Meaning of Conformity
Conformity and deviance are two responses to real or imagined pressure from others. Conformity means going along with one’s peers-individuals of a person’s own status. According to Robert Merton refers to the acceptance of cultural goals and the legitimate or approved means of achieving them.
Deviance is a behaviour that violates the standards of conduct or expectations or social norms of a group or society. Alcoholics, compulsive gamblers, and the mentally ill would be classified as deviants. Being late for class is categorized as a deviant act: the same is true of wearing jeans to a formal wedding. On the basis of the sociological definition, we are all deviant from time to time.
Factors Influencing Conformity
1. In a face to face, group conformity is greater than when the individual gets a chance to express his view secretly. Such as open voting and secret voting. Conformity is more found in open voting than in secret voting.
2. If a person expresses his feelings in writing before he joins group conformity is reduced to some extent.
3. In a group feeling a sense of belongingness to the group and the feeling that he is a part of the group increases conformity with the group.
4. A person having status influences another person’s behaviour and conformity and influence work together.
Causes of conformity[1]
Harry M. Johnson has spoken of a few causes of conformity to social norms. Some of them may be briefed here.
1. Socialization: It is through the process of socialization that social norms are internalized by the individuals. Hence norms become an inseparable part of their personality. Proper social training always supports conformity.
2. Insulation: Role conflict and conflict in the norms that apply to the same actor may contribute to deviance. But some built-in arrangements may serve to reduce normative conflict and thereby contribute to conformity.
a. One such arrangement is that the norms that might conflict are prevented from doing so by applying to different times and places.
b. Another kind of insulation is that a given actor carries out the activities of his various roles with or face-to-face with a different role- sets. For example, a bank manager may learn music through his own sub-ordinate during non-official working hours accepting him as his own teacher. He may give rewards and show respect to his sub-ordinate in this regard. But during the working hours, the sub-ordinate will have to accept his inferior status and obey the commands of the manager.
Thus, even though the individuals remain the same in both the contexts their roles and role expectations differ markedly. The clarity with regard to the role expectations helps to reduce uncertainty and conflict and support conformity.
3. Hierarchy of Norms: Norms that apply to the same actor are found to be in the form of a hierarchy. It means the norms are ranked in order of precedence. Hence if role expectations conflict with one another the actor has grounds for making a choice.
The hierarchy of norms as well as their time and place aspect is part of the culture. For example, a soldier may be put to such a conflicting situation in which either he will have to attend to the needs of the ailing mother who is on the deathbed or rush to the battle-ground to attend to the urgent call of the army.
The hierarchy of values and norms of his society help the soldier to take the appropriate decision. It is through socialisation the hierarchical aspects of the norms are learnt. If the different aspects of a cultural system are properly integrated and if socialisation helps the individual to understand this integration he will have no difficulty in following the expected forms of behaviour. The integration of the cultural system serves as a guide for individual behaviour.
4. Social Control: Various formal, as well as informal means of social control, help the socialized actor to imagine and anticipate what would happen to him if he violated the norms. Thus, sanctions lead the conformity even though they are not actually applied.
5. Ideology: People’s conformity to group norms depends to some extent upon the ideas and ideology that they hold. The norms partly express broader values that are more purely and precisely emphasized in ideology. Ideology strengthens faith in the existing system. Ideology adds to the norms themselves a kind of “intellectual” support. Hence it helps to motivate people to conform to its norms.
6. Vested Interest: Conformity to social norms does not always depend upon idealistic motives alone. Sometimes, due to vested interest or self-interest also people conform to them. Norms define rights as well as obligations. They protect our rights also. Some of the rights protect the exclusion of other members.
Those who enjoy such advantages are likely to be satisfied, with the norms that protect them. Hence, they support these norms with a greater sense of conviction than the disadvantaged persons. Property rights are a good example in this regard.
The term ‘vested interest’ is used here in a neutral sense. Hence it may represent one’s genuine interests or purely selfish interests. Thus, landlord’s rents are vested interests for they are legitimate. Illicit liquor makers support prohibition laws with a vested interest that it would help them to make money.
