The Nature of Conformity in Social Psychology

This page delves deeper into the concept of conformity in social psychology. It emphasizes the importance of studying how other people affect behavior, particularly within social groups.

Definition: Group norms are the established rules, either implicit or explicit, that determine how a group functions and how its members should behave in various situations.

The page highlights the significance of peer groups as a crucial source of information when examining social influence. It explains that group norms have the power to shape individual behavior within the group context.

Highlight: Understanding group dynamics and norms is essential for comprehending the mechanisms of conformity and obedience in social psychology.

Compliance as a Type of Conformity

This page focuses on compliance, one of the three main types of conformity in psychology.

Definition: Compliance is pretending to agree with a group and acting the way they do, even while privately disagreeing with their views.

The page explains that individuals may conform to the majority opinion or behavior in public while maintaining their own different opinions or behaviors in private. This type of conformity is often motivated by a desire to avoid criticism from group members.

Example: An individual drinking alcohol or smoking with a group of friends, even though they don't really like it, but not engaging in these behaviors when alone.

Highlight: In compliance, there is a change in behavior but not in underlying beliefs, making it a form of normative social influence.

Identification as a Type of Conformity

This page examines identification, the second type of conformity in social psychology.

Definition: Identification occurs when an individual comes to agree with a group and begins to behave like them, even when not in their presence.

The page explains that in identification, a person may adopt the group's opinions and values as their own because they want to be like the group or feel part of it. However, these adopted opinions and values are not strongly held and may change when the person leaves the group.

Example: Starting to support a different football team because a new group of friends supports them, attending matches, and watching games on TV at home, but then stopping support after moving to a new school.

Highlight: Identification is similar to compliance in that there is a change in behavior but no permanent change in beliefs, distinguishing it from internalization.

Internalization as a Type of Conformity

This page discusses internalization, the third and most profound type of conformity in social psychology.

Definition: Internalization is where an individual goes along with group pressure because they privately accept the majority view and act in accordance with it, resulting in a permanent and deeply rooted response to social influence.

The page emphasizes that internalization involves both public and private agreement with the beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors of the group. This type of conformity represents the most significant and lasting change in an individual's behavior and beliefs.

Example: A person becoming permanently vegetarian after friends explain the reasons for vegetarianism, agreeing with their reasoning and adopting the lifestyle.

Highlight: Internalization results in both a change in behavior and a permanent change in beliefs, distinguishing it from compliance and identification.

Normative Influence in Social Psychology

This page explores normative influence, one of the key types of social influence in psychology.

Definition: Normative influence refers to the influence that others have to lead an individual to conform because they want to be liked and accepted as part of the group.

The page explains that normative influence is based on an individual's need for social acceptance and approval. Even when a person may be sure of their facts, they might go along with the group to be liked and accepted.

Highlight: Compliance is often a result of normative social influence.

Example: A student bringing a packed lunch to school instead of buying food from the cafeteria because their friends have started doing so, even though they prefer the cafeteria food.

This example illustrates how normative influence can lead to changes in behavior driven by the desire to fit in with a social group.

Informational Influence in Social Psychology

This page discusses informational influence, another important type of social influence in psychology.

Definition: Informational influence refers to the influence to change which comes from other people whose views are considered reliable, based on an individual adopting the behavior of the majority when uncertain about what to do in a particular situation.

The page explains that informational influence occurs when people look to others for guidance in ambiguous or unfamiliar situations. In these cases, the majority exerts informational influence over individuals.

Example: Copying others' actions when arriving at an unfamiliar airport in a foreign country, unsure of what to do.

Highlight: The result of informational influence can be either identification or internalization, depending on the specific situation.

This type of influence is particularly relevant in novel or complex situations where individuals lack confidence in their own judgment.

Factors Affecting Conformity in Psychology

This page introduces the various factors that can influence an individual's willingness to conform in social situations. It categorizes these factors into two main types: situational factors and individual factors.

Highlight: Understanding the factors affecting conformity is crucial for comprehending human behavior in group settings and social interactions.

The page sets the stage for a more detailed exploration of how different elements can impact conformity levels. This knowledge is essential for researchers, psychologists, and anyone interested in social dynamics and group behavior.

Example: Situational factors might include group size or unanimity, while individual factors could involve personality traits or cultural background.

This introduction to conformity factors provides a foundation for deeper analysis of how and why people conform in various social contexts.

Types of Conformity and Social Influence in Psychology

This page introduces the main types of conformity and factors affecting conformity and obedience in psychology. It outlines three primary types of conformity: compliance, identification, and internalization. The page also mentions factors influencing conformity, including normative and informational influence, as well as individual, situational, and cultural factors.

Definition: Conformity is the social pressure to change behavior or beliefs to align with others in a group.

The page references key research studies, including work by Mori and Arai (2010) on conformity factors, and Milgram's (1963) famous obedience experiments.

Highlight: Factors affecting obedience include perceived legitimate authority, socialization, authoritarian parenting, and situational factors.