AS Psychology Lecture Notes: Conformity

Introduction to Conformity

• Definition: Conformity is the alteration of behavior to match the majority.
• Example: Group pressure leads individuals to smoke even if they don’t want to.

Types of Conformity

1. Compliance

• Definition: Going along with group behavior without changing personal opinions.
• Duration: Lasts only as long as group pressure exists.
• Example: Smoking with friends despite disliking it; personal opinion remains unchanged.

2. Identification

• Definition: Changing behavior to be like a specific group or individual.
• Duration: Lasts while the group or individual remains attractive.
• Example: Smoking to emulate a cool singer.

3. Internalization

• Definition: Changing behavior based on a group’s beliefs, resulting in a change of personal thinking.
• Duration: Permanent form of conformity.
• Example: Stopping smoking due to a group’s belief that it is harmful, leading to a change in personal opinion about smoking.

Conscious vs. Subconscious Conformity

• Conscious Conformity: Identification, as individuals consciously choose to conform to be like a group.
• Subconscious Conformity: Compliance often occurs subconsciously due to the need to fit in.
• Internalization can occur either consciously (desire to align with others) or subconsciously (natural shift in behavior).

Questions on Conformity

• Engage with the provided questions on compliance, identification, and internalization.

Conclusion

• Next topic: Ash's Line Theory, a study on conformity.
• Thank you for participating!