Conformism

Still in the ancient time philosophers met that the person cannot live in society and not to be dependent on it. During all life the individual has the direct or mediated bonds with other people, acting on them or being exposed to social influences. Often the person changes behavior or opinion under the influence of society, agreeing with foreign point of view. Such behavior is caused by ability to conformism.

Conformism phenomenon

The term conformism came from the Latin word conformis (similar, corresponding), this moral and political concept designating a timeserving, passive consent with the existing order of things, the dominating opinions, etc. Lack of own position, unconditional following to any sample having the largest pressure force (traditions, recognized authority, opinion of the majority, etc.) falls under it.

The phenomenon of conformism was for the first time described by the American psychologist S. Ash in 1951. Modern researches do it by object of studying of 3 sciences: psychology of the personality, social psychology and sociology therefore it is reasonable to separate conformism as the social phenomenon, and conformal behavior as psychological feature of the person.

In psychology understand her pliability as conformism of the personality to the actual or imagined group pressure, at the same time the person changes behavior and personal installations according to a majority position which it did not divide earlier. The person refuses own opinion and certainly agrees with a position of people around irrespective of as far as it meets its own expectations and feelings, accepted standards, moral and ethical rules and logic.

There is also social conformism as which understand noncritical perception and following to the dominating opinions, to mass standards and stereotypes, traditions, the authoritative principles and installations. The person does not oppose to the prevailing tendencies, despite their internal rejection, perceives any aspects of socio-political and economic reality without criticism, does not wish to express own opinion. At conformism the individual refuses to bear personal responsibility for the made acts, blindly submits and follows the requirements and instructions proceeding from society, the state, party, the religious organization, the leader, a family, etc. Such subordination can be caused by mentality or traditions.

Under social conformism all forms of collectivist consciousness assuming subordination of behavior of the individual to social norms and requirements of the majority get.

Conformism in group

The conformism in group is shown in the form of public influence on the person, at the same time the individual has to conform to group norms and the rules, to submit to interests of group. It, by means of the standards of behavior entered by it, forces everyone to follow them for maintenance of integration of all her members.

The person can show resistance to this pressure, such phenomenon is called nonconformism if it concedes, submits to group, he becomes a conformist. In this case it, even understanding that it its actions incorrect, will carry out them as it is done by group.

It is unambiguously impossible to claim what type of the relations of the person with group correct and what is not present. Without social conformism united collective cannot be created. When the individual takes a strict nonconformist position, he cannot become the full-fledged member of group and finally will be forced it to leave.

Conditions of emergence of conformal behavior

It is established that characteristics of group and specific features of the person exert impact on development of conformism of the personality in relation to requirements of group. Emergence of this phenomenon is promoted by the following conditions:

• Low self-assessment of the individual;
• Feeling of own incompetence of the person to which the solution of a complex challenge is necessary;
• Unity of group – if at least one of her members has opinion, other than the general, the effect of pressure decreases, and it becomes easier for person to object and not to agree;
• Large number of group – the maximum influence is traced in group of 5 people, further increase in number of her members does not lead to strengthening of effect of conformism;
• The high status and the authority of group, stay in its list of experts or people, considerable for the person;
• Publicity – people show higher level of conformal behavior if they need to express the opinion to people around openly.

Besides, the behavior of the individual depends on relationship, likes and dislikes between members of group: the they it is better, the conformism degree is higher. It is established also that tendency to conformism depends on age (decreases with age) and a floor (women are a little more subject to it, than men).

Pluses and minuses of conformism

It is possible to distinguish from positive lines of conformism of the personality:

• Increase in unity in crisis situations that helps collective to cope with them;
• Simplification of the organization of joint activity;
• Reduction of time of adaptation of the person in collective.

But the phenomenon of conformism is accompanied also by negative lines, including:

• Ability loss to independently make the decision and to be guided in unusual conditions;
• Creation of conditions and premises for development of totalitarian sects and states, implementation of massacre and genocides;
• Development of various prejudices and prejudices against minorities;
• Reduction of ability of the personality to make a powerful contribution to culture or science as the conformism eradicates original and creative thought.

In group interaction the phenomenon of conformism plays an important role as is one of mechanisms of adoption of the group decision. At the same time, each social group has a certain degree of tolerance concerning behavior of her members, at the same time each of them is able to afford a certain degree of a deviation from accepted standards, without undermining the position as member of group, and without causing damage to feeling of the general unity.