Good video! Very informative and I found it very easy to follow. I liked how the speaker used the same example of the group dog training but changed it just a little to show the different ways an individual or a group thinks. I think everyone has experienced conformity or "peer pressure" in their lives. I know I have. It is nice to know the different ways people are affected by conformity. I know that I personally am a little quiet and afraid to express my opinion for fear of rejection. I have gone along with groups but have maintained my own opinion in private. I'd like to work on that. I guess it wouldn't be so bad to voice my opinion. Even if someone doesn't agree with me, the discussion we have may benefit both of us. I'm glad we had this video since we are doing group work in class soon. I believe I will voice my opinion and not be so shy. I find the "group think" theory a little scary in certain situations. If you have a bad leader, and everyone follows their opinion, that may lead to a bad situation. I think I will keep this information in mind if I am ever in that situation. I do think it is easier to resist peer pressure as I get older. The more experiences I have the more confidence I gain and I develop more of my own opinions. Hadrosaur012
Love this! I couldn't agree more. There has been many times I too have gone along with a group to avoid confrontation or being wrong. It is something worth working on in our lives. I praise those who are not afraid to speak their minds and stand up for what they believe. I wish I could do that more often. In some situations it is better to just keep your apposing opinions to yourself but in others it definitely could be beneficial to both sides. VT012
I definitely agree with you. This video was very informative and easy to follow. I do agree that everyone at some point has experienced conformity. It is something that can be fun at times but can be dangerous. I can say that I do keep my opinions to my self at times. That is something that I should work on myself. It doesn't matter whether someone agrees with you or not. You as the individual have that peace of mind just knowing that you spoke up and voiced your opinion. That individual may not understand your point of view because you never said anything and that could of possibly changed the way they looked at the situation. It is easy to say these things but when your put into that situation its a completely different story. Yeah you just have to get that confidence level up and learn that its okay to voice your own opinion.Blue012
I found this video to be an interesting, yet succinct, look at the dynamics of thought processes within a group. I can see a lot of these dynamics (in particular, the very negative ramifications) at play within a cult. Conformity and group polarization both take place when it comes to recognizing the cult leader as an oracle of God and his words as gospel. While some may privately dissent, they must publicly agree in order to continue to be part of the group and, should they speak out, they would be shot down by the polarized majority. In addition, groupthink would be a prominent feature. Many cult members choose to remain in a cult for the sake of unity. They continue to recognize the leader as speaking for God for the same reason (much like the suburb example in the video.) It would be fascinating to conduct a sociological study on members of a cult to see how these factors play out in an actual situation. – Jung012
I appreciate your reply; I think this video is more based on social interaction in the community in a more laid-back setting. I too would like to see the same research applied into a cult organization. I think the value of the respect of our peers plays a huge part in the group decisions we make or "peer pressure". I know in my life I have made a lot of dumb decisions based off what I would be thought of by the group. I didn’t want to break away and do my own thing because I would be offset from the entire group of people I was with. Sometimes people go against they’re own values and morals just to fit in. That can’t be said for everybody but I think it happens more often than not. I have a lot of respect for people who can go against the norm in a group setting and stay grounded in they’re own beliefs and values. Twal012
What you were talking about reminded me of a situation I managed to get myself involved in when I was younger. This girl I’m friends with sat me down and told me about this dream she had and she tried to save me and get me to go to church with her again. I have secretly resented her since that day. Yeah me for not conforming. All can do now is hope that my little sister can stand up for what she believes in as well and conform to social norms. TAGTaylor33012
This videos is pretty simple. You can sum everything up by just saying conformity is peer pressure. It is something very common it happens everyday when you usually do not think about it. It only makes sense that in a group setting you would rather go with what the majority votes instead of your own opinions to avoid confrontation. Other people may conform because of a fear of being wrong in front of people. It was interesting however to see the difference in private and public dissent. VT012
I think the simplicity of this video is why I liked it so much. I was able to follow easily and I feel like I understood everything. I also thought the differences between the private and public opinions were interesting. I didn't realize it was so normal to go along with the crown in a group situation but keep your own opinion in private. Hadrosaur012
