Conformity (definition)

• Conformity = changing behaviour, attitudes, or beliefs to match a group.
• Often linked to majority influence (“safety in numbers”).
• Minority influence exists but is less common.

Types of Conformity

1. Compliance

Definition: Public agreement, private disagreement.

• Eating vegetarian with friends but eating meat alone.
• Laughing at a joke you don’t find funny.

• Superficial change
• Temporary
• Weakest form

2. Identification

Definition: Conforming to belong to a group.

• Dressing like a group
• Copying influencers
• Acting roles (teacher/police)

• Stronger than compliance
• Public + some private change
• Still temporary

3. Internalisation

Definition: Genuine belief change.

• Adopting beliefs
• Changing identity/lifestyle

• Deep change
• Permanent
• Strongest form