Conformity in Fashion

Sociology Psychology

What is Conformity

- Ways in which individuals or groups choose to conform from inner motivation.

- Most psychological conformity comes from group pressure and fear of rejection.

- Ways in which individuals or groups are induced or compelled to confirm to certain norms and values.

- The most obvious social control are law, government, religion, marriage, family, education and social classes.

This change is in response to real or imagined group pressure.

Group pressure may take different forms, for example bullying, persuasion, teasing, criticism etc. Conformity is also known as majority influence.

Conformity is a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behavior in order to fit in with a group.

Conformity can also be simply defined as “yielding to group pressures” (Crutchfield, 1955).

Man and Society

"Conformity in Fashion Trend"

Types of Group Pressure

Physical

Presence

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( taken from http://www.thrivingnow.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/bigstock_School_Bullies_3264765-450x300.jpg )

Imagined

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( taken from http://lavidaleica.com/sites/default/files/Passing_Rumors_0.jpg )

Economics

Conformity is one of the factors that determine the amount of demand and supply in the economic system.

Taste and fashion is one of the factors that change the amount of demand. If consumers favor one specific product, the price of that product will increase, as well as the quantity demanded. This affects the graph of demand and supply. Popular and trendy products are, most of the time, more expensive than unpopular ones. The change in demand changes the graph of supply and demand and might change the equilibrium price completely.

Why Do We Conform?

Fashion Trend

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- To fit in with our social groups

- Fear of rejection

- Lack of knowledge Need guidance

- To impress or gain favor

Individuals

Group

Fashion trend is a part of human society. New fashion comes and goes all the time. However, if the trend catch on, majority of people will start to give attention and adopt it. Type of conformity in fashion trend is called "Normative". In this case, people conform in order to fit in and gain acceptance even though they might privately disagree with the trend.

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( taken from https://boyofbow13.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/gothic-fashion-ladies-2.jpg)

Our survey

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Demographics : Bangkokians

Independent variables : Age, gender, nationality, status, income and career

Dependent variables : Level of conformity

Controlled variables : Places of survey (Siam and areas nearby)

Survey Analysis

People mostly said that they are not a type of people who usually follow social trend and did not feel that using trendy goods is needed in order to fit in the group or society.

However, there are somewhat difference between Asian people and Western people in each relating factor.