Conformal behavior is one of the most common terms in social psychology. It is used to refer to situations when a person abandons his opinion, his very individuality for the sake of others.
Characteristic of conformal behavior
The essence of conformal behavior is the desire of a person to imitate others in everything. As a rule, this applies even to situations when the group has adopted standards of behavior that contradict generally accepted norms. For example, a schoolboy, imitating a group of his classmates, can start smoking, offend younger ones or allow other actions that are condemned by society. He completely adopts the lifestyle of people included in his main circle of communication, and abandons his habits and tastes. Conformal behavior is especially pronounced when a person changes his appearance, including clothes and hairstyle, to be similar to others, even if the new look contradicts his tastes.
Conformal behavior may have several reasons. Most often, people who do not want to face problems choose it. They seek to gain authority or at least protect themselves from the condemnation of others, in everything adapting to them and completely obeying the opinions of others. There is, however, another option: a person can adapt, obey the rules of the group in order to achieve any goal.
Conformal behavior, as a rule, is considered acceptable only if it helps a person to get rid of addictions and traits, taking the correct opinion of the majority. In general, the most successful option is to use only some elements of conformal behavior, provided that the person retains his individuality. This allows him to remain himself and at the same time maintain good relations with others.