What is conformism: definition, examples

According to philosophers, a person living in society is dependent on the opinion of the public. Throughout his life, a person enters into various relationships with the people around him. Each person to some extent influences his environment and is affected by others. Often the behavioral model and perception of the surrounding world are built precisely under the influence of society. This behavioral model is characterized as a tendency to conformism. In this article we will analyze what conformism is and the definition of this term in various sciences.

Conformity is a person’s tendency to change his initial assessments under the influence of the opinions of others

Conformity as a psychological phenomenon

The word "conformity" comes from the Latin conformis, meaning "similarity." The phenomenon in psychology is characterized by the individual’s compliance to pressure from a social group. A person quickly adapts to the required norms of behavior and changes his life attitudes and principles, even if initially they were opposite to the position of the majority.

The degree of manifestation of conformity depends on how valuable for the individual is his relationship with the social group; The higher a person’s attachment to others, the more he fears conflict and loss of reputation, and accordingly, the likelihood of conformity increases.

Also, a person's views are influenced by authorities who represent the views of the group. The stronger the influence of a community representative, the more all members of this group succumb to conformity. When making a particular decision, forming an ideology and development guidelines in society, the number of people who support the adoption of any measures plays a large role.

The more people become unanimous in their decision, the greater the likelihood of conformist behavior among the minority. Also, if a group is prone to aggression towards those who oppose it, conformity also manifests itself much more clearly.

The role of conformity has been described by many researchers who want to understand the nature of the phenomenon and its impact on a person’s personality. For example, the neo-Freudian philosopher Erich Fromm paid a lot of attention in his works to the automating role of conformity.

He considered conformity to be a psychological defense mechanism for a person who unquestioningly accepts imposed patterns of behavior. In a society of consumption and alienated labor, a person becomes inclined to unconditionally accept cultural models and become part of the same type of social mass.

Such a reaction allows the individual to avoid the loneliness that haunts him in the current cultural conditions, but the lack of any initiative and desire to develop his individuality will lead to a complete loss of his “I”.

Classification of conformism

Internal
. It consists of suppressing personal interests by the person himself. That is, his thoughts cannot become reality due to the formation of a personal conflict. The presence of any beliefs prevents attempts at self-realization and leads to unanimous support of other people's ideas on the part of the individual.
External
. This type of thinking is tied to the society in which a person is located. This is what will determine his opinion and ambition. Sometimes people may want to disagree with the majority, but due to some circumstances they take the opposite side. Most often this is the great authority of colleagues or fear of an opponent.

Passive
. In this case, maintaining someone else's opinion occurs under the influence of someone from the outside. A person is put under pressure to make a decision and ultimately goes over to the side of the majority. In such a process, people themselves can rarely be blamed, because in most cases the arguments are quite weighty.
Active
. With this option, it is this person who is the leader of his actions. A person himself comes up with an extremely high need for supporting someone else’s idea and purposefully follows it. There is even a separate type of conformation called “militant”. At the same time, people not only themselves pursue the idea of a common opinion, but also force others to think the same way.

Deliberate
. A very rare variant of conformism, in which a person understands the presence of such a feature of his behavior. Moreover, he accepts this and considers it not only normal, but also the most correct decision in this situation.
Unconscious
. All other types of pathology are included in this category. Indeed, in most cases, people do not see anything special in their actions. It seems to them that the supported decision is the most correct, and their choice is objective. Very rarely, without a look and comments from the outside, a person is able to change such an opinion or see something wrong in it.

Pros and cons of conformity

What are the advantages and disadvantages of conformity? The pros and cons of conformity are determined by the characteristics of the specific situation of its manifestation.

pros

Internal conformity is a psychological defense mechanism. Thanks to this typological character trait, a person avoids loneliness.
Conformity in following traffic rules can reduce the number of road accidents and save a person’s life.
The positive effect of conformity was described by S. Asch when he studied the features of the organization of intragroup activities.
In psychology, experiments were carried out with the help of which it was possible to prove that such a phenomenon as conformism increases the level of team cohesion.
In production, workers show conformity, which allows them to receive a salary and quickly move up the career ladder.
The effect of conformity in managerial psychology allows managers to successfully solve assigned tasks.
Thanks to conformists, social values such as religious education, patriotism, marriage and family, and a woman’s desire to have children are preserved.

Minuses

Why is conformism dangerous?

The negative consequences of conformity are loss of individuality, loss of one’s “I,” and violation of personal harmony.
Correction of conformity in enterprises is necessary, as it slows down the introduction of innovative technologies and contributes to the development of conservatism.
A person’s inability to make decisions independently and take responsibility for their life.
Decreased self-esteem, the emergence of personal complexes.
In the realm of politics, conformists are informers.

