Psychological Characteristics of Students’ Susceptibility to Conformity

Abstract

This article empirically examines the psychological characteristics of students’ propensity toward conformity within the context of personality development, group influence, and socio-psychological regulation. In the modern higher education environment, a student operates under conditions of social norms, academic requirements, and peer group pressure. In such an environment, conformity is considered a complex phenomenon that characterizes the internal psychological balance between maintaining one’s own opinion and adapting to group norms. The purpose of the study is to determine students’ propensity toward conformity and to identify its relationship with personality traits, emotional stability, and the style of social interaction. The study was conducted among students of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and Kainar University. The sample included 75 students aged 18–19. During the empirical research, psychodiagnostic methods for determining the level of conformity, personality assessment questionnaires, and instruments for measuring emotional indicators were used. The data were processed using the correlation analysis method. The results showed that students’ propensity toward conformity is associated with their level of self-esteem, indicators of social dependency, and characteristics of emotional regulation. The scientific significance lies in clarifying the psychological structure of conformity during the student period. The practical value lies in providing a basis for developing psychological programs aimed at fostering independence and critical thinking in educational institutions.