Psychology AS: Social Influence Revision

Types Of Conformity

Introduction

-Social Influence: occurs when someone's emotions, opinions or behaviours are affected by others.

-Conformity: A type of social influence where an individual changes their belief and behaviour in order to fit in with a group. This change is in response to real or imagined group behaviour.

Types of Conformity:

-Compliance: A temporary form of conformity where an individual agrees with the group opinion in public but secretly disagrees with the group opinion in private. This usually due to normative social influence*.

-Internalisation: A more permanent form of conformity where an individual agrees with the group opinion in public and in private. This involves a real change of opinion. This is usually due to informational social influence*.

*More information on these terms in 'Explainations of Conformity'.