Conformity is the act of changing one’s behavior, beliefs, or attitudes to match those of the people around them. It is a powerful force in society that can have both positive and negative effects.
Examples: Conformity can be seen in many aspects of life. In the workplace, employees may conform to the expectations of their boss or colleagues. In the classroom, students may conform to the expectations of their teacher or peers. In social settings, people may conform to the expectations of their friends or family.
Effects: Conformity can have both positive and negative effects. On the positive side, it can help create a sense of unity and belonging. It can also help people learn new skills and gain new perspectives. On the negative side, it can lead to people blindly follow the crowd and not think for themselves. It can also lead to people feeling pressure to conform to certain standards or expectations that might not be best for them.
It is important to be aware of the potential effects of conformity and to think for oneself.
Do you want to expand your knowledge on this topic? Read our full in-depth article on cognitive biases.
Do you have extra 15 minutes today? Take our fun and interactive quiz to learn which of 16 reasoning styles you use, your overall level of rationality, and what you can do now to improve your rationality skills.