Everyone thinks that he is not like the others.At the same time unconsciously, we still experience the influence of others, repeating the behavior of the majority, some less, some more so.Such opportunism is called conformism.It is the rejection of their own beliefs, attitudes under the pressure of society.Moreover, it should be noted that this follow the majority is always passive, that is, the individual does not include critical thinking, as well as drifting.
concept conformism
Since many people consider themselves unique personalities, it would be useful to know what conformism.The definition of this concept involves several aspects:
- Firstly, it is a passive acceptance of public opinion.Man uncritically to the idea, opinion, tradition and receives them, without analyzing.
- Second, conformism as a social phenomenon implanted education, ideology, religion and so on. N.
- Third, conformism is directly related to suggestibility, stability of his beliefs, as well as the breadth of outlook.The highly suggestible people do not analyze incoming information, do not pass it through some sort of filter.
Pros and cons of conformity
Conformity - it's bad or good?Many people immediately answer that, of course, is bad.It causes a person to be a conformist like everyone else, exclude his own opinion, suppresses individuality.Of course, all this is so.But conformism - it's also a great mechanism of social control.Leaders in organizations have successfully used this phenomenon for the regulation of relations in the group.One can not deny that at all times has always been subordinate and control, this division depends on many factors.However, the downside of conformity can be attributed to the tendency to imitate a child.Children easier to get under the bad influence, as they seek to be accepted by the society of their peers, so start drinking, smoking and so on.. Of course, the ability to quickly join the group to show their involvement in it - this is a useful skill.But on the other hand, analytical thinking for us and given to a sober assessment, and whether it is worth to join this group and blindly follow the tastes of the majority.
Research conformity
In social psychology conducted many experiments to identify conformity.For example, in the experiment, subjects were asked Asha S. estimate the length of the lines.All the subjects, except one, were dummies, and gave the same wrong answer.In most cases, unsuspecting people under the pressure of the majority also gave the wrong answer.This phenomenon has been called social conformity.One person begins to doubt his own opinion if it is contrary to the opinion of the majority.However, if the Group has a man who also gave the wrong answer, but different from the rest, the subjects often give the right answer.Thus, conformism - the fear to oppose the group, fear of appearing stupid, not like the others.
