One who reluctantly decides to adhere to societal or commercial norms in order to further their own ,
family or associates ends.
One who suppresses their yearning for self determination, freedom or rebellious nature in order to survive or simply gain advantage.
EG. You may join a
government or military department but you will have to conform to a strict code of behavior. In return you get job security , regular salary , maybe even job satisfaction and a certain societal standing.
Reluctant conformists can sometimes be a prime example of joining a
system in order to change it from the inside. Often times this is the most strategic way to bring about change.
I this
case the
Rebel , the entrepreneur still lurks beneath the veneer of conformity.
( See also “Intrepeneur” - on who works from within to change a system )
“I
don’t think young Harrison is cut out for a career in this company I
don’t feel as though he buys into our systems and methods entirely.”
“…. Yeah - it seems to me that he is struggling within a straight jacket of conformity in his current role – he’s a
real reluctant conformist”