Made by Leena Mahmood
Types of conformity
(Lowest to highest level)
1. Compliance: A person changes their public opinions or behaviour in order to
prevent being “left out” or ostracized. Private opinion does not change.
2. Identification: A person changes their public behaviour and their private beliefs,
but only while they are in the presence of the group. This is usually a short-term
change/ temporary. It happens in the presence of someone.
3. Internalisation: A person changes their public behaviour and their private beliefs.
This is usually a long-term change. Eg: Religion, where a group of muslims may
influence a person to convert to islam. Their religious way of life will continue
without the presence of that group as they have internalised this belief.
Explanations of conformity:
Normative influence: where a person conforms to fit in with the group because they don’t
want to appear foolish or be left out. This type of influence is associated with compliance
and identification.
Informational influence: where a person conforms because they have a desire to be
right, and look to others who they believe may have more information. This type of
conformity occurs when a person is unsure of a situation or lacks knowledge and is
associated with internalisation.
Made by Leena Mahmood
Types of conformity
(Lowest to highest level)
1. Compliance: A person changes their public opinions or behaviour in order to
prevent being “left out” or ostracized. Private opinion does not change.
2. Identification: A person changes their public behaviour and their private beliefs,
but only while they are in the presence of the group. This is usually a short-term
change/ temporary. It happens in the presence of someone.
3. Internalisation: A person changes their public behaviour and their private beliefs.
This is usually a long-term change. Eg: Religion, where a group of muslims may
influence a person to convert to islam. Their religious way of life will continue
without the presence of that group as they have internalised this belief.
Explanations of conformity:
Normative influence: where a person conforms to fit in with the group because they don’t
want to appear foolish or be left out. This type of influence is associated with compliance
and identification.
Informational influence: where a person conforms because they have a desire to be
right, and look to others who they believe may have more information. This type of
conformity occurs when a person is unsure of a situation or lacks knowledge and is
associated with internalisation.
Made by Leena Mahmood
