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Exploring why we sometimes change our behavior just to fit in with the crowd.
Have you ever started clapping at the end of a play just because everyone else was, even if you didn't think it was that great? Why do we feel a 'tug' to do exactly what the people around us are doing?
In psychology, conformity is when we change our behavior, our look, or even our ideas to match the people around us. Think of it like a 'social mirror.' If your friends start using a new slang word, you might start using it too without even thinking about it. This happens because our brains are constantly scanning the environment to see what is 'normal.' We often follow the majority—the larger group of people—because we assume they know something we don't, or because we don't want to be the only one doing something different.
Quick Check
In your own words, what does it mean to 'conform' to a group?
Answer
Conformity means changing how you act or think so that you fit in with the people around you.
Why is the urge to fit in so strong? It actually goes back to our ancestors! Thousands of years ago, staying in a group was a matter of life or death. A human alone might struggle to find food or stay safe from predators, but a group had a much better chance of survival. Because of this, our brains evolved to reward us with 'feel-good' chemicals when we feel included. This is called the need to belong. When we feel left out, our brain actually processes that 'social pain' in the same area where it processes physical pain, like a scraped knee!
Psychologists once conducted a famous study in an elevator to see how people conform: 1. A person enters an elevator where three 'actors' are already standing. 2. Instead of facing the door, the three actors all face the back wall. 3. The person feels confused but, within seconds, they usually turn around to face the back wall too, just to match the group! 4. This shows how we often follow the group even when the behavior makes no sense.
Quick Check
Why did our ancestors find it important to stay in a group?
Answer
Staying in a group made it easier to find food, stay safe from predators, and survive.
While fitting in can be helpful (like following the rules in a library), it can also be a trap. Sometimes, a group might decide to be mean to someone or do something dangerous. This is where individuality comes in. If a group of 10 people says that , the group is still wrong! Psychologists found that if even one other person disagrees with the group, it becomes much easier for everyone else to speak the truth. Standing out takes courage, but it is how we stop bad ideas from spreading.
Imagine you are in a group of 5 friends. They all want to skip soccer practice to go get ice cream. 1. You know the coach will be upset and you'll miss learning a new play. 2. The 'pressure' you feel is the group's influence. 3. If you say, 'I'm going to practice,' you break the 'spell' of conformity. 4. Often, you'll find that 1 or 2 other friends actually wanted to go to practice too, but were afraid to say so!
What is the psychological term for changing your behavior to fit in?
Why does being left out of a group feel 'painful'?
If a large group of people believes something is true, it is always true.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, try to remember the name of the 'Elevator Experiment' and why the person turned around.
Practice Activity
Observation Challenge: Next time you are in the cafeteria or at a park, watch a group of friends. Can you spot one person 'copying' the body language or actions of another?