Response to peer pressure from a group / individual. There are a number of Reasons for this
Third of all someone will regard themselves as belonging to a group if their behaviour
Conforms, or is the same as, that of the group.
Key concepts of conformity is that there is no clear or direct requirement to act in a certain way
• It is normally friends/family who influence us
• Conformity regulates the behaviour among those of equal status e.g. posh backgrounds treat each other well and share the same views where as a poor background is mostly about who is the biggest and hardest and don’t care what people think they just do what they want
• The behaviour adopted is similar to that of family/friends
The fact that there is no need to act in a certain way shows that conformity is a psychological need. The need could arise from a Feeling of envy or respect for members of the group, or simply that it seems to be due to the type of group, for whatever reason of that the person wants to be related too. The important thing is acceptance and once accepted the behaviour is regulated by the knowing that everyone is conforming. That is, everyone is behaving the same and there is No need for orders or instructions.
Obedience is where you do something after:
•you are ordered or instructed to behave in a certain way e.g. smartly and seaman like would be accepted in the navy
• You are ordered to do something by someone in higher authority e.g. a rating been told what to do by a senior rating or officer e.g. rank and rates (chain of command)
Obedience is a need to be accepted by others it is very different to conformity in three main ways.
- First of all unlike Conformity, you are ordered or instructed to do something – it is not a psychological effect that you want to do it your ordered to do it
- Second of all the order comes from a higher authority but in conformity there is no higher Authority – everyone is equal.
- Thirdly, obedience involves social power and status, which is necessary for the person Giving the instruction to have authority to order or instruct. Where as conformity is feeling the need to be accepted And you can only feel accepted if you alter your behaviour and belief to that of the Group. With obedience you can carry out an order but it might not alter your behaviour Or belief and you might still not feel as though you are accepted as the order is something you have been asked to do not naturally felt like doing.
Conformity is influenced by compliance with common practices. A example of
Common practice within a group could be the fact that everyone wears
Hoodies and to feel and conform aka belonging to that particular group means you must do the same.
Self-esteem could play a large part in conformity in that low self-esteem is a feeling of
Isolation and loneliness . When people feel that they belong, their feeling of
Isolation improves and this is what they need to feel accepted.
Social norms are an influence of conformity because it is part of our nature to socialise
And interact – it is the way we have been brought up. If we are not happy with a
Particular culture or way of life, we are at liberty to choose one we are happier with.
Uniforms are, among other things, an instantly recognisable symbol of unity and
Belonging. Just as wearing blue denim jeans is a type of dress code, a uniform of any
Description is a sign that someone belongs to a particular group or culture.
Asch was a famous psychologist who worked out people’s effectiveness to conformity when put in a private situation and a group situation