I’ve always believed that being different was a good thing. At what point does individuality turn into something that’s weird, or even stupid in the eyes of others? Sometimes people will do just about anything to fit in. In the article ¨Individuality vs. Conformity: The Healthy Middle,¨ the author states that, “We all, for the most part, pursue similar goals in our lives, all the while enduring hardship and personal trials.” What the author means by this is that at least once in our lives we have all tried to fit in with everyone.
Conformity is the act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms. Norms are implicit, unsaid rules, shared by a group of individuals, that guide their interactions with others. This tendency to conform occurs in small groups and/or society as a whole, and may result from subtle unconscious influences, or direct and overt social pressure. Conformity can occur in the presence of others, or when an individual is alone. For …show more content…
Driving on the correct side of the road could be seen as beneficial conformity. With the right environmental influence, conforming, in early childhood years, allows one to learn and thus, adopt the appropriate behaviours necessary to interact and develop correctly within one's society. Conformity influences formation and maintenance of social norms, and helps societies function smoothly and predictably via the self-elimination of behaviors seen as contrary to unwritten rules. In this sense it can be perceived as a positive force that prevents acts that are perceptually disruptive or