Conformism is a moral-psychological and moral-political concept that implies an opportunistic position in society, inactive acceptance of the existing social foundation, political regime. In addition, this is the willingness to share prevailing views and beliefs, to agree with the general mood prevalent in society. Also regarded as conformism is the refusal to fight prevailing tendencies, even with their internal rejection, self-withdrawal from condemnation of various aspects of political reality and socio-economic realities, unwillingness to express one’s own views, unwillingness to bear personal responsibility for committed acts, blind submission and unaccountable compliance with all requirements and directives emanating from the state apparatus, religious organization, family.
Social conformism
Every society consists of groups that represent an association of subjects who have common moral and value guidelines and goals. Social groups are classified into medium, small and large depending on the number of its participants. Each of these groups sets its own norms, behavioral rules, and attitudes.
Modern researchers consider the phenomenon of conformism from four points of view: psychological, sociological, philosophical and political. Because they divide it into a phenomenon in the social environment and conformal behavior, which is a psychological feature of the individual.
It is believed that social conformity of an individual is a slavish (uncritical) acceptance and thoughtless adherence to worldviews dominant in a particular society, public standards, mass stereotypes, authoritative beliefs, customs and attitudes. The individual does not try to go against the prevailing trends, even without internally accepting them. The human subject perceives socio-economic and political reality absolutely uncritically and does not show any desire to express his own views. Thus, social conformism is the refusal to bear personal responsibility for one’s actions, thoughtless submission and unaccountable adherence to social guidelines, the requirements of the party, religious community, state, family. Such submission is often explained by mentality or traditions.
E. Aronson and S. Milgram believe that human conformity is a phenomenon that occurs in the presence or absence of the following conditions:
- it intensifies when the task required to complete is quite complex, or the individual is ignorant of the issue being performed;
— the degree of conformity depends on the size of the group: it becomes greatest when an individual encounters the same worldview of three or more subjects;
- individuals with low self-esteem are susceptible to the influence of the collective to a greater extent than people with high self-esteem;
- if the team has specialists, its members are significant people, if there are individuals in it who belong to the same social circle, then conformity increases;
- the more united the team, the more power it has over its members;
- if a subject defending his own position or doubting the opinions of other members of the group has at least one ally, then conformity decreases, that is, the tendency to submit to the pressure of the group decreases;
- the subject with the greatest “weight” (social status) is also characterized by the greatest influence, since it is easier for him to put pressure on others;
- the subject is more prone to conformism when he needs to speak in front of the rest of the team than when he expresses his position in writing.
Conformity is characterized by connections with certain types of behavior. According to S. Asch, the concept of conformism implies an individual’s conscious refusal of a worldview position that is significant to him and dear views in order to improve the adaptation process in the group. Conformal behavioral response shows the degree of submission of an individual to the opinion of the majority, the pressure of those with the greatest “weight” in society, his acceptance of the established stereotype of behavior, and the moral and value orientations of the team. The opposite of conformism is considered to be independent behavior that is resistant to group pressure.
There are four types of behavioral response.
External conformism of a person is behavior in which the individual accepts only externally the attitudes and opinions of the group, at the level of self-awareness (internally), he does not agree with them, but does not say it out loud. This position is considered true conformism.
Internal conformity of the individual occurs when the subject actually accepts, assimilates the opinion of the group and absolutely agrees with it. Thus, a high degree of suggestibility of the individual is manifested. The described type is considered to adapt to the group.
Negativism is revealed when an individual resists group pressure by any means, actively defends his own position, expresses independence in every possible way, gives arguments, argues, and strives for a result in which his own views will become the ideological position of the majority. This behavioral type indicates the subject’s reluctance to adapt to a social group.
Nonconformism manifests itself in independence of norms, opinions, values, independence, and immunity to group pressure. This behavioral type is characteristic of self-sufficient individuals. In other words, such individuals do not change their own worldview and do not impose it on those around them.
There is such a thing as socially approved behavior, that is, pure conformism in society. People classified as “pure conformists” strive to comply as much as possible with group norms and social attitudes. If, due to a number of circumstances, they fail to do this, then they feel like inferior individuals (inferiority complex). Often such norms and guidelines are contradictory. The same behavior may be permissible in a certain social environment, but punishable in another.
As a result, confusion arises, which leads to a number of destructive processes for self-esteem. Therefore, it is believed that conformists are mostly indecisive and insecure people, which makes their communicative interaction with others very difficult. It must be understood that every individual is a conformist to varying degrees. Often the manifestation of this quality is very good.
