Types of Conformity

• Conformity - Conformity is a type of social influence where individuals change their behaviour due to real or perceived pressure from a majority group
• Compliance

  • Lowest level of conformity
  • The individual behaves in the same way as he group because they value the group and identify with the members of it
  • Like the members of the group but don’t necessarily agree with everything the believe so they just go along with the group
• Compliance simplified

  • This type of conformity is superficial level conformity
  • The person publicly accepts the views of the group but privately rejects them
• Identification

  • Middle level of conformity
  • A person changes their public behaviour and their private beliefs, but only while they are in the presence of the group because they value and identify with the members
  • It is usually a short-term change
• Identification simplified

  • This type of conformity only happens as long as the majority is present
  • The person publicly and privately accepts the views, but only in the presence of the group
• Internalisation

  • Deepest level of conformity
  • Publicly accepts the behaviour or belief of the majority, to the extent that it becomes part of his or her own private belief system
  • This is usually a long-term change
• Internalisation simplified

  • The most permanent form of conformity as it usually lasts even if the majority is no longer present
  • The person publicly and privately accepts the views point