Types of Conformity and Explanations

Social influence and conformity are fundamental concepts in psychology, exploring how individuals adapt their behavior to match group norms. This page introduces the three main types of conformity and provides explanations for why people conform.

Definition: Conformity is the tendency to adjust one's behavior or beliefs to align with those of a group.

Types of Conformity:

1. Internalization: Occurs when a person genuinely accepts a group's norms, resulting in both private and public changes in behavior and opinions.

2. Identification: Involves conforming to a group's opinions or behavior because there is something in the group the individual values, leading to public changes in opinions even if privately disagreeing.

3. Compliance: Involves going along with others in public but privately not changing opinions or behavior.

Highlight: Understanding the different types of conformity is crucial for analyzing social behavior and group dynamics.

Explanations for Conformity:

Deutsch and Gerard developed the two-process theory, arguing that there are two main reasons people conform, based on fundamental human needs:

1. Normative Social Influence (NSI): Stems from the need to be liked and accepted by others. It is an emotional process used to gain social approval.

2. Informational Social Influence (ISI): Arises from the need to be right. People accept a majority answer because they believe others are more likely to have correct information.

Example: In a study by Lucas et al., students showed greater conformity to incorrect answers on difficult math problems, especially those who rated their math ability as poor. This demonstrates ISI, as students looked to others for guidance when unsure.

Vocabulary: NSI Psychology refers to the influence of social norms on behavior, while ISI Psychology relates to the influence of information from others on decision-making.

Evaluation of Zimbardo's Study

This page provides a critical evaluation of Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment, discussing its strengths, weaknesses, and ethical implications.

Strengths:

1. High ecological validity due to the realistic setting
2. Provided valuable insights into the power of social roles and situations
3. Influenced real-world policies and practices in prisons and other institutions

Weaknesses:

1. Lack of scientific rigor and control
2. Small sample size (24 participants) limits generalizability
3. Potential researcher bias, as Zimbardo was both lead researcher and prison superintendent

Highlight: The strengths and weaknesses of Zimbardo study are crucial for understanding its impact and limitations in psychology.

Ethical Concerns:

1. Participants experienced significant psychological distress
2. The study was terminated early due to the escalating abusive behavior
3. Long-term effects on participants were not adequately considered or monitored

Example: Some Stanford Prison Experiment participants reported lasting psychological effects, raising questions about the ethical boundaries of psychological research.

Impact and Legacy: Despite its controversies, the Stanford Prison Experiment has had a lasting impact on psychology and public understanding of social influence. It has:

• Sparked debates about research ethics
• Influenced prison reform efforts
• Contributed to our understanding of how social situations can shape behavior

Vocabulary: How long was the Stanford Prison Experiment? The study was originally planned for two weeks but was terminated after only 6 days due to ethical concerns.

The experiment's findings continue to be debated and reinterpreted, with some researchers questioning the validity of its conclusions. However, its impact on psychology and popular culture remains significant, serving as a cautionary tale about the power of social roles and the importance of ethical considerations in research.