Is conformism positive or negative? There is no scientific answer to this question. Adopting the values that most of us share, we can say that sometimes conformism is negative (when it induces someone to drive drunk or associate with racist behavior), sometimes positive (when it inhibits abusive insertion in the queue to buy tickets). in the movies) and sometimes irrelevant (when it implies that tennis players wear white).
In Western individualistic cultures, where peer pressure is not considered positive, the word “conformity” tends to convey a negative value judgment. In Japan, on the other hand, agreeing with others is a sign not of weakness, but of tolerance, self-control and maturity.
In this Psychology-Online article we will delve together into the concept of social conformityto discover what isthe experiments with which it has been studied and theorized, the different guys and some examples.
What is social conformity
Social conformity is defined by Turner as the movement of one or more discordant people toward normative group positions as a function of implicit or explicit pressure from group members. Mucchi Faina then clarifies this notion, defining conformity as the adherence to an opinion or behavior that prevails even when these are in contrast to one’s own way of thinking.
Conformity means, however, not only acting as others act, but also being conditioned by how they act; It means acting and thinking differently than one would do autonomously. Therefore, conformity is a change in people’s behavior, thoughts, and feelings with respect to a social norm.
Experiments on social conformity
Researchers who study conformity and obedience help themselves by reconstructing miniature “social worlds” in the laboratory, thus developing micro cultures that simplify and simulate important features of everyday social influence. Some of these studies have revealed alarming results and their echo, also due to the fact that they have been replicated by others, has been so great that they have earned the name “classical experiments”:
Why do we settle?
Starting from the classic experiments of Sherif, Asch and Milgram, numerous scholars have shown that conformism is influenced by some situational variables that refer to the characteristics of the group:
- People adapt better when three or more people act in the same way and are consistent with each other.
- One is satisfied the more the people one “models” are of high level and when those who conform with public responses of conformity in their presence.
- Studies claim that one conforms to respond to his desire to be accepted (normative influence) and to deal with situations of uncertainty (informational influence).
In general, although it is not possible to define who is more prone to conformism, there are some personality studies that affirm that personality traits help define who conforms, especially in so-called “weak” situations and in which social forces They do not have a large impact on individual differences. Furthermore, culture of belonging and social roles can influence a person’s degree of compliance.
Recent studies on anti-conformity reveal that reactance, that is, people acting to protect their sense of freedom, is a factor that provokes an anti-conformist “boomerang” effect.
Types of social conformity
There are three types of conformity:
- Condescension or appeasement. Sometimes, we settle for an expectation or a request without really believing in what we are doing; For example, we put on a tie or a dress even if it bothers us to do so. This type of false and apparent conformism is called condescension or acquiescence (compliance), a conformity that implies a public action in response to an implicit or explicit request but with an internal disagreement.
- Obedience. This type of social conformity occurs when we agree primarily to obtain a reward or avoid punishment. If our condescension responds to an explicit and direct command or order, we call it obedience.
- Internal acceptance or adhesion. Sometimes we sincerely believe what the group has led us to believe: we can join millions of other people in doing physical exercise because we have been told it is good for our health and we accept it as truth. This type of sincere, inner conformism is defined as inner acceptance or adherence, a conformity that involves both acting and believing in response to social pressure. Acceptance sometimes follows condescension; We can come to intimately believe in something we initially doubted.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Myers, D. G. (2009). Social psychology. Milan: McGraw-Hill