This video was an excellent representation of peer pressure and group conformity! I really liked how the video was constructed and the examples given about the best way to train a dog. The way the video was broken down really helped me to understand group social conformity. I have experienced informative and normative influence in my own life plenty of times! It reminded me of the first time I ever drank alcohol. I knew when I was feeling dizzy I should stop drinking, however, my friends poured me another shot and said "take it lightweight!" Needless to say I publicly pronounced normative influence that night. I regretted it the next day and when I was out of the group environment I knew I had passed my limits and would not do that again if I were alone. I remember another instance when I was starting my first job laying hardwood flooring. My mentor taught me to lay the floor right to left (tongue to groove). That is the way I installed for years and had no idea of other ways to do it. I later worked for a different construction company where the boss laid the flooring left to right. This was hard to grasp given the way I was informatively influenced by my first mentor! I told the boss at the time if he wanted my labor I was going to install it the way I was taught which was much more efficient in the long run. Twal012
Good for you. It can be hard to stand up to a group when you have a differing opinion on something. You might have made some of those guys realize that your way was better, and that's how they'll do it from now on. It is crazy how people can have such different opinions on such things as small and simple as that. It's all the same in the end. Crown012
That drinking experience is very true to some people I know as well. There are quite a few small influences that we can overlook thinking its only one more, or just one time. Sometimes a firm hand to say no I’m done is what is necessary. And with your work example, most people are too afraid to say no to the boss because of the obvious conformity to authority, and certain situations it calls for it.-Pasta012
This kinda reminds me of grade school when the teacher asked a question and you looked around at everyone else before you raised your hand. I think we're all influenced by the group that we are in, especially when we are younger. As we get older some of our opinions and ways of thinking will change, and we'll find ourselves in other groups with people that think like us. We need to teach our kids that it's ok to not follow the crowd. They can have whatever opinion they want, as long as they can rationalize it. Like we talked about in class, the business world especially is looking for more free minded people. It's cool to have strong opinions and beliefs, and you should voice them if you feel strongly about them. You might make someone realize that they've been wrong. Crown012
I totally agree with you and that is an awesome example on the raising your hand in grade school. I remember back in the day when a teacher would call on you in class and you would know the correct answer but wouldn't answer or would act like you didn't know because you wouldn't want all the cool kids or your friends to think you were smart or teachers pet. That is so weird to think of how it was then to things we would do now. I would so never care now what somebody thought, but I sure did then and would get so upset if somebody didn't like me in grade school. Your so right on teaching our kids not to follow the crowd, but at the same time its also very hard for them just as it was when our parents tried to teach us the same. I think it just comes with age. Deacon012
I remember before starting high school my middle school had some guy talk about peer pressure and watch out how we need to see who are friends really are. Rather if we trust them or they make us do stupid things and be funny about it. BlackHawks012
Yes I remember doing this all the time in grade school. I would know the correct answer to a question but be hesitant about saying the answer because sometimes everyone would disagree. Your example made the idea of group think all the more real to me. It is also interesting to see this happen in the workplace or with friends. Group think is very common. Moot012
Conformity can be very useful for mental health with proper guidance and direction. It takes more than peer pressure to make a decision however it can seem damaging not to go along with the crowd. We all want to be social is some way and being cast out of a group you identify with can be a scary proposition. Sticking with your own morals can be harder when you are raised that the group is necessary for survival especially. Although as kids it may be into something more minor, as adults it can be much more influential and a larger scale. When you are little, not playing basketball and instead going to the playground to play on the monkey bars could get you made fun of because of some perception of the monkey bar group as losers and nobodies. As an adult however it can be similar, at work for instance the boss could say that only the good workers who want a raise or promotions give up weekends and holidays and never take vacations. It can seem more important to ‘play basketball’ with the cool kids even if it isn’t what you wanted to do.-Pasta012
I agree with your statement "it can seem damaging not to go along with the crowd" so much! We try not to stray from the norms because of the ridicule we may receive for taking the road less traveled. I like how you made up an example of this. Although we should be able to make our own decisions without criticism from others it is almost impossible nowadays. Storm012
