AQA PSYCHOLOGY : SOCIAL INFLUENCE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE
What is conformity?
Myres(1999) : A change in a person's behaviour or belief as a result of real or imagined pressure from a
person or group of people.-also known as MAJORITY INFLUENCE
What is social influence?
The scientific study of the ways in which people's thoughts, feelings and behaviours are affected by other
people.
What are the three ways in which people conform ?
Kelman(1958): said there are 3 ways in which people conform to the opinion of MAJORITY. COMPLIANCE,
IDENTIFICATION AND INTERNALISATION
What is compliance?
.Temporary/shallow form
.Superficial change in behavior
.Person conforms PUBLICLY but not PRIVATELY to be accepted by the group and avoid SOCIAL REJECTION
.Influence of the majority is short-lived and underlying attitudes don't change
.Change in behavior only lasts as long as the group isn't monitoring us
,.As a result of NSI
EXAMPLE: Pupil who has been asked to straighten their tie and later loosens it when the teacher is not
present
What is identification?
.Moderate form
.Act the same way as the group because we share their values and beliefs and want to be accepted.
.PUBLIC ATTITUDE=PRIVATE ATTITUDE
.Revert to old ways when the group is not present
AFFILIATION
.Stronger than compliance as private attitudes change
EXAMPLE: Someone who is filling in the role of a police officer during work hours but outside of work is
just a regular citizen with no role to fill
What is internalisation?
.DEEP type of conformity
.Take on the majority view because we accept it as correct.
Leads to a far-reaching and permanent change in behavior, even when the group is absent.
.Conform PUBLICLY and PRIVATELY as the view is INTERNALISED and ACCEPTED as correct
.Individuals engage in VALIDATION PROCESS=>evaluate their own beliefs and see if they are right
.Permanent change in behavior as it becomes part of how they think
.Result of ISI
EXAMPLE: A person changes their political ideology from Conservative to Liberal as they believe voting
Liberal is right for them
Describe why people conform(Possible EQ)?
, Deutsch and Gerard(1955) developed a two process theory arguing two reasons as to why people
conform...
=>Human need to be LIKED(NSI)
=>Human need to be RIGHT(ISI)
What is informational social influence(ISI)?
.Explanation of conformity that says we AGREE WITH OPINION OF MAJORITY AS WE BELIEVE IT IS
CORRECT AND ACCEPT IT AS WE WANT IT TO BE CORRECT=>leads to a permanent change in behavior
(Internalisation). Usually happens in situations where we are unsure.
.Cognitive Process as it to with what you think
.Most likely to happen in situations that are new to a person as they do not know what is right,
AMBIGUITY(unclear)
Also in crisis as assumed majority is RIGHT
What is normative social influence(NSI)?
.Explanation of conformity which says we follow the majority as we prefer to GAIN SOCIAL APPROVAL
rather than be REJECTED=>leads to temporary change in behaviour(Compliance)
.Emotional Process(about norms) which regulate behaviors of groups and individuals
,.Most likely to happen in situation WITH STRANGERS(fear rejection) or stressful situations as people
have greater need for SOCIAL SUPPORT
.
AO3:What are the strengths and limitations of research support for NSI?
Conformity=>majority influence
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE
What is conformity?
Myres(1999) : A change in a person's behaviour or belief as a result of real or imagined pressure from a
person or group of people.-also known as MAJORITY INFLUENCE
What is social influence?
The scientific study of the ways in which people's thoughts, feelings and behaviours are affected by other
people.
What are the three ways in which people conform ?
Kelman(1958): said there are 3 ways in which people conform to the opinion of MAJORITY. COMPLIANCE,
IDENTIFICATION AND INTERNALISATION
What is compliance?
.Temporary/shallow form
.Superficial change in behavior
.Person conforms PUBLICLY but not PRIVATELY to be accepted by the group and avoid SOCIAL REJECTION
.Influence of the majority is short-lived and underlying attitudes don't change
.Change in behavior only lasts as long as the group isn't monitoring us
,.As a result of NSI
EXAMPLE: Pupil who has been asked to straighten their tie and later loosens it when the teacher is not
present
What is identification?
.Moderate form
.Act the same way as the group because we share their values and beliefs and want to be accepted.
.PUBLIC ATTITUDE=PRIVATE ATTITUDE
.Revert to old ways when the group is not present
AFFILIATION
.Stronger than compliance as private attitudes change
EXAMPLE: Someone who is filling in the role of a police officer during work hours but outside of work is
just a regular citizen with no role to fill
What is internalisation?
.DEEP type of conformity
.Take on the majority view because we accept it as correct.
Leads to a far-reaching and permanent change in behavior, even when the group is absent.
.Conform PUBLICLY and PRIVATELY as the view is INTERNALISED and ACCEPTED as correct
.Individuals engage in VALIDATION PROCESS=>evaluate their own beliefs and see if they are right
.Permanent change in behavior as it becomes part of how they think
.Result of ISI
EXAMPLE: A person changes their political ideology from Conservative to Liberal as they believe voting
Liberal is right for them
Describe why people conform(Possible EQ)?
, Deutsch and Gerard(1955) developed a two process theory arguing two reasons as to why people
conform...
=>Human need to be LIKED(NSI)
=>Human need to be RIGHT(ISI)
What is informational social influence(ISI)?
.Explanation of conformity that says we AGREE WITH OPINION OF MAJORITY AS WE BELIEVE IT IS
CORRECT AND ACCEPT IT AS WE WANT IT TO BE CORRECT=>leads to a permanent change in behavior
(Internalisation). Usually happens in situations where we are unsure.
.Cognitive Process as it to with what you think
.Most likely to happen in situations that are new to a person as they do not know what is right,
AMBIGUITY(unclear)
Also in crisis as assumed majority is RIGHT
What is normative social influence(NSI)?
.Explanation of conformity which says we follow the majority as we prefer to GAIN SOCIAL APPROVAL
rather than be REJECTED=>leads to temporary change in behaviour(Compliance)
.Emotional Process(about norms) which regulate behaviors of groups and individuals
,.Most likely to happen in situation WITH STRANGERS(fear rejection) or stressful situations as people
have greater need for SOCIAL SUPPORT
.
AO3:What are the strengths and limitations of research support for NSI?
Conformity=>majority influence