Advantages and disadvantages

The phenomenon of conformism has certain pros and cons. Among the advantages of this model of behavior, it is worth noting the small amount of time required to adapt to new conditions. In addition, conformity simplifies the organization of joint activities of a group of people. Such a team shows strong cohesion under the influence of stressful situations, which helps to find a solution to the problem within a short period of time.

Internal conformism is a real change in internal views and behavior as a result of accepting the position of the majority of group members

It is important to mention that the phenomenon of conformity has certain disadvantages:

Loss of the ability to independently make various decisions.
High risk of developing sectarian groups, as well as carrying out massacres and genocide.
The emergence of prejudice against various minorities.
A significant decrease in the opportunity to develop in the creative field, which is reflected in the contribution to the cultural and scientific life of society.

Types of conformism

Researchers traditionally distinguish internal and external forms of conformity.

Interior

Internal conformism is the purposeful adjustment of one’s behavior to the ideas of others. It is characterized by a person’s conscious change in his values and norms based on the views of the surrounding group. This form of conformism comes from the individual’s need for public approval and subsequent self-censorship. Often a person's idea that a group forces him to follow other people's values is erroneous. Factors of internal conformity are:

informational influence - a person receives information only from certain sources, and does not show interest in alternative options;
obsessive comparison of one’s behavioral model with the “correct” standards accepted in society;
the process of self-categorization - assigning oneself to a certain social group and following the group norm.

External

External conformism means exclusively external agreement with the values and ideas of the group. In this case, a person can have his own opinion and internally accept it, but when in society, he suppresses it for the sake of public ideas. It is in external behavior that the conformist pattern of behavior is especially clearly manifested.

In terms of characteristics, external conformism is similar to compliance and opportunism and is expressed in a person’s desire to be like everyone else, even if the norms accepted in the group are opposite to his life values and views. If following other people's standards is justified by group pressure and the desire to avoid censure or punishment for disobedience, then after the pressure ceases, he returns to his opinion and openly expresses it. Also, the manifestation of conformity may be due to personal ambitions.

Examples of external conformism are easy to find in many areas of life:

in economics, this is the influence of advertising, the mass popularity of certain brands;
in politics - the effect of propaganda, comparing one’s decision with the opinion of the majority;
In the field of information, the media and social networks have a huge influence.

The psychological mechanisms of conformity are:

Submission implies an external adjustment of behavior that may not coincide with the internal views of the individual. Following the demands of society, a person does not demonstrate his personal ideas, agreeing with a stereotypical model of behavior. The duration of submission is limited by the presence of pressure, after which the need to play along disappears (for example, a way of life under the totalitarian power of the state).
Identification is likeness to a partner or group with which a person interacts. As a rule, this style of behavior is based on his positive attitude towards those whom he imitates. There are two types of identification: • classical, in which an individual adopts the characteristics of another person because of the sympathy he feels for him (for example, the desire to be like his idol in everything); • reciprocal-role in which participants in interaction expect certain behavior from each other and themselves strive to meet the expectations of a partner or partners (for example, relationships between family members or another social institution).
Internalization is a partial or complete coincidence of one’s ideas with those expressed by society. It is the result of unconscious internal assimilation and acceptance of the attitudes and views of other people.

Features of the behavior model

According to the specialist, abandoning one’s own beliefs and agreeing with the point of view of the majority is an integral part of the process of integration into the group. The presence of conformity in a personal model of behavior is revealed by a peculiar expression of submission and acceptance of standards accepted as the norm in society. Group pressure exerted on an individual can cause both agreement with the opinion of the majority and obvious resistance to the pressure exerted. According to experts, there are four main models of behavior in society:

External agreement - with this model of behavior, a person agrees with the opinion of the majority only externally. However, the individual’s subconscious itself tells him that people are mistaken, but such thoughts are not spoken out loud. According to psychologists, such a model of behavior is a manifestation of true conformism and is characteristic of people trying to find their own place in society.
Internal agreement - manifests itself when an individual agrees with the opinion of the public and internally accepts it. This model of behavior indicates a high degree of personal suggestibility. This behavior pattern is a type of adaptation in changing conditions.
Denial - this model of behavior is better known as negativism and manifests itself in the form of resistance to the opinion of the majority. This model of behavior involves defending your own point of view to prove your own independence. Many people who adhere to this model prefer to occupy leadership positions in order to impose their point of view on others. This model suggests that a person does not want to lead an opportunistic lifestyle, and wants to become the head of the pyramid.
Nonconformism is a synonym for negativism, in which a person shows resistance to public pressure. This model of behavior is typical for self-sufficient individuals whose point of view does not change under the pressure of the majority. The main difference between nonconformism and negativism is that people who adhere to the first model of behavior do not impose their point of view on other members of society.

According to experts, there are the following types of conformism: psychological, political science, social and philosophical.

