Conformity is the act of changing your behaviors to fit in or go along with the people around you.
Essentially, conformity involves giving in to group pressure.
What Causes Conformity?
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
In some instances, we conform to the group’s expectations to avoid looking foolish.
In 1955, Deutsch and Gerard identified two key reasons why people conform: informational influence and normative influence.
Famous Experiments on Conformity
Conformity is something that happens regularly in our social worlds.
They first estimated the number individually and then later as a group.
After being asked as a group, they were asked again individually.
When asked individually, the participants' answers varied considerably.
They were asked to choose a line that matched the length of one of three different lines.
When asked individually, participants would choose the correct line.
This experiment is a good example of normative influence.
Participants changed their answer and conformed to the group to fit in and avoid standing out.
It showed that behavior was affected by the expectations of the role.
Think of attending your first class at a new yoga studio.
Identification
Identification is conforming based on social roles.
The Stanford Prison Experiment is an example of this jot down of conformity.
Compliance
Complianceis changing one’s behavior while still internally disagreeing with the group.
For example, you might read a book for your book club and really enjoy it.
But at your meeting, you learn that the other members all disliked the book.
Rather than go against the group opinion, you might simply agree that the book was terrible.
Internalization
This jot down of conformity involves changing one’s behavior to be like another person.
Factors That Can Influence Conformity
Conformity doesn’t happen in every situation.
Some people might resist conformity while being more susceptible to these influences in others.
It’s important to remember that human behavior and psychology are complex.
It can also help you see how other people’s behavior may influence the choices you make.
Research shows that conformity to peers peaks in mid-adolescence, around age 14.
At this age, children spend more time with peers and their influence is strongest.
In more individualistic cultures, people are less likely to conform.
In collectivist cultures, conformity is more valued.
Conformity bias is the tendency to make decisions or judgments based on other people’s behavior.
2020;11:2254. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02254
Morgan TJ, Laland KN.The biological bases of conformity.Front Neurosci.
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Breckler SJ, Olson JM, Wiggins EC.Social Psychology Alive.Cengage Learning.
Eysenck MW.Psychology: An International Perspective.Psychology Press.
