Types of conformity | AQA A-Level Psychology Revision

For 7182 specification, first teach in September 2025

AQA A-Level Psychology | Free Revision Notes

Estimated study time: 25 minutes

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Types of conformity describe how deeply a person changes when influenced by a group. In this Types of conformity A-Level Psychology revision page, you will learn the difference between internalisation and compliance, focusing on whether changes in behaviour and beliefs are lasting or temporary. This is the first lesson within Social influence and provides an essential foundation for understanding why people conform. The AQA specification requires students to study internalisation and compliance as the two types of conformity.

Learning Objectives 🎯

By the end of this revision page, you should be able to:

• Define internalisation and compliance.

• Describe how behaviour and beliefs change during each type of conformity.

• Distinguish between lasting and temporary conformity.

• Compare internalisation with compliance.

• Apply the two types of conformity to unfamiliar situations.

• Justify your identification of a type of conformity using evidence from a scenario.

Revision Notes 📚

Types of conformity A-Level Psychology revision overview

Conformity occurs when a person changes their behaviour or beliefs so that they are more closely aligned with those of a group.

The AQA specification identifies two types of conformity:

1. Internalisation

2. Compliance

The key difference is the depth and duration of the change.

• During internalisation, both behaviour and beliefs change in a lasting way.

• During compliance, behaviour changes temporarily, but the person’s underlying beliefs do not change.

• 
  

This distinction is important when you later study how group size, unanimity and task difficulty affect conformity 

Internalisation

Internalisation is a type of conformity involving a lasting change in both a person’s behaviour and beliefs.

The person does not simply behave like the group. They accept the group’s position and come to regard it as correct or personally meaningful.

As a result:

• The person’s behaviour changes.

• The person’s beliefs change.

• The change is lasting.

• The new behaviour is likely to continue even when the group is no longer present.

Example of internalisation

A student’s friends regularly discuss the importance of reducing plastic waste. The student begins using reusable containers and comes to believe strongly that reducing plastic waste is important. They continue doing this when they are alone and after leaving the friendship group.

This is internalisation because:

• The student’s behaviour has changed.

• Their beliefs have also changed.

• The change continues without the group being present.

Internalisation can therefore be identified from evidence showing that the person has genuinely accepted the group’s position.

Compliance

Compliance is a type of conformity involving a temporary change in behaviour without a corresponding lasting change in beliefs.

The person behaves in a way that matches the group, but they have not personally accepted the group’s position.

As a result:

• The person’s behaviour changes.

• Their underlying beliefs remain unchanged.

• The change is temporary.

• The behaviour may stop when the group is no longer present.

Example of compliance

At a social event, everyone in a group says that they enjoy a particular film. Ben says that he enjoyed it too, even though he privately thought it was boring. Later, when speaking to someone outside the group, he says that he did not like it.

This is compliance because:

• Ben changed what he said while he was with the group.

• His actual belief about the film did not change.

• His response changed once he was outside the group situation.

Understanding temporary conformity will also help when studying how people can resist group pressure

Comparing internalisation and compliance

Feature	Internalisation	Compliance
Does behaviour change?	Yes	Yes
Do beliefs change?	Yes	No lasting change
Duration of change	Lasting	Temporary
Likely to continue without the group?	Yes	Less likely
Depth of conformity	Deeper change involving behaviour and beliefs	Behavioural change only

A useful memory rule is:

Internalisation goes inside, because the person’s beliefs change as well as their behaviour.

Compliance is temporary, because the person follows the group without truly accepting its position.

How to identify the type of conformity in a scenario

In an application question, do not identify the type from the behaviour alone. Both internalisation and compliance involve a change in behaviour.

Instead, use the following process:

1. Identify the behaviour change.

   What has the person started or stopped doing?

2. Look for evidence about beliefs.

   Has the person genuinely accepted the group’s position?

3. Consider how long the change lasts.

   Does the behaviour continue after the group is absent?

4. Select the type of conformity.

   Lasting change in behaviour and beliefs suggests internalisation. Temporary behaviour change without changed beliefs suggests compliance.

5. Support your answer with the scenario.

   Quote or paraphrase a relevant detail and explain why it demonstrates the chosen type.

Application example

Mia joins a drama group in which the other members believe that regular breathing exercises improve performance. Mia begins completing the exercises and, after noticing that they help her concentrate, comes to believe they are valuable. She continues using them after leaving the group.

A strong application would identify internalisation because Mia’s behaviour and beliefs have both changed, and she continues the behaviour after leaving the group.

By contrast, if Mia completed the exercises only during group sessions but did not believe they were useful, this would be compliance.

