Theories Of Conformity

As a society we like to believe that conformity is about acting the way others do, following the crowd; but conformity is actually more complex than that. Conformity involves behaving and thinking differently from the way that you would usually behave and think if you were alone. According to Guandong & colleagues, “conformity is defined as a subject’s behavior or attitudes following those of the object. The subject is the individual who conforms. The object can be external or internal factors that cause conforming actions, in the form of individuals, groups, organizations, policies, rules and regulations…” (Guandong, S., Qinhai, M., Fangfei, W., & Lin, L., 2012) It is also important to note that when individuals decide not to conform, this
“Merton reasoned that people adapt in certain ways, either by conforming to or by deviating from…cultural expectations.” (Schaefer, 2009, pg. 164) Merton’s theory suggests five forms of adaptation: Conformity, Innovation, Ritualism, Retreatism, and Rebellion. However, these forms of adaptation are not necessarily referring to change in personality; rather it is a change in behavior. As stated by Robert Merton, “Examination of how the social structure operates to exert pressure upon individuals for one or another of these alternative modes of behavior must be prefaced by the observation that people may shift from one alternative to another as they engage in different spheres of social activities. These categories refer to role behavior in specific types of situations, not to personality.” (Merton, 1968, pg. 194) Ultimately, Merton suggests that individuals have a need for identifying a societal goal and a means to achieving it; without harmony, between the two,”… societies could exist only as collectives of people rather than as unified cultures…” (Schaefer, 2009,
(Haney, C., Banks, W. C., & Zimbardo, P. G. 1973) In the experiment a group of college students were divided into two groups of guards and prisoners; then the researchers led the two groups into a replicated prison in order to test the effects that their interactions would have on their psyche and behavior. (Haney et al., 1973) The results of the study were that the participants assumed their roles as if the experiment had become reality. Both the prisoners and guards began to act entirely different from their usual selves; prisoners displayed heightened anger and anxiety after experiencing extreme ruthlessness by the guards. (Haney et al., 1973) The conclusions to draw from this experiment are that when individuals are subject to conditions in which they are expected to behave and interact in a certain manner; they will ultimately succumb to what is being asked of them; even if this means completely changing their usual