Correlates of conformity in three cultures

The present study sought to investigate the correlates of conformity among two South African and an Australian sample. Employing paper and pencil measures, the following were found to be significant correlates of conformity across the three various groups: Conformers generally have a low level of education, are characterised by their authoritarian attitudes, but do not have authoritarian personalities as measured by the Ray (1976) Directiveness scale. Conformers can be of either sex. By contrast, self-esteem and patriotism were found to be unique correlates, that is, they reflect the cultural milieu of the individual. © 1986.