Social Influence 16 Marker Plans
Outline and Evaluate research into conformity
A01 – changing due to real or imagined group pressure. 3 types of
conformity. Compliance – publicly adopting views of the majority yet
privately maintaining own views. Due to normative social influence… the
desire to fit in. Example would be listening to a certain type of music
with friends but only listening to the music you really like when at home
A01 – identification – publicly and privately accepting the views of the
majority but it moving as you change between different social groups.
Example would be listening to all different types of music depending on
the group you’re with at the time.
A01 – Internalisation – publicly and privately accepting the view of
majority and this change remains constant irrespective of which social
group you belong to. Usually concerns important views. Due to
informative social influence… the desire to be right
A03 – Asch original study demonstrated compliance and normative
social influence. Variation of the task demonstrated internalisation and
informational social influence. Tail – evidence for different types of
conformity therefore providing support
A03 – lab studies lack ecological validity, cannot generalise to real world.
IH – do it in a more general setting e.g., an office setting, however
expensive.
A03 – good research support but fail to acknowledge the role of fear. In
Nazi Germany soldiers conformed to their duties and roles not because
of NSI or ISI but because of fear
A03 – can culture not influence conformity? Individualistic – may be
more inclined to be independent and follow own goals. Collectivist –
may be more socialised to conform more easily as everything is for the
good of the group
A03 – Real world application – eyewitness testimony. Group norm
convergence shown in the jelly Jennes bean study can have implications
for EWT. Are reports given by witnesses what they remember or a result
of conversations with other witnesses and a group norm?
, Discuss explanations of conformity
A01 – Normative social influence. Conforming to fit in, to be
liked, to not stand out. Example, wearing certain clothes to fit
in and to feel welcomed.
A01 – Informational social influence. Conforming to be right.
Usually in uncertain situations. Examples, if you are unsure
conforming to the perceived social norm to not be wrong
A03 – Asch variation. Asch variation, task difficulty. When the
lines were closer together in length the levels of conformity
increased due to uncertainty and the participants not wanting
to be wrong.
A03 – low ecological validity, experiment was a lab experiment
and therefore cannot be generalised.
A03 – Social support. These explanations don’t counter for the
ideas of people who don’t conform due to social support. Some
people, despite the feelings of not wanting to stand out or be
wrong will not conform if they feel as though they are
supported.
A03 – Locus of control. Also doesn’t counter for people who
don’t conform due to different kinds of locus of control. These
can be internal or external. Internal believe that they are
responsible for their own actions compared to external
believing they are not responsible for their own actions.
A03 – Social norm interventions. These explanations of
conformity help change the views of society to show people the
actual norm compared to the perceived norm stopping
normative social influence and encouraging positive
informational social influence with the actual norms
highlighting issues that need resolving.
Outline and evaluate variables affecting conformity
2
Outline and Evaluate research into conformity
A01 – changing due to real or imagined group pressure. 3 types of
conformity. Compliance – publicly adopting views of the majority yet
privately maintaining own views. Due to normative social influence… the
desire to fit in. Example would be listening to a certain type of music
with friends but only listening to the music you really like when at home
A01 – identification – publicly and privately accepting the views of the
majority but it moving as you change between different social groups.
Example would be listening to all different types of music depending on
the group you’re with at the time.
A01 – Internalisation – publicly and privately accepting the view of
majority and this change remains constant irrespective of which social
group you belong to. Usually concerns important views. Due to
informative social influence… the desire to be right
A03 – Asch original study demonstrated compliance and normative
social influence. Variation of the task demonstrated internalisation and
informational social influence. Tail – evidence for different types of
conformity therefore providing support
A03 – lab studies lack ecological validity, cannot generalise to real world.
IH – do it in a more general setting e.g., an office setting, however
expensive.
A03 – good research support but fail to acknowledge the role of fear. In
Nazi Germany soldiers conformed to their duties and roles not because
of NSI or ISI but because of fear
A03 – can culture not influence conformity? Individualistic – may be
more inclined to be independent and follow own goals. Collectivist –
may be more socialised to conform more easily as everything is for the
good of the group
A03 – Real world application – eyewitness testimony. Group norm
convergence shown in the jelly Jennes bean study can have implications
for EWT. Are reports given by witnesses what they remember or a result
of conversations with other witnesses and a group norm?
, Discuss explanations of conformity
A01 – Normative social influence. Conforming to fit in, to be
liked, to not stand out. Example, wearing certain clothes to fit
in and to feel welcomed.
A01 – Informational social influence. Conforming to be right.
Usually in uncertain situations. Examples, if you are unsure
conforming to the perceived social norm to not be wrong
A03 – Asch variation. Asch variation, task difficulty. When the
lines were closer together in length the levels of conformity
increased due to uncertainty and the participants not wanting
to be wrong.
A03 – low ecological validity, experiment was a lab experiment
and therefore cannot be generalised.
A03 – Social support. These explanations don’t counter for the
ideas of people who don’t conform due to social support. Some
people, despite the feelings of not wanting to stand out or be
wrong will not conform if they feel as though they are
supported.
A03 – Locus of control. Also doesn’t counter for people who
don’t conform due to different kinds of locus of control. These
can be internal or external. Internal believe that they are
responsible for their own actions compared to external
believing they are not responsible for their own actions.
A03 – Social norm interventions. These explanations of
conformity help change the views of society to show people the
actual norm compared to the perceived norm stopping
normative social influence and encouraging positive
informational social influence with the actual norms
highlighting issues that need resolving.
Outline and evaluate variables affecting conformity
2