In regards to an individual who is well-rounded in most affairs, and well in the head, I believe it is the best choice to follow your morals. Even if you are criticized and bullied, it is better that you know that you didn't cave-in on who you are as a person and what you believe in. Marley012
I did not dislike this video as much as I thought I would! In the video, the speaker was actually very clear with the examples he was trying to relate with groups and the way we make decisions. I liked very much how it kept the same examples and altered them to fit different kinds of communication and decision making processes. This helped me follow along with the video better. I agreed with the speaker very much. I think that we all have to make decisions sometimes that are definitely affected positively and negatively because of different groups. It can be extremely difficult to be the one person to not follow the flow of the crowd, and be the so called outcast of the group. The world around us is so judgmental and criticizes those who do not tend to follow along with the "norms". I wish we lived in a world where it was acceptable to be free to make decisions without the fear of ridicule. Storm012
Agreed it is often a struggle to not conform with the crowd and do your own thing. It is very tricky due to the fact sometimes you are almost forced to conform and you might not be able to justify a reason not to or just bring yourself to do so. I find it very interesting that we can be persuaded by just the mere presence and actions of the people around us and a lot of the time we don't have a clue who these people are. MuayThaiGuy012
I have two different sides when it comes to conformity: on one hand it's "conformity only happens to those who don't have a mind of their own" and on the other it's "conformity can happen to even the smartest person, because of the pressure to not stand out". A lot of the time when I hear about conformity happening it is about people in situations that I wouldn't even consider putting myself into willingly. Like someone eating an orange peel, just because their friends said it's good for your skin. I would never do that, because it sounds ridiculous and the peel of an orange is not the most appetizing part of of an orange. I wouldn't sacrifice my taste buds to maybe get clear skin. But that's just conformity that is easily avoided. Other forms are subtle and not even noticeable when you start doing things that you despise. This peer pressure can be dangerous when others on the wrong side of good understand how it works. Your friends influence the decisions you make, I think, the most. They are the people you are around and you unintentionally start to mimic their ways and vice-versa. So, if they pick up random, small, piles of dollar bills at their house, you start to do it at yours. Then you see them actually going into their parent's wallet to take money out and you do the same, without even thinking. These things can snowball and cause a huge mess and no one would be the wiser. Marley012
I totally agree with you . Conformity when applied with common sense and consciousness makes the person and the social setup they influence makes it better. I think the person who withstands the negative influence of peer pressure eventually wins in their personal and professional life. When someone confirms to negative peer pressure - such as drugs and drinking, then they not only mess up their own life and the influence is far reaching, often times they don’t realize that. I wish all of us, especially the young folks in college, can apply the reasoning and come above their peer pressure if and when it is about to negatively affect their own self and their family. – chichi012
Very good point about not even realizing how we conform sometimes. It can be something done over time rather than a split decision that involves you knowing you are doing it solely based on others. Purple012
I think we all have experienced the peer pressure conformity part by this time in our lives. Most people don't want to "stand out" or be "outcast" from everyone else for fear of not being liked or being embarrassed or considered wrong maybe. I think most of us would agree with if you have positive peers or group then its more likely the outcomes are going to be positive. My teenage son is dealing with this now and has hung around a less desirable, troubled crowd and has made some poor choices that he knew were wrong but didn't want to not "be cool", or get "made fun of" so went along with it. I think its very hard at that age and that most kids do it because their still trying to find their place in this world and who they want to be, and everybody wants to be a part of something. I've tried to explain to him that he has to stand for something he knows is right on his own and maybe if he does others who may not be as strong will follow his lead because they may be feeling the same way. I don't think peer pressure is as strong when we get older because for most of us we've already kind of found our place or friends, and kind of know or remember our morals. We also know what goals we want to achieve in life therefore may listen, but don't really care what other people think. One of my favorite sayings I seen and that I think is not only funny but true says that between the age of 17 and 30 your life is like playing a video game where you skipped the tutorial, your just there runnning around not really knowing what to do. Deacon012
I completely agree I think everyone experiences the peer pressure part of life. even though we know what we are doing is wrong we still do it to "fit in". If your peers are up to no good then you are too. If your peers are doing the right thing and trying to succeed in life then you go the golden ticket because you are going up with them. Godzilla012
