Learning and conformity are distinct psychological processes

Evidence

Whereas Allport used conformity and learning almost interchangeably, current researchers would say that the children’s awareness of the need to follow social rules may motivate them quickly to learn such rules, but that the two are distinct: learning is the acquisition of a novel response, whereas conformity is following the assumed rules. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2001

Categorization

• DEFINE: A clean conceptual distinction: learning as acquiring novel responses versus conformity as following assumed rules.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 2001
• XREF: connects to: Learning-by-alteration and actualizing-a-habit are two different kinds of transition — Catherine Malabou, The Future of Hegel: Plasticity,…, 445; Conformist transmission evolves robustly across far more conditions than heavy social learning does — Joe Henrich and Robert Boyd, The Evolution of Conformist…, 65; Grades reward social conformity more than cognitive achievement — Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis, Schooling in Capitalist America:…, 495 (+1 more)