Which concept involves changing behavior without questioning motives?

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Prepare for the MCAT Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

The concept of compliance involves changing behavior in response to a direct request or pressure from others, without necessarily questioning the motives behind such requests. When individuals comply, they may not agree with or fully understand the reasons for the change in behavior—they simply follow through with the request to align with social norm or pressure. This can often occur in situations where an authority figure or a peer requests a specific action, and people comply to fit in or avoid conflict.

In contrast, internalization refers to adopting beliefs or values as one's own after considering the reasons behind them, which implies a deeper level of cognitive processing and acceptance. Identification involves adopting behaviors because they are aligned with a person’s sense of self or an idealized image, while public conformity refers to changing thoughts or behaviors to match a group while possibly maintaining private dissent. Thus, the key aspect of compliance is the focus on behavioral change without an emphasis on assessing or integrating the underlying motives, making it the correct choice in this context.