Conformity

Conformity

When a person changes their beliefs and behaviour to fit those of a group.

Compliance

Publicly changing behaviour and beliefs to fit a group, while privately rejecting those beliefs.

Identification

Publicly and privately changing behaviour to fit a desired group, only maintaining those beliefs while associated with the group.

Internalisation

Permanent change of behaviour and beliefs to align with a group's, even after leaving the group.

Asch's Conformity Study (1955)

An experiment aimed at discovering the extent to which people conform to an obviously wrong majority consensus.

Unanimity in conformity

Conformity rates decline significantly when one confederate gives the correct answer, reducing conformity from 32% to 5.5%.

Group Size Effect

Increasing the number of confederates increases conformity rates, but only to a point.

Informational Social Influence

The desire to be correct motivates individuals to conform based on the information provided by a group.

Normative Social Influence

The desire for acceptance and fitting in motivates individuals to conform to the beliefs and opinions of a group.

Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment

A study demonstrating how people conform to social roles, revealing the influence of situational factors on behaviour.

Social Roles

Expected behaviours associated with particular social situations.

Distortion of Perception

When individuals come to perceive the majority’s incorrect estimates as correct.

Distortion of Judgment

When individuals are aware of their mistake but conform to the majority due to lack of trust in their own judgment.

Distortion of Action

When individuals trust their judgment but still conform to avoid standing out.