how the other students behave so she
doesn't feel left out. Explain how Anais is likely to behave in terms of compliance. (2 marks)
Anais will change her public beliefs, attitudes and behaviour to gain social approval rather than rejection as
she is new and no one knows her. This is only a temporary change. Her public behaviour will change but not
her private beliefs
8. OIiver has smoked like a chimney for the past two years. But now he has a new girlfriend who says she
doesn't like kissing an ashtray. So Oliver has not only given up smoking, he is going round telling all his mates
to do the same. Explain which type of conformity Oliver is showing. (2 marks)
Oliver is showing the deepest level of conformity, internalisation. He is changing his changing his private and
public behaviour by not smoking. Him telling his friends shows how internalised his view on smoking is and is
a result of informative social influence.
, 9. Explain what is meant by the term normative social influence in relation to conformity. (2 marks)
Normative social influence is an explanation for why people conform. It is based on the need to be liked and
gain social approval from people rather than rejection. Normative social influence is most likely to occur
when you are with strangers or people you know and want to gain their social approval NSI leads to
compliance and is only a temporary change of behaviour.
10. Explain two differences between informational social influence and normative social influence. (2+2 marks)
One difference between ISI and NSI is that ISI is based on the need to be right whereas NSI is based on the
need to be liked. ISI is when someone conforms because they want to be right as they lack the knowledge or
expertise that someone else have. NSI is when someone conforms because they want to gain social approval
as they fear rejection.
Another difference is that ISI leads to internalisation whereas NSI leads to compliance.
11. Psychologists believe that there are different explanations for conformity. Read the following descriptions of
behaviour. Hyacinth has some dodgy friends who like to go robbing stuff every now and then. They have just
called round for her on the way to their next shopping trip. Although Hyacinth does not really think that
shoplifting is a good idea, she decides to go along with her friends anyway. Asgarth thinks that he does not
really like 'heavy metal' music. However, all his mates are long-haired metallers who are well into the genre.
After talking things over with them, and listening to some Motorhead and Cradle of Filth, Asgarth now thinks
that heavy metal is the best thing since sliced bread. Using your knowledge of social influence, explain why
Hyacinth conformed with her dodgy friends. (3 marks)
Hyacinth conformed with her dodgy friends because of normative social influence. He wanted to gain social
approval and to fit in within the group norms as he feared rejection. Therefore, he ends up agreeing with his
friends opinions in public despite not actually agreeing with it in private. This is identification as this
conformity only happens in the presence of the group.
12. Using your knowledge of social influence, explain why Asgarth now thinks that heavy metal is ace. (3 marks)
Asgarth now things that heavy metal is ace because she has changed her public and private beliefs in the
present of the group. This is known as identification. This is only a temporary change and has only occurred
as Asgarth wanted to gain social approval and fit in.
