Types of conformity

Define conformity as said by Aronson (1988)

a change in behaviour or a belief as a result of real or imagined group pressure

what is the difference between conformity and obedience?

conformity involves peers, whilst obedience involves an authority figure

Kelman (1958)

found 3 types of conformity

types of conformity

compliance, identification, internalisation

Compliance

the shallowest type of conformity. An individual changes their behaviour or beliefs to fit in or avoid rejection. They do not necessarily agree in private, but do in public. It is not permanent (superficial) and only lasts as long as the group is present. Compliance is due to normative social influence (NSI) - the need to be liked

Identification

the intermediate level of conformity. The individual adopts the behaviour or beliefs of a group both in public and in private when the group is present. They accept group norms out of desire for a relationship or association with the group (admiration). It is due to normative social influence - need to be liked

Internalisation

the deepest type of conformity. The individual accepts the behaviours and beliefs publicly and privately. It is permanent and due to informational social influence (ISI) - need to be right

Example of compliance

laughing at a joke that you do not find funny

example of identification

a recruit for the military

example of internalisation

becoming a vegan after living with one

another name for internalisation

conversion

Crutchfield’s definition of conformity

yielding to group pressure

Jan and Norah have just finished their first year at university where they lived in a house with six other students. All the other students were very health conscious and ate only organic food. Jan had listened

to their point of view and now she also eats only organic food. Norah was happy to eat organic food while in the house, but when she went home for the holidays she ate whatever her mother cooked. Both girls conformed, but for different reasons.

Explain which type of conformity each girl was showing.

Jan shows internalisation. She has publicly and privately changed her attitudes and now permanently only eats organic food. Norah is showing compliance. She only conformed publicly to her friends' behaviour but had obviously not privately undergone attitude change to eating organic as she reverted to eating non-organic in the holidays. Norah probably conformed to gain group approval and membership whereas Jan believed the other students to be 'right' in their belief that organic food was 'good'.

It is Ani’s first day in a new job and he spends a lot of time watching to see what his colleagues are doing so that he will fit in with them and be liked. Explain Ani’s behaviour in terms of compliance.

Compliance refers to behaviour that involves going along with the majority, even if privately their views are not accepted. He wants to fit in and be liked, so will change his behaviour to be like the others but does not change his beliefs.