The ability of group members to produce a lasting change also becomes relevant when studying how minorities influence majorities 

Answering application questions

Application is assessed through Assessment Objective 2 (AO2). You must use psychological knowledge in relation to the specific context provided.

A weak answer might state:

This is internalisation because Mia conforms.

This does not explain why the example is internalisation.

A stronger answer would state:

Mia demonstrates internalisation because she has accepted the group’s belief that the exercises are useful. Her change is lasting because she continues using the exercises after leaving the group.

The stronger answer:

• Names the correct type.

• Uses a detail from the scenario.

• Connects that detail to the psychological concept.

• Explains the lasting change in both behaviour and beliefs.

Common Mistakes ⚠️

Mistake: Assuming every change in behaviour is internalisation

Why this is incorrect:Both internalisation and compliance involve a change in behaviour. Behaviour alone does not show whether the person’s beliefs have changed.

How to improve:Look for evidence that the person has genuinely accepted the group’s position and that the change continues without the group.

Mistake: Saying that compliance changes both behaviour and beliefs

Why this is incorrect:Compliance involves a temporary change in behaviour. The person does not show a lasting change in their underlying beliefs.

How to improve:Remember that compliance affects what the person does, but internalisation affects what the person does and believes.

Mistake: Describing internalisation as a temporary change

Why this is incorrect:Internalisation is distinguished by its lasting nature. The change is likely to continue because the person has accepted the group’s position.

How to improve:Use the phrase lasting change in behaviour and beliefs whenever you define internalisation.

Mistake: Identifying the type without using the scenario

Why this is incorrect:An application question requires you to connect psychological knowledge to the details provided.

How to improve:After naming the type, select one detail from the scenario and explain how it demonstrates either a lasting belief change or a temporary behavioural change.

Mistake: Deciding the type according to whether the behaviour is positive or negative

Why this is incorrect:The type of conformity does not depend on whether the behaviour is helpful, harmful, sensible or unusual.

How to improve:Base your decision on whether beliefs changed and whether the change was lasting.

Mistake: Confusing the type of conformity with an explanation for conformity

Why this is incorrect:Internalisation and compliance describe the form that conformity takes. Explanations for conformity address why conformity occurs.

How to improve:Ask yourself whether the question is about the nature of the change or the reason the person conformed.

Exam-Style Questions ✍️

Question 1

Which one of the following best describes internalisation?

A. A temporary change in behaviour without a change in beliefs

B. A lasting change in behaviour and beliefs

C. A refusal to follow a group

D. A temporary change in beliefs without a change in behaviour

[1 mark]

reveal mark scheme and indicative content

Answer: B. A lasting change in behaviour and beliefs.

Internalisation involves accepting the group's view so that there is a genuine change in both beliefs and behaviour.

Question 2

Define compliance.

[2 marks]

reveal mark scheme and indicative content

Mark scheme

AO1 = 2

• 2 marks: Clear definition including both public conformity and lack of private acceptance.

• 1 mark: Limited or partial definition.

• 0 marks: No relevant content.

Indicative content

• Publicly changing behaviour or expressed opinion to match a group.

• Privately continuing to hold a different belief.

• The change is usually temporary.

Example answer

Compliance is when a person publicly conforms to a group but privately disagrees. The change in behaviour is usually temporary.

Question 3

Outline one difference between internalisation and compliance.

[2 marks]

reveal mark scheme and indicative content

Mark scheme

AO1 = 2

• 1 mark for an accurate feature of internalisation.

• 1 mark for a clear contrasting feature of compliance.

Indicative content

• Internalisation involves private acceptance, compliance does not.

• Internalisation is generally lasting, compliance is generally temporary.

• Internalisation produces agreement both publicly and privately, whereas compliance involves public agreement only.

Example answer

Internalisation involves genuinely accepting the group's beliefs, so the change is likely to continue when the group is absent. Compliance involves only a public change, so behaviour is likely to return to normal when the group is absent.

Question 4

During a college discussion, all of Sam’s classmates say that school uniforms should be compulsory. Sam says that he agrees, although he privately believes that students should choose what they wear. After the discussion, Sam tells his family that he disagreed with the class.

Identify the type of conformity shown by Sam. Explain your answer.

[3 marks]

reveal mark scheme and indicative content

Mark scheme

AO2 = 3

Award 1 mark each for:

• Identifying compliance.

• Explaining that Sam publicly agrees with his classmates despite privately disagreeing.

• Explaining that his disagreement returns/is expressed when the group is absent.

