GCSE Psychology: Social Influence - Conformity Guide

What is conformity?

Conformity is changing your behaviour or opinions to match those of a group, even without direct pressure to do so.

Types of conformity

Compliance involves publicly agreeing with a group while privately disagreeing. Internalisation involves genuinely changing your own beliefs to match the group's, both publicly and privately.

Why people conform

Normative social influence involves conforming to be liked or accepted by a group. Informational social influence involves conforming because you believe the group has correct information, especially in uncertain situations.

Factors affecting conformity

Conformity is affected by factors such as group size, unanimity (whether the group is unanimous or has a dissenter), and the status of the group members involved.

Common mistakes

• Confusing compliance (surface change) with internalisation (genuine, lasting change).
• Mixing up normative influence (wanting acceptance) with informational influence (wanting to be correct).
• Assuming conformity always requires direct pressure from the group.