Types of Conformity

• Conformity is a phenomenon which involves someone changing, adapting or taking on new behaviours in order to fit in with the group.
• Compliance is a type of conformity which involves:

  • Agreeing with or behaving like the group publicly but disagreeing having different opinions to the group privately
  • Compliance is the weakest type of conformity as it only involves surface and superficial change
• Identification is a type of conformity which involves:

  • Temporarily adopting the habits or attitudes and behaviours of a group if they value the group and wish to be included in it
  • Conforming to the expectaions required of a specific social role
  • Short-term change as the individual is still not completely in agreement with the group
• Internalisation is a type of conformity which involves:

  • Accepting and agreeing with the group publicly and privately
  • Strongest type of conformity, leads to long-term change