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Psychology vocabulary · Social Psychology

Conformity

Meaning in psychology, with examples

/kənˈfɔːməti/nounCommon term

In psychology, conformity means: Changing one's behaviour or beliefs to match those of a group because of real or imagined pressure from others.

In Turkish: uyma, uyma davranışı, konformite

How it is used

Classic research includes Solomon Asch's line-judgement studies. Social psychologists distinguish normative influence (wanting to be accepted) from informational influence (assuming the group knows better). The verb is conform to.

Example sentences

  1. In Asch's studies, conformity dropped sharply when just one other person gave the correct answer.

  2. Conformity to peer norms is often especially strong in early adolescence.

Common collocations

  • pressure to conform
  • conformity to norms
  • Asch conformity experiments
  • social conformity
  • obedienceFollowing a direct order from a person seen as an authority, even when it conflicts with one's own judgement or values.
  • social identityThe part of a person's self-concept that comes from belonging to social groups, such as a nation, profession, team or religion, and from the value attached to that membership.
  • attitudeA fairly lasting evaluation of a person, group, object or idea that combines beliefs, feelings and a tendency to act in a positive or negative way.
  • bystander effectThe finding that people are less likely to help someone in an emergency when other people are present, partly because responsibility feels shared.

More terms: Social Psychology

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