Expedient conformity and true conformity refer to two different types of conformity in social psychology.
Expedient conformity is when a person conforms for convenience or self-interest, not because they actually agree with the group's behavior or attitudes. The person conforms only to avoid punishment, gain rewards, or avoid standing out. The conformity is superficial and not genuine.
True conformity is when a person actually changes their beliefs and behaviors to align with the group due to internal persuasion and social influence. The person comes to truly believe what the group believes. The conformity represents a real change of opinion and is more lasting.
Some examples:
Expedient conformity: A student pretends to like the same music as their friends even though they don't actually enjoy it, just to fit in and be popular.
True conformity: An employee actively adopts the work ethic and values of their workplace and begins to identify strongly with the company culture.
In summary, expedient conformity is superficial and self-serving while true conformity involves a genuine shift in beliefs and attitudes to align with the group. True conformity tends to be a stronger and more stable form of social influence.