Ever wondered why you assume someone else knows better than you? Why others know the answer to a question in class and you don't?
Well this may be due to the human nature of conforming.
Conformity is a change in a person's behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or a group of people.
- e.g. in Mean Girls where all the girls wear pink on Wednesday's. It's an imaginary and made-up rule.
Key thing to know: There are 2 main types of conformity.
1. Internalisation, where you accept group norms. Your public and personal beliefs change permanently
2. Compliance, where you go along with the beliefs of others in public, but privately you don't change your beliefs and opinions.
So why do people conform?
Well this can come from the need to be right (a.k.a informational social influence). E.g. accepting the class's answer because you believe they are right.
Or the need to be liked (a.k.a normative social influence). E.g. the desire for approval with friends, or in stressful situations where social support is needed.
I hope at least someone learned something new :)
Comments
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X
"So why do people conform?"
One important reason is the Asch conformity experiment.his experiment is a great example. Milgram and Zimbardo were quite famous for theirs too! There was a movie made about the Zimbardo prison experiment called ‘The Experiment’ i’d recommend it if you find this topic interesting :))
by d1g1t4ld14ry; ; Report
I'm familiar with the Milgrim experiment. As for Zimbardo, I've already watched his lectures many years ago, he has done more interesting work than just at Stanford. I'm not sure if the movie covered his work regarding the U.S. Military in Afghanistan but that is just as good.
by X; ; Report
If you have any of Milgram's lectures specifically that you would recommend please let me know :)
by d1g1t4ld14ry; ; Report
I don't know of any of Milgram's lectures, just his experiment and how it has been reperformed over time.
by X; ; Report