An Experiment in Behavior
Predictability
Conformity is akin to a wolf in
sheep’s clothing. It is a gash in the cerebral output from which intelligence leaks
out. A simple search on the internet will provide definitions; from simple to
complex, but I have one of my own.
General
(Moderate) Definition: Conformity
is a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behavior in order
to fit in with a group, culture or society. The
essence of conformity is yielding to outside pressures of known or unknown
origins.
My Definition: Conformity is characterized by an absence of
critical thinking, suspension of commonsense and judgment. It is an induced
state of mind in which self-reliance is arrested along with the loss of
personal responsibility.
Conformity is a tangible behavioral change
which can actually be measured in a clinical setting. Its main objective is “control”
and “obedience” to authority - whether imaginary or real. Conformity uses
ambiguity as its main tool in a way that people start to “use” each other as a
source of information and reference.
Real
Experiment:
A man appeared in front of a crowd (75
people) to deliver a small speech on the benefits of a having a nutritious diet
plan. He started talking and made complete sense for only about two minutes.
Then, as he continued, he
intertwined multiple topics and added incoherent phrases which, not only didn’t
make any sense, but were irrelevant to the original topic. His speech covered hurricanes,
fancy restaurants, earthquakes, Bengal Tigers, rainforests, volcanoes, world
cup, computer viruses - areas which had absolutely no connection with one
another or the benefits of a nutritious diet plan.
Everyone in the audience exhibited a
strange look and started looking at each other. Nobody had a clue as to what he
was talking about or the purpose behind his gibberish. (The ambiguity)
After he was done, he smiled and
said thank you to the confused crowd. There was a deafening silence for about two
seconds. Then immediately, two people started clapping from the front row. Then
gradually more clapping was seen and heard. Then the same two people in the
front row stood up and continued showering their accolades. Eventually, the
entire crowd stood up and gave that man a standing ovation.
The speaker said thank you to all –
smiled and asked: “Why are you all clapping to the nonsense I just spoke? Did
it make sense to you?”
Synopsis: The
speaker had planted the two people in the crowd that would “start” the
accolades process. They were part of the experiment. As more and more joined
in, the experiment was immediately moved into stage two. In the next stage, the
same planted people “stood up” and demonstrated their support by more active cheering.
The entire crowd stood up next and applauded the nonsensical speaker.
When asked:
1. A whopping
85% “blamed themselves” for not understanding the speech properly. They thought
it made complete sense – just not to them. That was the reason they started
clapping. They questioned their own understanding.
2. 15% of the
people were 50/50 on the speech content. They showed their support just to fit
in. The fear of looking like fools without a sense of respect for the majority
kept them at bay. They felt a great deal of pressure but chose to be a part of the
happy audience.
What a dangerous way to live life –
blaming oneself and uneducated decision making!
Conformity
is a robotic behavior. It snatches away our sense of self and replaces our originality
with a character shade of grey. Conformity controls our thoughts, attitudes,
beliefs and, ultimately, our actions. The tools of conformity are:
1. Modern-day
religious affiliations, adherence to dogmas, sectarian mindsets and the power
struggles of holier-than-thou. Here, matters are taken to their furthest
extremes to control minds. Fear is the ideal weapon of choice; punishment,
hell, purgatory and the everlasting damnation.
2. The
vicious political parties belching their useless slogans - regurgitating promises
of a better tomorrow and devising methods of entrapping affiliates only to be
utilized as front line foot soldiers who do all the dirty work.
3. The
media spewing the negativity 24/7 shaping the views of a society, about a society
and branding it as they best see fit. A perfect way to shape behavior.
4. Nationalism
and the superiority complex which says: “We are the chosen ones!”
5. Idealism
and Ego! The need to be right all the time and the need of self-aggrandizement.
No self-assessment required here.
6. The
passing down of secondhand information, beliefs, fables and ideologies
generation after generation without questioning the validity of the source.
7. The main goal is to fool humanity and allow it to
get labeled and distributed under manifold banners and belief systems further dividing
itself up again and again and again.
Conformity
is intellectual dishonesty. It challenges the value of people by denying
them the opportunity to make their own choices - by denying them the chance to
grow strong in learning and understanding.
Truth is always simple. All
people recognize truth because people are intelligent beings. It is the nature
of conformity to create artificially complex ideas. It does this to hide or
obfuscate the freedom it destroys. If you remove the complexities and fears
from your life, you will reach a plain and beautiful truth.
While conformity seeks to
hide a person's worth, freedom shows humans their full potential and their full
value. With freedom, people have loved, cured disease, removed hunger, eased
labor and lived in harmony.
One centuries old Chinese
proverb says: Believe only half of what you see – and none of what you hear!
Here’s a list of more
frightening experiments which reveal the afflictions of conformity: https://explorable.com/social-psychology-experiments
