What is human behavior? These are his actions in relation to the environment, to himself. In a broad sense, this is a social function that indicates the individual’s ability to adapt and contact with society.
In social psychology today, there are such types of human behavior as conformism and the opposite of it - nonconformism. The phenomenon of conformism can be characterized as the ability to adapt, change, under the pressure of society, their opinions and actions. Andersen's tale of a king, whose subordinates were afraid to even assume that the ruler was actually naked, could serve as a good illustration of this definition.
The opposite ability of an individual to remain independent from other people's opinions is the concept of “non-conformism” - this is the ability to maintain an independent position. Studies of the group influence on the personality and its values ​​have become a separate subject for study.
The concept of “conformal behavior” is more often used in literature, the term refers to a person’s attitude to a group, exposure to its influence. This may be conscious compliance with the majority opinion in order to avoid conflict or a complete dependence on the authorities and leaders of society.
There are two types of behaviors that are "convenient" for society. External conformity, when an individual artificially agrees with the majority opinion, but internally retains his views. And internal conformity - a person is so subject to the influence of the group that without criticism he accepts any information and does not even try to think for himself, but relies entirely on the opinion of society.
A very curious feature was identified by scientists and recorded by experiments in those cases when a person denies conformal behavior. This is the so-called position of persistent negativism, complete rejection of group pressure, which at first glance seems to be independence. But in reality, studies have shown that such cases are not the complete freedom of the individual from society. And so to speak, this is the so-called conformal behavior vice versa. That is, setting himself the goal - under no circumstances to obey the group, the individual becomes dependent on it. Because, one way or another, he is attached to public opinion, but only in the opposite direction.
True independence and independence can be called not a complete denial of public opinion (negativism), but still a sober assessment of the values ​​of the group, its behavior.
What affects the suggestibility of a person and his conformal behavior, why does he become a slave?
Experiments have shown that exposure to group pressure is affected primarily by the characteristics of the individual. The highest level of suggestibility is observed in adolescence and youth. Then the degree of conformism gradually decreases, and during the period of maturity it remains almost at a constant level. The influence of the group on people who, by profession, are forced to contact and adapt to a large team is high. The most conformal personalities can be called orchestral musicians, military, employees of large corporations.
It has been observed that individuals with high status can aggressively resist the majority. The most suggested in society is the middle class, and people of the polar category are able to withstand the pressure of others for the longest time.
Conformal behavior is rather the misfortune of our society. In the era of an overabundance of incoming information, when it is impossible to verify it, people are often forced to take other people's values ​​and views on faith. On the other hand, there is a positive influence of such a phenomenon, it helps society to be a single mechanism, contributes to the preservation of traditions, culture and social values.