Types of conformity

• What is conformity?

  Conformity is a form of social influence that results from exposure to the majority position and leads to compliance with that position. It is the tendency for people to adopt the behaviour, attitudes and values of other members of a reference group
• What is compliance?

  Occurs when an individual goes along with the group to gain their approval or avoid their disapproval.

  • An attitude or behaviour is adopted not because of its content, but because of the rewards or approval associated with it adoption.
  • It does not result in any change in a person's underlying attitude only in the views and behaviours they express in public.
• What is internalisation?

  Occurs when an individual goes along with a group because of an acceptance of their views.

  • This can lead to acceptance of the group's position both publicly and privately.
• What is identification?

  An individual might accept influence because they want to be associated with another person or group.

  • By adopting the group's attitudes and behaviours, they feel more part of it.