Types of conformism

There are several classifications of conformism. Let's look at some of them.

By type of subordination:

Internal conformism. A person accepts and shares the opinion of the group, lives by its rules even outside its boundaries, and finds a rational explanation for his choice.
External conformism. A person formally accepts the rules and norms of the group, but remains unconvinced. This leads to intrapersonal conflict. Often external acceptance is forced.

According to the specifics of behavior:

Rational conformism. A person is influenced through the reasoning, opinion, and arguments of another person.
Irrational conformism. A person submits to the majority at the level of herd instinct.

According to the specific pressure:

Passive. A person submits under the influence of direct pressure.
Active. This is militant conformism. There is no direct pressure from above, but the person himself wants to feel its specificity, and begins to fight dissidents.

Levels of conformity

Conformity is subordination to a group. The following levels of subordination can be named:

Formal submission under specific conditions or at a specific point in time. As a rule, it does not last long.
Identification. A person considers himself part of a group, completely shares its rules, and group members expect certain behavior from each other.
Internalization. The individual’s value system completely coincides with the group’s value system; it does not depend in any way on external factors.

Conforming behavior does not just happen. To do this, two conditions must be met: conflict between a person and a group, psychological pressure from the group (insults, violence, shouting, etc.). It is worth noting that group pressure can be real or imagined.

The nature of conformity

Some researchers in this field wonder what the nature of conformity is. The study of this phenomenon made it possible to say that the basis of the conformist behavior of a person or broader social groups is the fear of being different from others. If you make an attempt to distinguish yourself, then you can get punished according to the principle “if you stick your head out, it will be worse.”

Note 1

As a rule, groups react quite negatively towards those people who try to resist it. People who actively go beyond patterns and stereotyped thinking are subject to pressure and aggression from conformists - the so-called “silent majority”.

It should also be noted that conformity and compliance can sometimes become a manifestation of conscious loyalty to the demands made from the outside.

It is easier for people to agree with something than to try to resist these processes and phenomena, because it is more convenient and easier for them to live. “It’s clearer from above”—this is the opinion of those who accept the rules of the game from higher authorities. There is an opinion that they are much more educated and competent in certain issues, so their opinions, suggestions and, accordingly, decisions are exactly what the majority needs.

Such conscious loyalty is sometimes a wise decision, but more often than not people simply show their fear and laziness to think through decisions and actions on their own. Therefore, their life turns into a familiar standard, and their behavior is also subject to routine. You can completely remove responsibility from yourself, because it’s not you who makes the decision, but someone else for you.

Note 2

Thus, the main reasons for conformist behavior are the fear of taking responsibility and simple laziness in thinking about possible solutions to the assigned tasks. Conformity can also be either congenital or acquired throughout life.

Innate conformism depends on a person’s personal characteristics, his intellectual and physical abilities. Acquired conformity is one that is developed over the course of life. It forces a person to adapt to external circumstances, forces him to obey the conditions in which he lives, as well as the people who make the most significant decisions.

The level of personality conformity also depends on many factors. For example, the larger the number of participants in the group, the higher the feeling of unanimity, which is quite difficult to resist. If a person does something that goes beyond the expectations of the group members, he may be punished and even expelled from the group. If a group tends to show aggression towards those who oppose it, then conformity also increases: no one wants to get into trouble or be expelled, so they are forced to obey the conditions and accept someone else's point of view for the sake of their own peace of mind. Conformity for many is the path to salvation, but for many it is real torture, because a person has to give up his interests and opinions. This is the phenomenal nature of conformity as a social and psychological phenomenon.

Personality characteristics also play a big role. For example, women, teenagers or children are more conforming. People with low social status who do not have outstanding intellectual abilities are also susceptible to this. They are anxious and easily suggestible, so it is easier to convince them of something, to force them to accept someone else’s point of view. Some of them simply do not have their own position, and they are forced to obey circumstances and superior people. If a person is attached to a group, he will also be more conformist than people who can live outside the group and do not depend on its attitudes and rules within.

How to get rid of conformity and conformity

Should we get rid of this? Conformity is important for the socialization of the individual, but it must be combined with adequate self-esteem and self-confidence. It is important to understand that the desire to “be like everyone else” and the desire to “not be like everyone else” are equally destructive. Neither one nor the other can be the goal. You need to live according to your desires, needs, interests, capabilities. You need to be wise, and this means that sometimes your opinion will coincide with the opinion of the majority, and sometimes not. This is normal, otherwise there can be no productive social interaction.

