The 3 types of conformity that affect us on a daily basis

Conformity is the tendency that leads us to modify attitudes and behaviors such as strategy of recognition of a minority group before the majority group. In other words, it is a practice that helps us maintain self-concept and interpersonal relationships at an acceptable level of stability.

Paradoxically, the term "conformity" can be understood as submission, resignation and conformity; or, as approval, harmony and agreement. This means that it is a complex process in which we can identify different nuances and expressions.

In this article we will see what conformity is according to some classic proposals of social psychology, and what types of compliance are the most common.

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What is conformity?

Something that social psychology has studied for a long time is why some groups or members of a group tend to significantly modify their opinions, expectations or behaviors, before other members of the same group.

Hence, concepts such as social influence, obedience and conformity have emerged. The latter is the degree to which some members of a group modify their behavior, opinions or attitudes, to avoid being rejected by other members of the group. That is, behavior modification serves so that the minority group or a specific individual can act according to the social norms of the majority.

Conformity then it is not only a social process (It is not only determined by the majority group to which we want to belong), nor is it only a purely psychological process (it does not only have to do with individual attitude).

It is a psychosocial process, because our attitude, behavior and opinions are modified based on the relationships we establish with others, which makes it possible for the social group to be generated.

In short, conformity consists of modifying one's behavior in the direction of the behaviors, emotions or opinions of the majority, as a way of defending ourselves against their possible rejection; which in turn has to do with the authority and power relations established between the majority and the minority.

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Compliance types

Among other things, theories about conformity reveal the need we have to relate. Make visible the interdependence that characterizes us as human beings; interdependence that sometimes becomes a public obedience that is prioritized over private or individual acceptance.

Herbert Kelman is an Austrian intellectual who has made a major contribution to social psychology and studies on conformity, obedience, and social influence. In the middle of the 20th century, it developed three types of conformity that have remained in force in much of the studies on the subject.

1. Compliance

The word "fulfillment" comes from "fulfill" which means to execute according to an expectation. In the case of compliance by compliance, it usually happens that the person agrees with the opinion of the group, keeping her own opinions to herself.

In this case, the division between public and private space is clearly seen: the person defends the opinions of the majority when he is before the public, although in private he maintains his own judgments.

The main motivation in this case is the need to be approved and the fear of being rejected by the majority group.

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2. ID

Identification is a psychological process by which a person assimilates and adopts certain characteristics of an external model, which can be a group or an individual.

In this sense, conformity by identification is when the person agrees with the majority opinion, but only does so when he is perceived as a competent member of the group.

In other words, it originates as an individual is affectively linked to a role model for whom you feel admiration or respect. It can be a loved one, or someone we recognize as a competent authority.

In this case, the main motivation is the source itself (the model) and the fascination it provokes. This fascination connects directly with our imaginary about the model, with which it is usually a deeper type of conformity and more difficult to recognize.

3. Internalization

Internalization is a process in which identification with the reference model, or the standard, is internalized, that is, it becomes a fundamental part of our own person. The case of conformity by internalization is when the person remains in agreement with the majority opinion even after leaving the group.

In this case, the public and private spaces are mixed: the person accepts the belief, attitude or behavior in both areas, with which, it is also a long-term conformity.

This is usually the deepest. It is mainly motivated because the risk of rejection implies a significant discomfort, that is, arises from the affective recognition that it is easier to correspond with the group, to think or feel that we are having the wrong actions or responses. In this case, they connect an affective and motivational dimension (fear of rejection) with a cognitive dimension (not wanting to be wrong).

Other proposals

Without dismissing Kelman's contributions, social psychology has continued to study and develop theories about conformity. For example, the concepts of “informational social influence” and the “normative social influence”, which correspond to numbers 1 and 3 of those that we presented above.