Josh Karthikeyan Week 4 - The Train of Conformity
The Train of Conformity
Identity is often described as singular, and the embodiment of how we, as people, are different from one another. Yet, humans are primarily social creatures who want to fit into our crowd, often altering our own identities to associate and bond together
Psychologists have long studied group theory, and discovered herd mentality, where individuals conform to the beliefs and behaviors of the majority in the group. This mentality leads to decisions that the person themselves do not believe in, removing all their individuality and conscience. In everyday life and at school, this phenomenon is understood as peer pressure where a group of people convince an individual to conform to a certain behavior or identity, likely losing the individual’s own preference.
Image from Peter Babel
Solomon Asch, a psychologist, tested his hypothesis with one participant and seven actors (people who were instructed to give the false answer). The participants were given three lines to choose from and had to figure out which line is most close in length to the target line. The answer was purposely obvious to ensure that there would be no other potential reasons behind the real participant’s choice. The real participant was positioned close to last when stating their answer out loud and Asch found out that 32% of the participants placed in the trial conformed with the clearly incorrect majority, reinforcing how group pressure affects people’s decision making process.
Social media is perhaps the most detrimental case of herd mentality. Through trends and opinions, people adopt similar messages because of their fear of standing out. They want to be with the group and because of that, they may feel invisible, making identity become a collective voice instead of a singular, defining personality.
However, crowd influence is not always negative. By being a part of a group, your own beliefs can be exemplified. For example, at a sporting event, you and other believers of the team will cheer together. The act of cheering together where multiple people all share the same behavior emphasizes the sentiment of the team being loved. It also enables people to bond together and make new friends through a shared hobby.
On the next train that you jump on and ride, understand if it is you or the group that is making the decision. Based on your own individual opinion, choose to stay on board or depart on the first stop.
Identity is often described as singular, and the embodiment of how we, as people, are different from one another. Yet, humans are primarily social creatures who want to fit into our crowd, often altering our own identities to associate and bond together
Psychologists have long studied group theory, and discovered herd mentality, where individuals conform to the beliefs and behaviors of the majority in the group. This mentality leads to decisions that the person themselves do not believe in, removing all their individuality and conscience. In everyday life and at school, this phenomenon is understood as peer pressure where a group of people convince an individual to conform to a certain behavior or identity, likely losing the individual’s own preference.
Image from Peter Babel
Solomon Asch, a psychologist, tested his hypothesis with one participant and seven actors (people who were instructed to give the false answer). The participants were given three lines to choose from and had to figure out which line is most close in length to the target line. The answer was purposely obvious to ensure that there would be no other potential reasons behind the real participant’s choice. The real participant was positioned close to last when stating their answer out loud and Asch found out that 32% of the participants placed in the trial conformed with the clearly incorrect majority, reinforcing how group pressure affects people’s decision making process.
Social media is perhaps the most detrimental case of herd mentality. Through trends and opinions, people adopt similar messages because of their fear of standing out. They want to be with the group and because of that, they may feel invisible, making identity become a collective voice instead of a singular, defining personality.
However, crowd influence is not always negative. By being a part of a group, your own beliefs can be exemplified. For example, at a sporting event, you and other believers of the team will cheer together. The act of cheering together where multiple people all share the same behavior emphasizes the sentiment of the team being loved. It also enables people to bond together and make new friends through a shared hobby.
On the next train that you jump on and ride, understand if it is you or the group that is making the decision. Based on your own individual opinion, choose to stay on board or depart on the first stop.
Hi, Josh. I agree that herd mentality can be both good and bad. But society almost discourages true individuality, which could explain why people who have a strong self identity are usually scrutinized. Or maybe it’s not as simple as that. For example, someone like Helena Bonham Carter has a very specific, whimsical, and unique style that I’ve seen adored and romanticized all over social media. However, other people are looked down upon for that exact same expression. It’s interesting that you mentioned social media too. While there is definitely a strong sense of herd mentality, I’ve noticed a rise of individuality (though I don’t think it’s authentic individuality). More and more people are becoming performative and trying to find the next niche artist or trend to broadcast to the world to prove to everyone that they’re different (and not because they truly enjoy it). But I guess that too is peer pressure and a herd mentality in the battle to be the most niche person. I think it’s very obvious when someone is being performative or authentic, and I agree with you that performativity and peer pressure can lead a person to lose their own identity or preferences.
ReplyDeleteHi, Josh! On your idea that herd mentality not always being a bad thing was a really interesting part to read. It also asks the question, is the oppression of someones personal identity worth it if it brings society as a whole forward? If everyone thought and acted the same way then common goals can be accomplished faster. If an entire country were deprived of their identity and forced to take on a set of traits to accomplish one particular goal would that country not technologically improve faster? For example, if I became an evil dictator and I wanted my entire country to research and make the most optimal pen, that would help the rest of humanity in subtle ways. Is the cost of individuality worth progress?
ReplyDeleteHi Josh! Reading your blog was extremely relatable, as I, too, sometimes feel like I lose my individuality when I am hanging around in a group of people. It's so bizarre to think that our minds and bodies automatically try to conform to those around us and believe that is what will make us "fit in," since how come we try to follow one specific person, why don't we set the example and see if people follow us? It's also interesting how you mentioned that this isn't always a bad thing, since it is true that if one person is radiating some sort of energy and spreads across the rest of the group, since can create a communal energy, which, like you mentioned that if they all cheer together, then it may cause them to bond.
ReplyDelete