2.3.3—Conformity

Conformity is a change in behaviour, judgement or expressed attitude toward a group standard. It is often called majority influence, although a minority can also influence a group under different conditions.

Normative social influence is driven by acceptance and fear of rejection; informational social influence is driven by uncertainty and the belief that others know what to do. The same outward answer can arise from different motives.

In Asch-style line judgements, some participants gave an obviously wrong answer after several confederates agreed. The result demonstrates majority pressure in that task, not that people always abandon private beliefs.

Conformity is not obedience and it is not proof of internal belief change. Look for the group standard, the uncertainty or acceptance motive, and whether the person later returns to the original view.