This comment is really groovy! I totally agree. When I was in high-school, it was the same way. I lacked a sense of self identity, and until I found that and became stable I was very subjectable to peer pressure. I think that a lot of it has to do with how the child was raised and how their home life is, but we all know that there is no set cure. It's all situational. =leafy012
I agree about the whole group thinking opionion. It's very scary because now a days your peers can talk you into anything and you will do anything just to fit in. The video was very informative and like I mentioned in my post with the younger kids it's even more scarier because they will listen to their peers before they listen to their parents. Everyone just wants to fit in and if you have to grow up with these peers how can you blame them? Pinky012
I liked this video, even though I had to stare at some poor drawings the whole time, no offense the creator of the video. It was very informative from the narrative point of view. The conformity point is right on par with how society is on the most part. We as people don't really like to stand out or draw attention to our selves unless it is in a extremly positive way, or if we would be lucky enough to get famous. Most of the time people who stand out are looked down on in a negative manner as it almost not acceptable to be different. This is changing during current times but back in the day that's how it was. But I think being different is a very good thing as it brings out who we truly are as a person and sets us apart from others. Heck if we were all the same we wouldn't be a society would we? We as humans would be amibas just floating around connecting and merging into one another and that would be just plain old weird and freaky. Every one would like the same things and ther wouldn't be any diversity or personality. MuayThaiGuy012
This shows irresponsibility of what appears to be mostly young folks. If people watching sports can’t control themselves then they should not be a sports man/women or going to sport events. Sport is all about treating winning and loosing equally. This mob seem like lost sanity and control. Serious punishment to these folks may teach some lesson. The need to have sense of what public property means and if they don’t already know, they have to be taught a lesson about public money by making them pay for everything they broke. Strong punishment is the only way to treat these morons. Putting their picture in a public websites and places is another good idea. I don’t think this should be blamed on their drinking, they are expected to have social responsibility when they are in public setup, if they don’t understand then they have to pay for the consequences – chichi012
This was a great video with really good examples it was easy to understand and loved how he used the pictures. I believe that he was spot on with his examples. Many of the decisions that we make are based upon conformity or peer pressure. How many times have you said you would never do something but you ended up doing it because of your friends? How about saying you would never do something unless you did it with a friend? I know there are a couple things that I have done in my life that I promised I would never do it until my friends done it and wanted me to try it. Peer pressure is a very powerful agent that really conflicts with what we believe in. We do it however to fit in like the video said we don't want to be social outcasts but even though we know its wrong we still go along with it. Godzilla012
I liked the video but it was kind of obvious on the topic I mean peer pressure is an experience that we all go through. I don't want to hear anyone say they didn't because we all have or we still do because it wouldn't kill to try something new. As long it wasn't a criminal act. I have been in many situations where my friends made me either do something stupid in public, try to make me do something out of the ordinary that I was an idiot doing. Peer pressure can be funny and sometimes peer pressure can be going a little too far with some things. With the conformity example is to state that younger kids need to be around positive kids so that the peer pressure doesn't affect their life as much it did when we where kids because it could lead them to an act that they could regret or be dangerous. BlackHawks012
Amazing video, very informative. I most defiantly enjoyed the video, so far this video has been an interesting video to me. I like how he explained the following topics conformity and peer pressure. He brought amazing examples to learn from and take an understanding from. I believe that mostly everyone has experienced conformity or peer pressure in their lives. But theres something that caught my attention on the peer pressure. That was interesting me because I personally have not experienced it it in my life yet. I still wonder if ill make that choice to make If I was in that situation. I dont think id fear from the social rejection by my group. Id stand up to my fear and deal with it, even if I was to get rejected from the social group.Shaklaka012
Very informative video in my opinion. I think we all can relate to this in a way. Especially with conformity or in other words, peer pressure. I can write about this topic all day relating this to a criminal justice point of view. Never really thought that with group think it normally has a leader to persuade them to all think of a decision. But it makes sense that the alpha male of the group can persuade the rest to make them think something they would not of done on their own. We also learned about this in psychology and how it clearly is not the best way to handle important subjects. -Ibanez012
