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

Various ways in which our opinions or behavioral styles conform to the majority.

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

Paradoxically, the term "conformity" can be understood as submission, resignation and molding; 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 classical proposals of social psychology, and what types of conformity are the most common.

What is conformity?

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

This has given rise to concepts such as social influence, obedience and conformity. The latter is the degree to which some members of a group modify their behavior, opinions or attitudes to avoid being rejected by the other members of the group. In other words, behavior modification serves to enable the minority group or a specific individual to act according to the social norms of the majority group.

Conformity then 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 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 on the basis of the relationships we establish with others. the relationships we establish with others.This makes it possible for the social group to be generated.

In short, conformity consists of modifying one's own 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 relations of authority and power that are established between majority and minority.

Types of conformity

Among other things, theories on conformity show the need we have to relate to each other. They make visible the interdependence that characterizes us as human beingsinterdependence that sometimes turns into a public obedience that takes precedence over private or individual acceptance.

Herbert Kelman is an Austrian intellectual who has made a very important contribution to social psychology and to studies on conformity, obedience and social influence. In the mid-twentieth century he developed three types of conformity that have remained current in most studies on the subject.

1. Compliance

The word "compliance" comes from "comply" which means to perform in accordance with an expectation. In the case of compliance conformity, it usually happens that the person agrees with the opinion of the group, keeping one's own opinions to oneself.

In this case, the division between public and private space is clearly seen: the person defends the opinions of the majority when in 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.

2. Identification

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

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

In other words, it originates as an individual is affectively linked to a model for whom one feels admiration or respect. It may 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, so 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 norm, becomes internalizedthat 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 opinion of the majority even after having left the group.

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

This is usually the most profound. It is motivated mainly because the risk of rejection implies a significant discomfort, i.e., it arises from the affective recognition that it is easier to correspond with the group than to think or feel that we are having a negative impact on the group.It is more important 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 on conformity. For example, the concepts of "informational social influence" and "normative social influence", which correspond to numbers 1 and 3 of those presented above, have become very popular in recent years.