Conformity

Conformity in social psychology is a change in a person's behavior or beliefs under the influence of real or imagined group pressure. Conformity can be defined as “the process by which people change their behavior or beliefs to conform to the norms or expectations of a group.”

People may change their opinions or behavior to conform to group norms for a variety of reasons. For example, to gain approval from the group, to avoid punishment or ostracism, to feel a sense of belonging to the group, or because they are truly convinced by the group.

Conformity can be both a positive and a negative phenomenon. On the one hand, it helps maintain social order and group cohesion. On the other hand, excessive conformity can lead to a loss of individuality and a reluctance to challenge the unethical norms of the group.

The topic of the article is “Conformity”.

What is conformity? This is the process of a person’s adaptation to the existing social environment in which he finds himself. A person performs those actions that are supported by his environment. This phenomenon is widespread everywhere. It is based on the phenomenon of primacy - secondaryness. When primary

Conformity and its impact on society

In the modern world, the topic of conformity as a psychological problem remains relevant and arouses interest among people of various professions. Unfortunately, many do not have a clear idea of ​​what conformity is and how it can be dangerous for society. This article will help you learn more about this and understand why it is so important not to follow the opinion of the crowd.

Conformity in Psychology Conformity is studied as an aspect of social psychology that focuses on understanding the influence of social norms, values, and beliefs on individual behavior. The term was first coined by Leo Festinger in his group social psychology experiment. Among earlier studies of conformity, Stephen Milgram asked a provocative question: “If a person knows or believes that they are deceiving for the greater good, they deceive less truthfully than if they were told that they were deceiving for their own benefit.”

The general definition of conformity is that it is the process of adapting a person's behavior to group pressure. It is a process where people accept certain norms and beliefs of the group to which they belong in order to maintain their social position and not stand out from the crowd. However, there are some deeper aspects to this concept that need to be taken into account. For example, if we look at the influence of social norms on a person's behavior, we may find that he can actually work on his beliefs and choose actions that more reflect his personality. Thus, understanding conformity can help people develop mechanisms to avoid suppressing their individuality in order to be part of a social group. While it is clear that conforming behavior is not always negative, it can lead to problems such as forcing people to act in ways that go against their true beliefs or restricting their freedom of thought and speech.

Social consequences of conforming behavior One of the main negative consequences of conforming behavior is the tendency to distort reality. By abandoning their own beliefs and thoughts, people cannot recognize the real essence of things and often fall into delusions. If we consider the social consequences of such behavior on a large scale, we can see that a group of people who live according to the principle of conformity can give up real values ​​in order to save time and gain advantages that other, less conforming groups may reject. Moreover, since the actions performed by conformists may take the form of encouragement from the group, individuals may seek approval from others, forgetting their own values ​​and true intentions. This behavior strategy can lead to hidden slavery: without realizing that it is moving away from its own ideas and opinions, a group of people, starting with conforming actions, moves towards fulfilling the desires of others in order to remain in the group or continue to receive approval. It is worth noting that with