I think as a criminal justice major we could really relate to this. Coming from the different types of people who commit different types of crimes. Raging from area,race, age ext. It's a really interesting stand point. -dicaprio012
The behavior of blindly following the leader without considering whether the decision/resolution is the best possible solution, explains many problems with human behavior; from The Salem Witch Hunts, to the video of incidents-"Do No Harm." It is a dangerous scenario. The benefit of working as a group is to pool our thoughts and come up with the best solution for the problem at hand. Knowing this is a weakness, we should know enough to make us act differently, yet it has little effect. We follow, even when we know it is the wrong thing to. I think the term the speaker used in this video was 'disastrous.' I have always been comfortable with not conforming to a groups ideas, and when I am not in agreement, I almost always speak up- either with my voice or with my body language. Conformity never held that much value to me, and I think most conformers are fearing that their thoughts are wrong because they are different. It is easier to agree and not speak up than it is to be the only person in the group to hold a different position. I especially liked the analogy using the U.S. Congress. It is a perfect example of group think! Even people of power are not immune to this human behavior. OICU8 012
This video was easy to follow for me, i was surprised I usually hate these types of videos. But the way he explained conformity or peer pressure was very good and his examples were very clear. Depending on who we are and what kind of people we hangout around are going to change the way we conform. Human behavior is so interesting to know what we may do around one group of people we wouldn't even think about doing around another. -dicaprio012
I didn't think I would like this video either but his was very clear and consistent with is explanations. I was pleasantly surprised. And I agree on the second half of your post too. How I act in front of my granny is not how I act in front of my best friend. This can be interchangeable with any social peer. -Jakku012
He explained these terms very simply. Nice video. I think we've all seen the negative effects of groupthink, conformity, group polarization. Even if we didn't know they had a special name to label them. I think sometimes a level of conformity is needed. I say a LEVEL because it can really be taken too far a lot of the time. We need to avoid not thinking independently and conforming to everyone else's thoughts and actions. At the same time we can't all be enforcing our own thoughts and actions in all situations. It just doesn't work that way. Let's use his dog training example from the video. If someone didn't agree with the shock collar method, then they could speak up and offer to do some training with the treats. There could be two training groups. This allows for those that may have agreed with treats over the shock collar to speak up and join with that person. The evidence of what works better will speak for itself sometimes. I actually had a similar situation in a dog training class for my own dog. I spoke up the very first night and said that I wouldn't be using some of the exact methods they were telling us to use. I was completely okay with not continuing with the class if that's what needed to be done. I didn't want to mess up the training she had planned for others, I just wasn't willing to do some of the things she was asking. She actually offered alternatives for us during the class and we weren't the only ones that used them. Needless to say, in this particular event, the less harsher training showed more progress than the original tactics she was going to use. It doesn't always work out that way. She could have easily said this is my class and if you don't want to do it the way I have planned you can leave, and I would have, with no harsh feelings at all. We have to be willing to stand up for our own thoughts and feelings, but not to the point of always taking over and thinking we are any more right than others sometimes. Purple012
I like the way he explained the different types here. I have fallen victim to some negative peer pressure, and some positive. I'm sure that holds true for most people. I thought his example was very consistent and thorough. By using the same example and changing a few factors, it made the terms more understandable. I think that the peer pressure of speaking up and stating that you think something is wrong is much harder than it seems. Sometimes you have to put social acceptance aside and do what you think is morally best for you and what your opinion is. Everyone has opinions on things, and those opinions vary so it's important to not get tangled up in trying to fit in. -Jakku012
It is rather sad how much shame and other people influence our decisions out the simplest of things to the most complex morals to something you would never do. Personal I would never consider putting a shock color on a dog or allow someone else to put it on a dog unless I was able to put it on them for two weeks strait and use it every chance I get. Sorry, I have more empathy for animals than humans. This reminds me of high school I didn’t confide to the norm I hung out with drug addicts and not trying students but I have never been like that I have never smocked drank, alcohol or have done drugs, I have also worked my way through out school from special ed. to the merit role in the processes of missing almost two months of school. I was also able to attend college while still in high school. TAGTaylor33012