The problem of conformity lies in the choice of people when they make it their own style of behavior and way of life. Thus, a conformist is a person who submits to social principles and requirements of society. Based on this, we can conclude that any individual is related to the concept being described, since he adheres to group norms and social foundations to varying degrees. Therefore, there is no need to consider conformists as powerless members of society. Conformists themselves chose this behavioral model. They can change it at any time. Based on this, the following conclusion is drawn: conformism in society is a life model of behavior, a habitual style of thinking that is subject to change.
Conformity of a small group is characterized by the presence of pros and cons.
Group conformism positive features:
- strong cohesion of the group, this is especially evident in crisis situations, since the conformity of a small group helps to more successfully cope with dangers, collapses, and disasters;
— simplicity in organizing joint activities;
— reduction of adaptation time for a new person in a team.
However, group conformity also has negative aspects:
— the individual loses the ability to make independent decisions and the ability to navigate in unfamiliar conditions;
- it contributes to the formation of totalitarian states and sects, the emergence of genocide or massacres;
- gives rise to various prejudices and biases directed against minorities;
- reduces the ability to make a significant contribution to scientific and cultural development, since creative ideas and originality of thinking are eradicated.
How to become a nonconformist
In order to become a nonconformist, you should adhere to the following life rules:
- You should not pay attention to the ratings and opinions of others, develop your own opinion.
- You don't need to take everything you see and hear for granted. Think, analyze.
- Don't try to please everyone, act according to your beliefs.
- Study your needs and act in accordance with them.
- Don't let people violate personal boundaries, get rid of toxic connections.
- Don't follow fashion or imposed beauty standards.
- Increase self-esteem and self-confidence.
At the same time, you need to remember that you should not impose your nonconformist views on others; you should treat people with habitual thinking arrogantly. When defending the rights to your own beliefs, do not take them away from others.
The phenomenon of conformism
The described phenomenon of conformity was discovered in the fifties of the last century by S. Asch, an American psychologist. This phenomenon plays a key role in the social order, since it is one of the tools responsible for the formation and adoption of collective decisions. Any social group has a certain degree of tolerance, which is related to the behavior of its members. Each member of a social group can deviate from established norms within certain limits, within which his position is not undermined and the sense of common unity is not damaged. Since every state is interested in maintaining control over the population, it has a positive attitude towards conformity.
Often in totalitarian states, conformism is characterized by the cultivation and propagation of the dominant ideology through the means of mass media and other propaganda services. Moreover, in the so-called “free world” (democratic countries), where individualism is cultivated, stereotypical perception and thinking are also the norm. Every society strives to impose living standards and a model of behavior on each of its members. In the conditions of worldwide political-economic and cultural-religious unification and integration, the concept of conformism takes on a new meaning - it begins to act as a stereotype of consciousness, which is embodied in one phrase: “The whole world lives like this.”
It is necessary to distinguish conformity as a phenomenon from conformity, which is a personal quality found in the desire to demonstrate dependence on group opinion and pressure in different situations.
Conformity is characterized by a close connection with the importance of the conditions under which group influence is exerted on the subject, with the significance of the group for the individual and the level of group unity. The higher the level of expression of the listed characteristics, the brighter the effect of group onslaught.
In relation to society, the phenomenon of negativism, that is, expressed stable resistance to society and opposing oneself to it, does not represent the opposite of conformism. Negativism is considered a separate case of manifestation of dependence on society. The opposite of the concept of conformism is the independence of the individual, the autonomy of his attitudes and behavioral reactions from society, and resistance to mass influence.
The level of expression of the described concept of conformism is influenced by the following factors:
- gender of the person (women are more susceptible to conformity than men);
— age (traits of conformity are more often observed in young and old age periods);
— social position (individuals occupying a higher status in society are less susceptible to group influence);
- physical condition and mental health (fatigue, poor health, mental tension increase the manifestation of conformity).
Examples of conformity can be found in large numbers in the history of wars and mass genocides, when ordinary people become brutal killers due to the fact that they cannot resist a direct order to kill.
The phenomenon of political conformity, which is a method of opportunism and is characterized by passive recognition of existing foundations, the absence of one’s own political position, and thoughtless copying of any political behavioral stereotypes that dominate this political system, deserves special attention. Adaptive consciousness and conformist behavior are actively formed in the conditions of some political regimes, such as totalitarian and authoritarian, in which a common feature is the desire of individuals to keep a low profile, not to differ from the main gray mass, not to feel like an individual, because they will think and do for them, so as good rulers need. Conformist behavior and consciousness is typical of these political regimes. The result of such consciousness and an opportunistic model of behavior is the loss of the individual’s uniqueness, identity and individuality. As a result of habitual opportunism in the professional sphere, in party activities, and at the polling station, the individual’s ability to make independent decisions is deformed and creative thinking is impaired. The result is that people learn to perform functions mindlessly and become slaves.