So, how to deal with conformity (meaning how to reduce its severity):

Decide on goals for a month, six months, a year. People who see clear guidelines are more self-confident and resistant to the influence of other people.
Work on your self-esteem and confidence. Make a list of exercises that you will do daily. I’ll give you a hint: it has to do with self-acceptance and self-love.
Develop communication skills, learn the art of polemics and discussion. This will help you defend your opinion and argue your position.
Learn to express your opinion, and try to be the first to do so. Start small: watch the film and express your attitude to the plot and the acting. Arrange a comic battle training with your friends on the topic “How do you understand the meaning of this film?”
Learn to say no. Freedom of choice and self-expression is the most valuable thing each of us has. Learn to hear and respect your needs, interests, desires. Again, start small: if you don’t want to go to the cinema with your friends, say so.
Learn to deal adequately with criticism. You can't please everyone. Even any world star has a couple of hundred haters. Everyone only likes amebic and comfortable people, but personality and individuality will always have ill-wishers and critics.

Conformism and nonconformism are traits of an immature personality. An adult is guided by his right to freedom and self-determination. He chooses what he can and wants to do for reasons of usefulness for his development. Conformity gives peace and the illusion of confidence, but it does not give happiness, self-realization, wealth, or success. Don't give up your uniqueness and freedom.

If you see that someone is dependent on the opinion of the majority, then do not rush to attack him. This will likely lead to resentment and anger towards you. If this is a loved one, then you can unobtrusively try to help him. Otherwise, take better care of yourself and those who have just embarked on the path of personal development. We need to teach the younger generation to think for themselves, to go not with or against the majority, but to go where they need to go for self-realization and personal development. Sometimes you should listen to someone’s advice and opinion, and sometimes you need to think only with your own head and be guided only by your values.

What is conformism?

Conformity is a moral, political and psychological concept that implies an individual’s adaptation to the social order, its absolute acceptance, adherence and absence of contradiction. With conformism, a person does not resist, unconditionally accepts everything and makes the public his own. Conformism is:

Agreement with public opinion, even if inside a person thinks differently.
Refusal to fight for the personal, one’s own and agreement with the public.
Lack of your own opinion for the sake of accepting the public.
Disclaimer of personal liability.
Blind obedience and willingness to follow other people's instructions and rules.

A society can be a whole state, or organizations, groups, families, or other collective gatherings of people.

From birth they try to fit a person into some framework, stereotypes, ideals. “Do as everyone else does,” “Be like the other person,” “Behave decently (or rather, in a way that is acceptable in society).” They constantly try to squeeze a person into clothes that don’t fit him. Women must have shapes of 90-60-90 (the individual characteristics of each woman are not taken into account).

There is an anecdote where a man decided to patent his invention - an automatic face shaving machine. “You just need to throw a coin, stick your head into the hole, and sharp knives will shave your face.” But excuse me, everyone's face is different! “Yes, but only until the first shave.”

In the same way, people are forced into the same framework, without taking into account their characteristics, distinctive qualities, talents, etc. What does this lead to? Because most people agree to live like everyone else and live up to some ideals. They do not try to develop their unique qualities, to become beautiful in accordance with the parameters that have already been given to them. They limit themselves, cut themselves, change themselves just to meet some ideals.

But how responsible is the person who behaves like everyone else? The more a person refers to society, the less he thinks with his own head and bears responsibility for what he has done. “I did the same thing as all people do in this situation. It’s not my fault” - this is how you can characterize all the excuses of people who have committed certain actions, thereby causing pain to others, or the tears of those who did as is customary, but did not achieve the desired result.

As long as a person acts the same way as other people act, he is irresponsible. If he does not achieve what he did for the sake of doing things, then all the blame, judging by his words, falls on those whom he imitated. Don't give advice to other people on what to do in a given situation, otherwise, if they listen to you, you may become to blame for the fact that they did not achieve the desired results. It’s the same in a situation where a person commits actions that are accepted in society: by acting like everyone else, you get different results, because you don’t take into account the conditions that dictate what actions need to be performed in order to achieve your goal.

You are behaving correctly, or rather in the way that is accepted in society. But most often you don’t achieve your goals. Who is guilty? The society you submit to when deciding what to do. You are bitter and offended that you did everything right - and this “right” was dictated to you by society, which does not take into account the circumstances in which you find yourself. You acted like everyone else, and you also blame everyone else for your failure. Actions and decisions were made by you personally, respectively, and failure is a consequence of your incorrectly made decisions and actions, despite the fact that society is convinced that you did everything right.

It is important not to do what everyone else does, but to take into account the circumstances in which you find yourself. It is important to make your decision and take your actions so that you also bear responsibility for the result obtained, especially if you achieve success

How does the social form of conformism manifest itself?

Social conformity is an uncritical change in one's own perception of the world in order to conform to the norms established by society. Such a model of behavior does not imply resistance to mass standardization, despite the fact that the individual may not internally accept such attitudes. The vast majority of people calmly perceive economic and socio-political changes, without trying to express their own dissatisfaction with the current situation.

