Types of Conformity

• Conformity: a change in a persons behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people
• Conformity: type of social influence where an individual or small group of people give into real or imagined pressure from a larger group and go along with the behaviours and beliefs of the majority groups. There are three types
• Compliance: where an individual conforms to a majority group publicly but not privately. People will often comply with group behaviour to fit in and to be liked
• Compliance Example: when an individual pretends to enjoy watching football but secretly thinks its boring
• Identification: an individual conforms to a particular group (person or role) because they want to fit in with the established behaviours of the chosen group (person or role). The individual publicly and privately changes their own behaviours and beliefs to be seen as like the group. However, when not part of the group anymore the individuals belief and behaviours may change so the identification is not always permanent
• Internalisation:  involves a private and public change in behaviour in response to majority influence. An individual who internalises wholeheartedly embraces the new behaviours. They change their behaviour because they feel it’s the right thing to do and they want to do it. They have internalised this belief.
• Internalisation Example: when a person decides to become vegetarian after attending an animal rights charity event and being persuaded by the information presented at the event.
• Identification Example: a meat-eater joins a group of friends at uni who are vegetarian. While at uni they are vegetarian/avoid eating meat but when they go home and are no longer with the group of friends they eat meat again