Conformity and differentiation are two sides of the same coin

Variation between individuals is a key component of selection and hence evolutionary change. Social interactions are important drivers of variation, potentially making behaviour more similar (i.e., conform) or divergent (i.e., differentiate) between individuals. While documented across a wide range of animals, behaviours and contexts, conformity and differentiation are typically considered separately. Here, we argue that rather than independent concepts, they can be integrated onto a single scale that considers how social interactions drive changes in interindividual variance within groups: conformity reduces variance within groups while differentiation increases it. We discuss the advantages of placing conformity and differentiation at different ends of a single scale, allowing for a deeper understanding of the relationship between social interactions and interindividual variation.

Automated summary

Variation between individuals is an important component of evolutionary change. Social interactions can either make behavior more similar (conformity) or divergent (differentiation) between individuals. This study argues that conformity and differentiation can be integrated onto a single scale, where conformity reduces within-group variance and differentiation increases it. Placing conformity and differentiation on a single scale allows for a deeper understanding of the relationship between social interactions and interindividual variation.