Grasping Hard MCAT Topics: The Three Levels of Conformity – Compliance, Identification, and Internalization

As I prepare for the next stage of my medical journey, I’ve decided to take a slightly different turn on The Medical Humanist for the next few months. For those of you following my journey, you know that the path to medical school is as much about understanding the science as it is about understanding people. And so, in the lead-up to a major milestone in my career, we’ll be focusing on the core topics that not only help students like me prepare for the MCAT but also provide insight into human behavior, health, and society. I invite you to join me on this exploration, starting with an important topic in the psychology and sociology section: the three levels of conformity—compliance, identification, and internalization.

Conformity is something we all experience, whether we realize it or not. It shapes how we behave in social settings, how we adapt to new environments, and even how we see ourselves within the world. As future medical professionals, we must understand this concept, not just to pass an exam but to better relate to patients, peers, and the medical community at large. So, let’s break it down.

Compliance: Going Along with the Group (Even When You Disagree)

Compliance is the most surface-level form of conformity. It happens when we outwardly conform to the expectations of a group or authority figure, while privately holding a different view. We’ve all done this in some form—maybe you’ve followed a professor’s study advice that didn’t resonate with you, or perhaps you adhered to social norms at a gathering just to avoid conflict. Compliance is about avoiding tension in the short term but not necessarily aligning with the behavior on a deeper level.

An example for this would be a college student who was a non-vegetarian all his life but has roommates that he wants to get along with all his roommates who happen to all be vegetarians. The college student will not eat meat to fit in with his roommates to avoid tension and to gain a reward, friendship.

Identification: Fitting In with a Group

Identification takes conformity a step further. This level involves adopting behaviors or beliefs because you want to be associated with a group or a role model. Unlike compliance, there’s a sense of connection here—you might not fully believe in the behavior yet, but you want to fit in or emulate someone you admire.

For this one we will use the same example as compliance, however, they key difference here is the college student legitimately wants to change to become a vegetarian to ensure a strong bond is created. 

Internalization: When Beliefs Become Your Own

Finally, we reach internalization—the deepest form of conformity. At this level, individuals adopt behaviors and beliefs because they genuinely accept them as their own. Over time, these values align with one’s personal views, shaping decisions and actions even when external pressures aren’t present. This is where the college student who was previously incorporated a carnivore diet into his life is now a complete vegetarian. 

Compliance vs Identification

There can be a little confusion when it comes to compliance vs identification. It’s important to remember that compliance is done without the intention to create a source-level change. In Identification the individual aspires to align themselves with a that group, creating a source level change.