Conformity

• Internalisation


  is where a person changes their external behaviour to conform because they internally accept the beliefs of others to be true
• Identification

  is when someone will change their external behaviours to the requirements of others so they will appear to conform to expectations so effectively changing behaviour

  however, people who identify do not change their own personal beliefs so their behaviour can revert to their own preferences easily, reducing the effectiveness of any long term changes
• compliance


  it is an outward behaviour in which a person goes along with the attitudes and viewpoints of the majority in order to be socially accepted. This means to follow other people’s ideas/to go along with the group to gain their approval or avoid disapproval

  simply, it is when an individual changes their public behaviours, but they do not change their private beliefs about something
• informative social influence

  • When someone conforms because they want to be right, they look to others by copying or obeying those who have knowledge on the situation; when a person is uncertain or unsure, they would look to others for information. 
  • It usually leads to internalisation and occurs in situations where we do not have the knowledge or expertise to make our own decisions. 
• Normative social influence

  • When someone conforms because they want to be liked and be part of a group; when a person’s need to be accepted or have approval from a group drives compliance. 
  • It often occurs when a person wants to avoid the embarrassing situation of disagreeing with the majority