According to experts, the social form of conformism is a kind of refusal to take on any responsibility and blind submission to the demands of society. Often this pattern of behavior is explained by established traditions and mentality.

Who is a conformist

Conformist

They call a person who consciously occupies a subordinate position in society and agrees with its attitudes. A person who decides to change his behavior and way of thinking under the influence of another person, including his idol, is also called a conformist. Most often, however, the word is used in a socio-political context.

In fact, most people are conformists to one degree or another. Even without openly recognizing the existing political regime, most people prefer to remain on the sidelines, taking advantage of the freedom granted by the authorities. Even those who are trying to actively fight the existing system - as a rule, using non-violent methods - outwardly show a completely loyal attitude towards it; because otherwise he will be exposed, captured, arrested, executed - and his cause will perish.

A conscious conformist is characterized not so much by intellect (even people with sufficiently developed intellect can adhere to conformity), but by certain life values. They are most often low. A conformist usually values physiological survival most of all, and almost any political regime, including a dictatorial one, is ready to provide it. The conformist either does not have any higher inclinations and talents, or has them only in those areas that are supported by the government. For example, in Russia, most specialists in the oil and gas industry are conformists, since the government has made them an elite and provides them much better than all other citizens.

A supporter of conformism most often adheres to “traditional values”: he wants to start a family and have children, he is religious, he considers himself a patriot.

However, a certain conformity is neither good nor bad, and sometimes even good. After all, among social norms there are not only destructive, but also creative ones. Who argues that stealing, killing or walking around the city naked is good? Conformity in a number of cases demonstrates its positive sides. Thus, an employee accepts the rules of conduct at the enterprise, and in exchange for this he receives a salary, is promoted, and earns the respect of employees and superiors. An even more clear example: we cross the roadway in accordance with the traffic rules, thereby saving our lives.

Paradoxically, in some cases conformity is also rebellion. By completely obeying the commandments “Thou shalt not kill” and “Thou shalt not steal,” a person thereby protests against current Russian social attitudes, which prescribe the glorification of thieves and murderers. It happens that in a school class internal attitudes contradict accepted behavior at school; in this case, a student who accepts the conditions of a given group thereby rebels against school rules - and vice versa, while continuing to follow school rules, he becomes an outcast in his class.

Problems begin when conformity becomes a lifestyle. Man makes the subordinate state the ultimate goal of existence. It becomes “correct” even where it is not particularly required. In addition, he begins to tell others how to behave. Politically, a conformist becomes an informer.

Strictly speaking, any manifestation of initiative is a change in reality, which means an attempt to set new, own rules for it. Therefore, a supporter of conformism who has made it his lifestyle is a pathologically insecure person. Often he does not want to change anything even in his private life, not to mention any actions directed outward. He does not dare to quit his old job and move to a new one, even if the team there is better and the salary is higher. He is hesitant to watch new films or listen to new music, especially if they seem too challenging.

Nonconformism is...

The nonconformist's motto: “But the king is naked!”

*Illustration for Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The King’s New Clothes”

If conformism is submission to the pressure of the majority, then its opposite side - nonconformism - is the independence of one’s own opinion, resistance to external pressure. The ability to defend one’s position and not be influenced by the crowd speaks of a mature personality.

This point of view is only partly correct. Taking a closer look, it turns out that the nonconformist is , in fact, the mirror image of the conformist, and it remains to be seen which of them is better.

There are more similarities than differences between these two behaviors .

A conformist, under the influence of the crowd, changes his views and adapts, and a nonconformist, under the same influence of the crowd, begins to resist.

The apotheosis (what is this?) of nonconformism is nihilism (what is this?), which denies the value of everyone and everything.

On the one hand, a nonconformist does not agree with the collective delusion and denounces the naked king, like that boy from Andersen’s famous fairy tale, but on the other hand, he can, in defiance of society, deny any norms, deliberately oppose himself to the group, acting on the principle “to spite my mother I’ll freeze my ears " Think about the words of the popular song by Andrei Makarevich:

“You shouldn’t bend to the changing world; it’s better to let it bend to you.”

This position of a nonconformist sounds rather presumptuous.

“Every society honors its living conformists and its dead nonconformists.” Mignon McLaughlin, American writer

The contradictions between conformism and nonconformism are especially acute in adolescence .

*Paradox - deliberately demonstrating originality, teenagers mimic their reference group

Poor teenagers are simply torn between two poles. They are terrible conformists , because more than anything else they want to completely merge with their reference group and not show off, otherwise they will peck at you and bully you.

At the same time, they are terrible nonconformists , because they consider the rules imposed by adult society and parents to be some kind of game and are ready to prove until they are blue in the face that there are only fools around.

