Conformity
IB PsychologyΒ· Sociocultural approachΒ· 11 min read
1. Core concept
Conformity is adjusting our own behaviour or judgement to fit in with a group. People do this even when the group is plainly wrong β mainly out of normative influence, the wish to be accepted and not stand out, and, when a situation is genuinely ambiguous, out of informational influence, taking others as a guide to what is correct. Studying it shows how powerfully the immediate social situation, not just personal character, shapes what individuals do.
2. Key studies
IB Psychology answers must be supported by named studies. Learn these to cite as evidence:
Asch (1951)
On a simple line-judgement task, about a third of responses on critical trials matched the group's obviously wrong answer, and around three-quarters of participants conformed at least once. β The classic demonstration that people will publicly go along with a group against the plain evidence of their own eyes β normative conformity.
3. Evaluation (AO3)
Strength β controlled and replicable β The line task has an unambiguous right answer, so conformity is measured cleanly, and the effect has been repeated many times.
Limitation β time- and culture-bound β 1950s US samples and an artificial task may overstate conformity; rates vary across eras and are typically higher in more collectivist cultures, so the figure is not universal.
4. Scope
5. Common Pitfalls
Wrong move:
Conformity is the same as obedience.
Why:
A frequently penalised misconception in IB Psychology exams.
Correct move:
Conformity is yielding to the pressure of PEERS or a group (no one orders you). Obedience is following a direct order from an AUTHORITY. Keep the two apart.
Going deeper
- Compliance techniquescompliance is the request-based form of social influence, contrasted with group conformity (SOC_2).
- Social identity theorysocial identity theory explains WHY group membership exerts this pressure (SOC_9).