Culture has a big impact on how people fit in with groups and how they act when they are unsure of what to do.

Normative Conformity

• What It Is: Normative conformity happens when people go along with a group to be liked or accepted.
• How Culture Affects It:
  • In cultures that value togetherness, like Japan and Korea, people often conform more. Studies show that 87% of people in these cultures stick to social rules to keep harmony in the group.
  • On the other hand, in cultures that value independence, like the USA and Canada, fewer people conform. About 57% of people in these cultures choose to follow their own beliefs instead of just going along with the crowd.

Informational Conformity

• What It Is: Informational conformity occurs when people look to others for clues on how to behave in unclear situations.
• How Culture Influences This:
  • Research shows that in groups where everyone is similar, people are more likely to go with what the group decides. For example, in a study about unclear situations, 75% of participants from collectivist cultures changed their answers based on what others said.
  • In contrast, people from individualistic cultures are less likely to follow the group. Only 45% changed their answers when they weren't sure.

Summary

Culture is really important in deciding how much and why people conform. In collective cultures, people often conform to keep social ties strong, while in individualistic cultures, people usually express their personal thoughts more freely. Understanding these cultural differences helps us see how conformity works in different groups of people.