Thus, political conformism and an opportunistic position are destroying the nascent democracy and are an indicator of the lack of political culture among politicians and citizens.
Solomon Asch's experiment
The problem of conformity was raised in the 50s of the 20th century by the American psychologist Solomon Asch, conducting one of the most high-profile experiments in social psychology.
*Asch's experiment: find two identical segments.
A group of volunteers gathered, among whom all but one person were in cahoots with Asch. Participants were shown two cards: one showed a standard segment, and the other showed three segments of different lengths. It was necessary to determine which of the three segments corresponds to the standard.
The answer is obvious when you are alone in front of the monitor. Miracles begin when everyone around unanimously gives the wrong answer.
We will not delve into the algorithm of the experiment, but its results are amazing: 75% of unsuspecting subjects at least once, not believing their eyes, repeated the incorrect answer of the majority.
And 32% betrayed themselves again and again, each time giving the wrong segments. Moreover, throwing began when there were more than three participants in the group.
Solomon Asch's experiments revealed two causes of conformity :
- A person does not want to go against public opinion;
- A person believes that the majority is better informed than he is.
Three factors influence conformal behavior
- Social support - if at least one more person from the group disagrees with the opinion of the majority, the indicators of conformity fall.
- Emotional connection with the group - the more attractive the group is to a person, the more willingly he adapts to it, sincerely sharing the ideas of the majority.
- Group size - the larger the crowd, the higher the likelihood that a person will show himself to be a conformist.
Nonconformism is...
The nonconformist's motto: “But the king is naked!”
*Illustration for Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The King’s New Clothes”
If conformism is submission to the pressure of the majority, then its opposite side - nonconformism - is the independence of one’s own opinion, resistance to external pressure. The ability to defend one’s position and not be influenced by the crowd speaks of a mature personality.
This point of view is only partly correct. Taking a closer look, it turns out that the nonconformist is , in fact, the mirror image of the conformist, and it remains to be seen which of them is better.
There are more similarities than differences between these two behaviors .
A conformist, under the influence of the crowd, changes his views and adapts, and a nonconformist, under the same influence of the crowd, begins to resist.
The apotheosis (what is this?) of nonconformism is nihilism (what is this?), which denies the value of everyone and everything.
On the one hand, a nonconformist does not agree with the collective delusion and denounces the naked king, like that boy from Andersen’s famous fairy tale, but on the other hand, he can, in defiance of society, deny any norms, deliberately oppose himself to the group, acting on the principle “to spite my mother I’ll freeze my ears " Think about the words of the popular song by Andrei Makarevich:
“You shouldn’t bend to the changing world; it’s better to let it bend to you.”
This position of a nonconformist sounds rather presumptuous.
“Every society honors its living conformists and its dead nonconformists.” Mignon McLaughlin, American writer
The contradictions between conformism and nonconformism are especially acute in adolescence .
*Paradox - deliberately demonstrating originality, teenagers mimic their reference group
Poor teenagers are simply torn between two poles. They are terrible conformists , because more than anything else they want to completely merge with their reference group and not show off, otherwise they will peck at you and bully you.
At the same time, they are terrible nonconformists , because they consider the rules imposed by adult society and parents to be some kind of game and are ready to prove until they are blue in the face that there are only fools around.
Being a conformist is natural, but not always good
In psychology, it is generally accepted that conformity is a personality trait, and conformity is a pattern of behavior, a tendency to manifest conformity.
In general, the concepts are on the same plane, but among psychologists the use of the term conformity or conformal behavior is more common, and among sociologists (who is this?) and political scientists (who is this?) the word conformism is used.
The phenomenon of political conformism is that, on the one hand, it only plays into the hands of the authorities, and on the other, it is in sociology that the concept has a flair of contemptuous and negative meaning.
Who is a conformist in political and sociological terms? This is a “chameleon”, an “opportunist”, a opportunist, the one about whom they say “changed his shoes on the fly”.
*Propaganda always relies on conformism
The human tendency to conform to behavior in historical retrospect has provoked monstrous troubles - from medieval witch hunts to the spread of the “brown plague” of fascism in the 20th century.
But even at the everyday level, blindly following the hype (how is that?) often has negative consequences : let’s remember almost the epidemic of anorexia (what is that?) among teenage girls, the fashion for synthetic drugs, snus and other rubbish.