What is conformism

Before giving a definition, let’s figure out what the meaning of the word “conformism” is. It is derived from the Latin conformis, which means “similar”, “corresponding”. Conformity is a concept from social psychology. Refers to a form of adaptation to a small group. To become “similar,” an individual accepts the opinions, rules of behavior, norms and values of the majority, even if they contradict his personal opinions, beliefs, values, norms, etc.

Conformism in psychology is following the majority, the authorities. Conformity involves living like other people. An individual listens to the same music as the majority. He wears the same thing as everyone else. He eats the same as everyone else. He rests just like everyone else. In general, he does not stand out from the crowd.

Conformism in sociology is the blind submission of a person to the majority. He prefers to be like everyone else in everything, hiding and suppressing his individuality. This helps to avoid problems, conflicts, and difficulties. This is necessary for socialization. Social conformity (conformity) is a person’s behavior that obeys the expectations of a group that is significant to him.

Mechanism of development of conformity

The basis of its development is the fear of public condemnation and censure. “Keep your head down if you don’t want to be an outcast or be eaten,” this is the thought that drives the individual. Society doesn't like it when someone opposes it. Unique personalities, individualists have always been persecuted and misunderstood by the gray masses.

On the other hand, conformity can be considered as a manifestation of loyalty, that is, trust in people. For example, when the majority, through silence, agrees with the actions of the rulers: “They know better.” True, this is rarely backed by true loyalty, that is, true trust and respect. More often this is due to cowardice and laziness. A person is too lazy or afraid to understand pressing issues and fight for their rights.

Conformism and nonconformism

Nonconformism is the opposite of conformism. Derived from the Greek words non (a prefix meaning negation) and conformis, which means “conforming”, “similar”.

Nonconformism is the desire to be different from everyone else in everything, to stand out from the gray mass. Nonconformists are rebels. They are never silent, they always go against the system, express their point of view, fight for their rights and try to change the world.

In a broad sense, nonconformism is understood as the denial of all generally accepted norms and values. In this sense, the phenomenon is similar to negativism. For example, an individual who denies any norms, throws garbage past the trash can on principle, does not close the door, wears light clothes in winter, etc. Children and teenagers often behave this way.

What is conformity and non-conformity

In psychology, conformity is considered in a narrow and broad sense. In a narrow sense, this means an uncritical attitude towards the opinion of another person, which the person considers wrong, and the simultaneous suppression of his own opinion, despite the person’s confidence in his own rightness.

In a broad sense, conformity in psychology is the subordination of one individual to the opinion and behavior of the majority. In this case, the individual may not have his own opinion at all or believe that the group is right.

Conformity in psychology is a personality trait, a tendency to conformism. This is the tendency to transform beliefs and views according to the opinion of the majority or the opinion of one (several) significant people. If conformity becomes the leading personality trait, then such a person is classified as a person of a conformist personality type. He obeys the majority always and in everything.

The severity of conformity depends on the size and cohesion of the group. The more people who stand for something, the more likely it is that an individual will conform to their worldview.

What else influences the development of conformity:

the aggressiveness of the group (the more aggressive and dangerous it is for the “others”, the more willing the loners are to step on their own throats and submit to the majority);
an individual's dependence on or attachment to a group;
gender (women are more prone to conformism);
age (children and adolescents are at risk);
social status (people from the lower strata of the population are at risk);
education (uneducated people or people with a low level of intelligence are at risk);
anxiety and suggestibility (the more pronounced these characteristics are, the higher the risk);
lack of understanding of the issues that are discussed by the majority, or indifference to them.

Conformity in sociology is a person’s increased ability to adapt and the desire to adapt. That is, a person submits to the majority in order to enter society.

Nonconformity is the opposite of conformity. This is a person's tendency to be non-conformist. Considering this as a personality trait, we can compare nonconformity with a rebellious spirit, the desire to be “different from everyone else.” Are rebels born or made? As is often the case, the truth is in the middle: some people are naturally inclined toward nonconformism or conformism, but this develops under the influence of the environment. Other people are not naturally inclined to conformism or nonconformism, but due to upbringing they can become one or the other. And there is a third category of people: they can be both rebels and conformists. It depends on the individual case and their assessment of reality.

Nonconformity is a person’s tendency to have a rebellious spirit, a desire to be “different from everyone else.”

Social conformism

Every society consists of groups, collectives, firms and organizations. If a person lives in a state, then sooner or later he necessarily becomes part of the group. First he appears in the family, then makes friends, goes through kindergarten and school, attends clubs, etc. In other words, a person wants to be part of a certain group, use its resources, strength, approval, respect, etc. To achieve this, you need to be social conformal.