Indicative content

Sam says he supports compulsory uniforms when with his classmates but privately thinks students should choose. His later disagreement with his family shows that his private belief did not change.

Example answer

Sam shows compliance. He publicly agrees with his classmates but privately believes students should choose what they wear. When the group is absent, he expresses his real opinion, showing that the change was temporary.

Question 5

Priya joins a community gardening group. The other members believe that growing food locally benefits the environment. Priya begins growing vegetables and gradually comes to share this belief. She continues growing vegetables several years after leaving the group.

Identify the type of conformity shown by Priya. Use information from the scenario to justify your answer.

[3 marks]

reveal mark scheme and indicative content

Mark scheme

AO2 = 3

Award 1 mark each for:

• Identifying internalisation.

• Explaining that Priya genuinely adopts the group's belief.

• Linking continued behaviour after leaving the group to a lasting change.

Indicative content

Priya comes to believe that growing food locally benefits the environment and continues the behaviour after group pressure has disappeared.

Example answer

Priya shows internalisation. She genuinely comes to share the group's belief that growing food locally benefits the environment. She continues growing vegetables years after leaving, showing that the change is lasting.

Question 6

Two students respond differently to the opinions of their friendship group.

• Ethan tells the group that he supports their opinion, but he privately disagrees and expresses his real opinion when the group is absent.

• Layla initially changes her behaviour to match the group. Over time, she accepts the group’s view and continues the behaviour after moving to another college.

Explain how Ethan and Layla demonstrate different types of conformity.

[4 marks]

reveal mark scheme and indicative content

Mark scheme

AO2 = 4

Award up to 2 marks for each person:

Ethan

• 1 mark: identifies compliance.

• 1 mark: explains that his public behaviour changes but his private opinion does not.

Layla

• 1 mark: identifies internalisation.

• 1 mark: explains that she accepts the group's view and continues the behaviour after leaving the group.

Indicative content

• Ethan conforms only in the group's presence and privately disagrees.

• Layla develops genuine acceptance and the change persists without the group.

Example answer

Ethan demonstrates compliance because he publicly agrees with the group but privately disagrees and expresses his real opinion when they are absent. Layla demonstrates internalisation because she comes to accept the group's view privately and continues the behaviour after moving colleges.

Question 7

A researcher interviewed three people about changes they had made after joining new social groups.

Person	Interview response
A	“I acted as though I agreed when I was with them, but I never really changed my mind.”
B	“Their ideas gradually became my own, and I still follow them now.”
C	“I copied their behaviour during meetings but stopped as soon as I left the group.”

Identify the type of conformity demonstrated by each person. Justify each answer.

[6 marks]

reveal mark scheme and indicative content

Mark scheme

AO2 = 6

Award up to 2 marks per person, 1 for identification and 1 for justification.

Person	Type	Justification
A	Compliance	Public agreement only, with no private change of belief.
B	Internalisation	The group's ideas become personally accepted and persist afterwards.
C	Compliance	Behaviour changes only while the group is present and stops afterwards.

Example answer

A shows compliance because they acted as though they agreed but privately did not change their opinion. B shows internalisation because the group's ideas became their own and the change continued afterwards. C shows compliance because they copied the group only during meetings and stopped when they left.

Question 8

Explain the difference between internalisation and compliance. Refer to the following scenario in your answer.

When Yusuf joined a sports club, he followed its strict training routine only when the coach and other members were present. His friend Ellie joined the same club and came to believe that the routine was essential. Ellie continued following it after she stopped attending the club.

[6 marks]

reveal mark scheme and indicative content

Mark scheme

Suggested allocation: AO1 = 2, AO2 = 4

5–6 marks: Clear and accurate explanation of both types with effective application to both Yusuf and Ellie.

3–4 marks: Some accurate knowledge and appropriate application, but explanation or application may lack detail.

1–2 marks: Limited or muddled knowledge/application.

0 marks: No relevant content.

Indicative content

Compliance

• Public behaviour changes to match the group.

• Private beliefs do not necessarily change.

• Usually temporary.

Internalisation

• The group view is genuinely accepted.

• Both public behaviour and private beliefs change.

• More likely to persist when the group is absent.

Application

• Yusuf follows the routine only when the coach and members are present, indicating compliance.

• Ellie believes the routine is essential and continues after leaving the club, indicating internalisation.

Example answer

Compliance is a temporary public change without genuine private acceptance. Yusuf shows compliance because he follows the training routine only when the coach and other members are present. Internalisation involves genuinely accepting the group's view, producing a more lasting change in beliefs and behaviour. Ellie shows internalisation because she comes to believe the routine is essential and continues it after leaving the club.

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