Conformity

Misconception vs. Truth

Misconception:
You are a strong individual who doesn’t conform unless forced to.

Truth:
It takes little more than an authority figure or social pressure to get you to obey, because conformity is a survival instinct.

The Power of Authority and Social Pressure

  • In 2004, a man impersonating a police officer called fast-food restaurants, convincing employees to perform humiliating acts on each other by claiming a theft investigation.
  • These incidents spanned numerous calls over four years, affecting fast-food establishments in thirty-two states.
  • Employees followed bizarre and degrading instructions, believing they were complying with legitimate authority figures, illustrating the potent influence of perceived authority.

Solomon Asch's Conformity Experiments

  • Asch's 1951 experiments revealed that individuals conformed to incorrect group consensus on simple tasks, such as matching line lengths.
  • Without group influence, only about 2% of individuals answered incorrectly.
  • When actors in the group intentionally provided wrong answers, 75% of subjects conformed at least once, ignoring their own correct judgement.

Factors Influencing Conformity

  • Conformity increases with the number of actors providing the wrong answer, peaking when the entire group, except the subject, consists of actors.
  • Western cultures emphasize individuality, yet conformity is a deeply rooted survival mechanism, ensuring social acceptance and resource access.

Stanley Milgram's Obedience Experiments

  • Milgram's 1963 experiment demonstrated that ordinary people would administer what they thought were painful electric shocks to others, following instructions from an authority figure.
  • 65% of subjects were willing to deliver shocks up to a deadly level simply because they were told to by a person in authority.
  • The likelihood of compliance could be influenced by the presence or absence of the authority figure and whether the subject saw themselves as part of the action or merely following orders.

Conformity as a Survival Mechanism

  • Conformity helps individuals navigate social environments by providing cues on behavior and ensuring social acceptance, which is critical for accessing resources and support.
  • Outcasts in any social context are cut off from valuable resources, so humans are biologically inclined to conform to group norms.

Warning Against Blind Conformity

  • While conformity can facilitate harmonious social interactions, excessive conformity without questioning authority can lead to harmful actions.
  • Be cautious of contexts that require unquestioning obedience, and remember to assess the potential harm of your actions independently.

Practical Advice

  • Conformity is part of human nature, often functioning unconsciously, but it is essential to recognize its presence and potential dangers.
  • In situations where authority demands actions that could harm others, questioning and critical thinking are vital to prevent unethical behavior.