What does this mean? Social conformism is understood as uncritical (slave) submission and adherence to social order, customs, traditions, rules, beliefs and worldview. A person refuses to express his opinion, even if he has one. At the same time, he absolutely accepts public opinion and does not oppose it, even if he internally disagrees with it. Social conformism presupposes the thoughtless and uncritical acceptance, following and submission to all the rules and norms, the foundations of the group to which a person belongs, which allows him to refuse personal responsibility for his actions and words expressed, since they will correspond to the orders that are welcomed in his surroundings.

Depending on mentality and upbringing, a person becomes more or less conformist. Much depends on the following circumstances:

When a person is faced with a task that he is not able to cope with on his own, then he becomes conformist. The more he needs, the greater the force of conformity arises.
The strength of conformity depends on the size of the group in which he finds himself. The larger the group, the more conforming the person.
The strength of conformity depends on the number of like-minded people. The more opinions a person has with a group, the more conformist he becomes.
Low self-esteem makes a person more conformist.
If the group contains specialists, authorities, people with higher positions and titles, then the person becomes more conformist.
The more united the team, the higher the conformity between the participants.
If a person tries to resist a group, then his conformity decreases even more if he gets at least one like-minded person.
A person is more conforming to those who are socially higher and stronger than him.
Conformity becomes higher if a person meets people in person rather than by correspondence.

Every person is part of society. Hence, there are 4 types of behavioral response:

External (true) conformism - when a person only outwardly demonstrates agreement with the group, while internally he disagrees and has his own different opinion.
Internal (adaptive) conformism - when an individual actually internally accepts and agrees with the foundations, rights and opinions of the group, follows everything. This is where he becomes most suggestible.
Negativism - when an individual does not agree with the group, clearly expresses his opinion, opposes, actively fights, etc.
Nonconformism is the presence of an individual’s own opinion, rules and norms of life by which he lives independently. This is characteristic only of self-sufficient people who do not impose their opinions on others, but are able to adequately resist the pressure of the group and society.

A person’s behavior becomes pure conformism when he does only what is socially approved. In other words, a person tries to behave “correctly” always and everywhere, but the problem is that often the rules and practices in individual groups contradict each other or do not coincide. This is why a person often finds himself in situations where he seems to be doing the “right” thing, but does not get the desired result.

Such a person, who tries to live and do the “right” thing, often feels inadequate because he finds himself in situations where his “right” actions are not perceived as he expected. In this regard, his self-esteem fluctuates, he becomes insecure and indecisive.

The advantages of group conformity are:

Group cohesion.
Simplicity in organizing general activities.
The ability to easily fit in with a new person.

The disadvantages of group conformity are:

The individual is not able to make independent decisions and does not know how to change when external circumstances change.
Totalitarianism, genocide, mass crime and suicide become possible.
Various prejudices and biases arise that must weigh on the minority.
There is a lack of creativity, development and originality, since this is frowned upon if it contradicts an already established order.

Is conformity good or bad?

In modern Western society, conformity is usually frowned upon.
Agreeing with a group is not considered bad, but it should be based on inner conviction, and not on the desire to “not stand out from the crowd.” From the point of view of the values of individualism, a person must defend his views and fight for the truth, without fear of public condemnation. An example of non-conforming behavior. August Landmesser, a shipyard worker in Hamburg, refuses to raise his hand in a Nazi salute. Landmesser's wife had Jewish roots. Photo from 1934, author unknown

In collectivist societies this issue is looked at differently. There, the ability to not quarrel with people and accept common opinions is perceived as wisdom.

For example, conformity is very strong in Japanese culture. From childhood, the Japanese are taught to put the common good above their own, to be ashamed of public condemnation. This is how some explain the high standard of living of the Japanese, their hard work and mutual assistance, and the low crime rate in the country.

Critics point out, however, that thanks to a culture of collectivism in the 1930s and 40s, Japanese society readily submitted to the militaristic leadership that established a totalitarian regime and dragged the country into World War II.

Children in a Japanese school greet their teacher. 1956. Photo: Getty Images

Causes

What factors influence the emergence of conformity? The definition of conformism allowed scientists to establish that this phenomenon is due to the following reasons:

