Types of conformity

Conformity is when a person changes their attitudes, beliefs or behaviour in response to real or perceived pressure from a larger group. Psychologists have identified different types of conformity, including compliance and internalisation.

Compliance and internalisation can be understood by considering three questions:

1. Does the person change their public behaviour, such as how they act in front of others?

2. Does the person change their private beliefs, such as their attitudes or opinions?

3. Is the change short-term or long-term?

COMPLIANCE

Compliance is the lowest level of conformity. It occurs when a person changes their public behaviour in a group situation but not their private beliefs. In other words, they appear to agree with the group, even though they do not accept its views. Compliance is usually driven by normative social influence. For example, a teenager may wear a particular style of clothing because it is popular with their friendship group, even though they do not personally like it. When they are away from the group, they may choose to wear something different.

INTERNALISATION

Internalisation is the deepest level of conformity. It occurs when a person changes both their public behaviour and their private beliefs, leading to a genuine and long-term change. This means the individual truly accepts the group's view as their own. Internalisation is typically linked to informational social influence. For example, a person may begin exercising regularly after friends explain the physical and psychological benefits. They then continue exercising alone because they genuinely believe it is important. This suggests that they have internalised the belief, so it has become part of their own value system.

Below is a summary table outlining the two types of conformity: