What is Conformity in IB Psychology?

Conformity is a key topic in IB Psychology covering core concepts, theories, and research relevant to the IB Psychology syllabus, examined in Paper 1 and Paper 2.

How is Conformity assessed in IB Psychology?

Conformity is assessed in Paper 1 Section A and B and may appear in Paper 2. Understanding the mark scheme is essential for scoring full marks.

How do I write a high-scoring answer on Conformity?

A high-scoring answer requires a clear command term response, relevant theory with supporting evidence, critical evaluation, and a conclusion.

IB Psychology Conformity Notes

Study Notes

Mark Scheme

SECTION A MARK SCHEME (4 marks) Must Include: • Conformity: change in behaviour/belief toward group norm • Normative influence: desire to fit in/be liked • Informational influence: desire to be correct • Named study (Asch Paradigm) • Task: line length judgment with confederates • Participants conformed despite obviously incorrect group • Distinguish which influence type operated

Link Formula: "Participants conformed to [group norm] despite [contradicting information], demonstrating [normative/informational] influence on behaviour."

Watch Out: Don't treat conformity as a single phenomenon—always distinguish normative (fit in) from informational (be correct) influence.

SECTION B MARK SCHEME (6 marks) 0 marks: No relevant knowledge. 1–2 marks: Basic definition; minimal application. 3–4 marks: Normative/informational influence described; partial application. 5–6 marks: Normative and informational influence both defined; Asch Paradigm accurately described; "(normative conformity)" explicitly labelled within the example — this is precise and examiner-friendly; "override individual perception" is a strong explicit link; explicit application to scenario.

Why Full Marks

Normative and informational influence both defined; Asch Paradigm accurately described; "(normative conformity)" explicitly labelled within the example — this is precise and examiner-friendly; "override individual perception" is a strong explicit link.

Model Answer

High-Scoring Sample

Section A Sample Answer

Conformity is a change in behavior or belief toward a group norm due to group pressure. This is driven by normative influence (the desire to fit in) or informational influence (the desire to be correct). The pressure of a unanimous majority can override an individual's own sensory perceptions or private judgments.

This was demonstrated in the Asch Paradigm, where participants were asked to match line lengths. Despite the correct answer being obvious, many participants conformed to the incorrect answers given by confederates to avoid social rejection (normative conformity). This demonstrates how group pressure can override individual perception, illustrating the significant power of social influence on human behavior.

Section B Sample Answer

Conformity is a change in behavior due to group pressure, fueled by normative (to fit in) or informational social influence (to be right). Types of conformity include compliance, identification, and internalisation. Students may use whiteboards simply to fit in (compliance), even if it isn't cognitively optimal for them. This demonstrates conformity because the collective adoption of "innovative" behaviors is driven by social pressure; consequently, students adopting whiteboard use without genuine internalisation may experience increased cognitive load, paradoxically reducing performance.