Conformity is usually associated with approval or acceptance.
In order to know the meaning of the term conformity , it is necessary, first of all, to discover its etymological origin. In this case, we can say that it derives from Latin, exactly from “conformis” which can be translated as “very similar.” A word that is the result of the sum of two clearly delimited components:
-The prefix “con-”, which means “together”.
-The noun “form”, which is synonymous with “form”.
What is conformity
Conformity can refer to the correspondence , similarity or similarity between two or more elements. The term can also be used to refer to the approval of something.
For example: “The neighbors expressed their agreement with the project to remodel the public park,” “The team coach expressed his agreement with the club president's decision not to hire reinforcements for the next season,” “The ruling was issued in in accordance with articles 156 and 172 bis of the Commercial Code.”
Conformity occurs when two elements correspond to each other.
Correspondence or acceptance
In certain contexts, conformity refers to two or more things corresponding to each other. The owner of a company can inform his employees that, in accordance with the request of the union delegates, workers will be allowed to wear casual clothing every Friday. The company's decision, therefore, corresponds to the delegates' request.
Conformity can also be acceptance or consent . If the principal of a school expresses that she gave her approval to the students to organize a musical festival with the aim of raising funds for a study trip, what she is saying is that she approved the students' idea.
Conformity in psychology
In the field of psychology , the idea of conformity is used to name a modification of attitude or behavior to achieve acceptance by a group . This conformity means that the pressure exerted by the group leads the individual to adapt to the thought or opinion of the majority.
In this case, we come across the fact that conformity is actually linked to other concepts such as social influence, social pressure, acceptance or obedience, for example.
No less relevant is knowing that, staying in the field of psychology, we find three different types of conformity, such as the following:
– Identification , which means that a person adopts and assimilates certain characteristics of another external model. Model that can be a single individual or a group.
- Compliance . This other type of conformity is what takes place when a person publicly comes to show total agreement with the opinions of the group while keeping their own opinions to themselves. If that individual decides to act this way it is because he is afraid of being rejected by the group if he expresses his opinions and they turn out to be against those of the group.
– Internalization . It occurs when the person is able to fully agree with the opinion of a group even though he or she is no longer part of it.