Conformity comes in different forms. We may conform because we want to be part of the cool kids, or because we believe that the cool kids are living the "right" way, or just to avoid a punishment. In this post, I'll be briefly going over conformity in the form of Internalization.
Internalization is when we integrate the information someone gives us as part of our own values. Unlike compliance, there is no external reward for conforming. The reward is that you believe you're right. Unlike identification, our conformity isn't dependent on a third party and their influence. Once we internalize information, that behavior or value we've acquired from it is now independent and it becomes very difficult to influence a person against it. The only motivation to internalize something is to be right.
In order for an observer to internalize information, the provider of the information must appear to be credible by the observer. For some, a priest might be considered a credible person because of how they've been brought up and socialized. For others, a scientist will be considered a credible person. Anyone we perceive as an expert and a trustworthy person, we tend to believe and internalize their information because we desire to be right.
Secondary gain, is simply a gain that is secondary to the intended one. For example, say someone is using compliance to help you get to bed and wake up on time. Let's say that he accomplishes this by blasting Justin Bieber songs into your room every time you go past your bed time or wake up late. As soon as this punishment stops, many people will stop complying due to the absence of the punishment. However, through the process of complying in order to avoid The Biebs, you might've experienced the secondary gains of: having more energy, feeling more alert, feeling happier, being more productive, etc. You might've discovered that you don't have to feel like a zombie everyday, and that by continuing these behaviors you'll continue to feel good. Due to these secondary gains, you now believe that going to sleep early, and waking early, are the correct behaviors; and as a result, you will continue following through.
This might not be the case for you, but many people have moved past the point where they need to hear other people saying "bless you" after a sneeze in order to keep saying it. Many people say it because they believe it's the right thing to do, regardless of whether it makes sense or not. In other words, people learn to say "bless you" from other people, not really thinking about why, then they internalize the behavior and continue saying it because it's the right thing to do.
What is Conformity?
Conformity is a change in a person's behavior, or thinking, as a result of influence from another person or persons. It doesn't necessarily have to be real pressure, conformity caused by imagined pressure is also called conformity.What is Internalization?
In order for an observer to internalize information, the provider of the information must appear to be credible by the observer. For some, a priest might be considered a credible person because of how they've been brought up and socialized. For others, a scientist will be considered a credible person. Anyone we perceive as an expert and a trustworthy person, we tend to believe and internalize their information because we desire to be right.
How Compliance Can Lead to Internalization
Internalization is a different form of conformity, in which I go into more detail here. Essentially, internalization is a very strong form of conformity in which the individual genuinely believes that the information he is receiving is correct, and acts or thinks accordingly. Compliance can lead to internalization, but not directly. Compliance can turn in internalization through secondary gain.Secondary gain, is simply a gain that is secondary to the intended one. For example, say someone is using compliance to help you get to bed and wake up on time. Let's say that he accomplishes this by blasting Justin Bieber songs into your room every time you go past your bed time or wake up late. As soon as this punishment stops, many people will stop complying due to the absence of the punishment. However, through the process of complying in order to avoid The Biebs, you might've experienced the secondary gains of: having more energy, feeling more alert, feeling happier, being more productive, etc. You might've discovered that you don't have to feel like a zombie everyday, and that by continuing these behaviors you'll continue to feel good. Due to these secondary gains, you now believe that going to sleep early, and waking early, are the correct behaviors; and as a result, you will continue following through.
How Identification can Lead to Internalization
Think about something you believe in or behaviors you engage in. For example, when someone sneezes, do you say "bless you" or "God bless you"? What is it about a simple sneeze that requires someone to be blessed? In the past, this phrase had meaning, but nowadays it makes little sense to bless someone who sneezes (especially if you're an atheist). You didn't start saying it because you want to avoid a punishment, but because at one point you heard other people saying it.This might not be the case for you, but many people have moved past the point where they need to hear other people saying "bless you" after a sneeze in order to keep saying it. Many people say it because they believe it's the right thing to do, regardless of whether it makes sense or not. In other words, people learn to say "bless you" from other people, not really thinking about why, then they internalize the behavior and continue saying it because it's the right thing to do.
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