Other Causes
Robert Bierstedt gives four causes for the question ‘Why we conform to the norms.’ They maybe briefly discussed here.
1. Indoctrination: We conform to the norms simply because we have been indoctrinated to do so. Indoctrination refers to the process of injecting into the personality of the child the group norms. We are taught, for example, to take our bath at certain times, to wash our clothes, to respect our elders, to avoid vulgarity, to walk on the1 right side of the road, and so on./The norms are indoctrinated through the process of socialisation. As a result, they become a part and parcel of the personality of the individual. Conformity to the norms becomes very natural because of indoctrination.
2. Habituation: We conform, to the worms because we become habituated to them. What is customary is likely to become in many cases habitual. Some of the norms are indoctrinated in the beginning, but they become habitual practices afterwards. We are taught to wash our hands and mouth after the meal but after a while, it becomes a matter of habit.
Repetition makes a practice a habit and most of the folkways come to be rooted in the individual in this way. When one is habituated to practice, one observes it automatically, without thinking or putting forth deliberate attempts. Habituation reinforces the norms and guarantees the regularity of conformity.
3. Utility: We appreciate the unity of norms and hence we conform to them. Norms help us to interact with others with much comfort and ease.
For example, (i) we are asked to sell the tickets to a drama show for which only a limited number of seats are available. Then we prefer to sell them to those who come first to purchase them. We justify our action with the expression “first come first served” (ii) similarly we recognize that the flow of traffic at busy intersections is smoother and less dangerous when signal lights are installed.
Thus, we stop at a red light and start at a green one. We find it reasonable to obey the traffic rule for it has the slogan “the life you save may be your own”. In many social situations, we realized the utility of the norms to which we conform.
4. Group Identification: We conform to the norms of our own social groups rather than to those of groups to which we do not belong. We thus conform to the norms because conformity is a means of group identification. By conformity to the norms, we express our identification with the groups.
Sometimes, we even conform to some irrational folkways because they are our own and they identify us with our own society and our own social groups. For example, a particular student tries to bring home-prepared lunch to the college to eat during the lunch interval (even though it is very difficult for him to bring it because of a particular domestic situation) just to be in the company of his fellow members of the ‘clique’.
In some situations, we may try to conform to the norms of the group to which we would like to belong and to identify ourselves. Such groups are called by Merton ‘reference groups.’
For example, a medical student or a law graduate may begin to observe and conform to the norms of doctors or lawyers. Even in this case group identification is significant.
Why Confirmity is Important?
Conformity can be important for several reasons:
1. Social Acceptance: Conforming to social norms and expectations helps individuals gain acceptance and approval from others. Humans are inherently social beings, and being part of a group often provides a sense of security and belonging.
2. Social Order: Conformity contributes to social order by establishing shared rules and behaviours. When people follow common norms, it helps maintain a cohesive and stable society, preventing chaos or conflict.
3. Facilitates Communication: Shared norms and behaviours make communication more efficient. When individuals adhere to common expectations, it creates a shared understanding that simplifies interactions and reduces misunderstandings.
4. Psychological Comfort: Conforming to societal norms can provide psychological comfort and reduce anxiety. Knowing that one's actions align with accepted standards can create a sense of reassurance and reduce the fear of social rejection.
5. Group Cohesion: Conformity often enhances group cohesion. When individuals within a group behave similarly, it fosters unity and cooperation, which can be essential for achieving common goals.
6. Cultural Transmission: Conformity helps transmit cultural values, traditions, and practices from one generation to the next. It plays a role in the continuity and preservation of cultural identity.
7. Adaptation: Conforming to certain social behaviours allows individuals to adapt to their environment. It helps them navigate societal expectations and function effectively within their community.
While conformity has its benefits, it's essential to note that blind conformity without critical thinking can also lead to negative outcomes. Striking a balance between conformity and individuality is crucial for a healthy and dynamic society.
[1] Rao, C. N. (2012). Principles of Sociology. New Delhi: S. Chand. p 472-475
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