Conformity : The three types Flashcards
Who proposed the three types of conformity?
Kelman (1958)
What are the three types of conformity?
Compliance, internalisation and identification
What is compliance?
When individuals may go along with the group in order to gain approval or to avoid their disapproval.
Compliance does not result in any change in the person’s underlying attitude, only in the views and behaviours they express in public.
Give an example of compliance.
If friends are smoking the individual will smoke as well in public but will not in private.
What is internalisation?
When individuals may go along with the group because of an acceptance of their views. The individual will examine and see what the others say to make their decision so that they don’t give the wrong answer.
Individuals will conform if they trust the group with their views so that they can be accepted which can change their view both publicly and privately.
Give an example of internalisation.
If someone lived with a vegetarian at university and then decides to also become one too because they agree with their friend’s viewpoint.
What is identification?
In some instances, an individual might accept influence because they want to be associated with another person or group. This will make them feel more a part of a group. Identification has elements of both compliance and internalisation.
For example, a child may start smoking because ‘that’s what cool kids do’ and they want to be seen as a ‘cool kid’.
Give an example of identification
A policeman, teacher or politician can conform to the demands of a given social role in society.
