Conformity

• Conformity


  A change in a person's behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people
• Types of conformity

  • Compliance
  • Identification
  • Internalisation
• Compliance


  This type of conformity is simply "going along with others" in public. There is no change in personal opinions and/or behaviour – it is only a superficial change. It also means that a behaviour stops as soon as pressure from the group stops.
• Identification


  Sometimes we conform to the opinions/behaviour of a group because there is something about the group that we value. Because we identify as a member of the group, we want to be a part of it. This means that we publicly change our opinions and behaviour, even if we do not agree with everything the group stands for.
• Internalisation


  Internalisation occurs when a person genuinely accepts the group. This results in a private as well as public change of opinions/behaviour. The change is likely to be permanent, as the person believes the group's view is correct. The change persists even in the absence of other members.
• Reasons for conformity


  • The need to be right (Informational Social Influence)
  • The need to be liked (Normative Social Influence)
• Informational Social Influence (ISI)


  ISI is concerned with who has the better information. According to this explanation, people conform because they want to be right. ISI is a cognitive process, because it's what you think.
• Normative Social Influence (NSI)

  It is likely to occur in situations where we are concerned about rejection. It can also occur when we are most concerned about social approval – what our friends think. NSI is concerned with what is the normal or typical behaviour for a group. Norms regulate behaviour, so we pay attention to them as we do not want to stand out. People do not want to appear foolish and want to gain social approval. It is an emotional process, rather than cognitive.