poor awareness (if a person does not have sufficient information on the topic discussed in the group, he is inclined to listen to the opinions of experts and trust them);
poor development of a person’s communication skills (for such people, defending their opinion is stressful, therefore, in order to maintain a healthy state of health, it is more profitable for them to silently accept the position of the majority);
indifference to the problem under consideration (if a person is not interested in discussing the topic, he agrees with the opinion of the majority in order to quickly end this conversation);
aggressive attitude of group members towards the newcomer (obeying the instinct of self-preservation, the newcomer quickly accepts the rules of this group);
the individual’s interest in membership in a given community (if a person, when joining a group, pursues his personal interests, he will agree with the rules of the community at least outwardly);
the desire to occupy a certain position in the enterprise (the reason for conformity in production can be a person’s desire to occupy a leadership position - in this case he will agree with the boss in everything);
social position in society (representatives of the lower strata of the population are more inclined to share the opinion of the majority);
errors in upbringing (if the parents chose an authoritarian parenting style or there was overprotection in the parent-child family, then psychologists are confident that the child in such conditions will grow up to be a conformist);
level of education (the lower a person’s level of education or his IQ, the more often he behaves like a conformist);
gender (for women, merging with the reference group has become a typical model of behavior);
insufficient level of psychological maturity (as a result of the immaturity of some personal constructs, adolescents more often demonstrate conformity);
low level of self-esteem (self-doubt makes a person rely on the leader’s opinion and obey him);
increased personal anxiety combined with a person’s suggestibility (in situations of uncertainty, people with such personality characteristics find it difficult to defend their own point of view and resist group pressure);
fear of loneliness (fearing being rejected, a person becomes a conformist);
belonging to a certain culture. The reasons for conformity can be determined by a person’s nationality: in the West, this personality trait is regarded as negative (associated with compliance and submissiveness), and in the East, conformity and conformity are approved (perceived as tact).

When clients come to me who want to get rid of a position of subordination, I first need to determine the reasons for the development of conformity in them, so I tell them: “Briefly describe your thoughts that arise in those moments when you agree with the opinion of the majority and give your definition of the concept of conformity."

The reasons for conformity are closely related to the factors of manifestation of conformity.

Classification of conformism

Conformisms are different. They are distinguished by the cause of occurrence, degree, attitude to one’s own thoughts and other factors. There are several classifications of conformism.

Traditionally, conformity is divided into two types

Internal conformity - in this case a person reconsiders his views, changes his position; This is practically the same thing as self-censorship.
External conformity - while internal acceptance of a different opinion does not occur, the person remains true to himself. He is only trying to appear “correct”, avoiding showing his disagreement with social norms. It is in this case that what is commonly called “conformism” is observed.

There are other divisions of conformity. Thus, Herbert Kelman proposes three stages of conformist behavior

Submission - in this case, there is only an external acceptance of influence, which continues only as long as the one who exerts the influence is in the field of vision of the individual.
Identification. It also has two varieties: in the first, a person becomes like an agent of influence because he feels sympathy for him; in the second, each participant accepts certain rules of behavior that the partner expects from him, and he himself expects certain behavior from him.
Internalization - in this case, the opinion of society partially or entirely coincides with the opinion of the individual. There is a complete interpenetration of the individual and the social environment; thanks to this, the behavior of the individual becomes relatively independent of external conditions.

G. Song proposed another classification of conformism. The first type is conscious behavior in which a person shows conformity, guided by certain considerations. The second type is irrational conformism, or the so-called “herd instinct”; in this case, the person acts unconsciously, “purely automatically” exhibiting the same behavior as those around him. Let us remember Vasily Alibabaevich, who, when asked what made him escape from prison, innocently replied: “Everyone ran - and I ran.”

Definition of the concept and classification

Human conformity is passive agreement with the opinion of the majority of people in the social group in which the individual is located or adaptation to it. This concept represents the fulfillment of any requirements that arise before an individual, and unquestioningly. Demands of this nature are expressed either by the public or by authority. In addition, such a term may hide a lack of personal opinion.

The phenomenon of conformity has been studied by scientists for quite a long time. For example, Sheriff proved that people have a tendency to agree with what others say, to compromise their beliefs in order not to stand out from the crowd.

The tendency to support public opinion is reflected in various areas. I bring to your attention types of conformism.

Interior. Personal interests are suppressed, and personal conflict is evident. Any beliefs prevent self-realization and lead to the support of other people's ideas.
External. The opinion of an individual is determined by the society in which he finds himself.

They stand out in relation to others.

Passive. Someone else's opinion is supported by someone from the outside. The person is under pressure.
Active. A specific person directs his actions. A person himself decides to support someone else’s idea.

They differentiate according to the degree of awareness.

Deliberate. This option is very rare. The person understands that he has a bad behavioral trait. Accepts conformity and considers it normal.
Unconscious. The person does not notice that he is doing something wrong. It seems to him that the supported decision is correct, the choice is objective.

There are levels of conformity:

perception - submission occurs under the influence of group opinion;
assessment - submission occurs in which a person admits that his assessment is wrong, while joining the opinion of the majority, which was recognized as correct;
action - submission accompanies the individual's awareness of the wrongness of the entire group, but at the same time agreement is formed with the others due to the reluctance to start a conflict.

If we consider the manifestation of conformity, then it is necessary to take into account that there are positive and negative traits. The positive ones include:

increasing cohesion in a critical situation;
strengthening the organization through joint activities;
reduction of adaptation time in a team.

Among the negative ones there are:

inability to make decisions independently;
creating conditions for the development of totalitarian sects in the state;
creation of prejudices;
massacres.