Very good video, it was very informative and easy to follow. I'm quite sure we were all in some way able to relate to the topic of conformity and peer pressure, in some situations. In these situations of being and a group and the entire group agrees on one thing except for one person more than likely the person who privately disagrees will change their mind to fit in with the groups decision, even if its wrong. I believe that that if the group is of similar age and somewhat common interest it would be cetrian for them to agree with a group. Whereas a young adult settling to agree with someone out of their age group. If more people would have confidence in their thoughs they would be influenced to peer pressure. I really liked the scenarios the guy in the video had gave. Good clip! mommy012
Conformity is very interesting to me, especially with younger children as they grow and develop with their peers. It is why growing up with a stable, informative family who lets you know what is right and wrong and makes you strong in your beliefs. When influences come in, children should know that conformity is not necessary. If the person cannot receive this stability through family, they will be weaker when faced with outside influences. They will be much more subject-able to peers and outside factors. This video was a great follow up to the previous one about the riots in Vancouver. It explains some of the simple psychology of why the people acted the way they did. Groups can be so positive or so negative. -leafy012
I agree learning conformity from a kids perspective is very interesting. A family that's very informative about how to tell the difference between right and wrong will help a child. So that under peer pressure he/she doesn't internalize the influences around them because they're already so strong in their own beliefs. Believe012
This was a good video. It was very informative. I liked how he explained each term and the positive and negative effects it has on groupthink, group polarization, and conformity. I say that in different situations conformity is needed but also it can be taken to far. We can listen to the opinions of others when it matters, but not in every conversation that arises. We have to also be able to openly speak up and go with are independent thoughts as well. Going back to the example with the dog and the shock collar. If you did no agree with what method the group choose then you had the opportunity to speak up and say something. That also gives other individuals the choice to speak up and join your side as well. Sometimes it will work in your favor or you could always try both methods and see which method works best. I think that in society today a lot of what our peers say influence the way we think and act. Just like in the video some individuals act different because of those peers. At the end of the day we need to be able to stand up for ourselves and find a voice. You should never let others make a decision for you or go by what some else wants just to please them.Blue012
Group think is anot her very applicable social pribciple. This is one of those sociology examples that does not require a lot of external evidence to believe because we have all seen this occur at some point in our lives. The other blog was a great example of group think as you can see that the people involved probably weren't all malicious people. It is good to be aware of this principle because if you are, it is easier to realize when you are in a situation with a group that may not be right or something that you would normally be involved in. Moot012
I liked this video it helped me get a better understanding of what normative and informative influences are and how to tell the difference between them. I liked how he used the dog trainer scenario to explain. I also realized that we've all done both of these things in everyday life. like agreeing with people so you don't become an outcast to that particular group. Or agreeing with someone external only to keep you own beliefs internal, so you don't really take what the said to heart. Believe012
Comformity in the form of peer pressure is real. It seems like as we get older it doesn't fade away but it does happen less. When we get older were are more able to really think for ourselves and know to really think about the consequences that would happen with certain situations. The video was very informative, and I really think that younger students should watch videos like this to let them know that it's ok to be different and to do your own thing even if your peers are doing something different. Honestly parents can talk to younger kids all day but I feel as if something like this will get through to them before their parents do. Pinky012
Good video! Very informative and I found it very easy to follow. I liked how the speaker used the same example of the group dog training but changed it just a little to show the different ways an individual or a group thinks. I think everyone has experienced conformity or "peer pressure" in their lives. I know I have. It is nice to know the different ways people are affected by conformity. I know that I personally am a little quiet and afraid to express my opinion for fear of rejection. I have gone along with groups but have maintained my own opinion in private. I'd like to work on that. I guess it wouldn't be so bad to voice my opinion. Even if someone doesn't agree with me, the discussion we have may benefit both of us. I'm glad we had this video since we are doing group work in class soon. I believe I will voice my opinion and not be so shy. I find the "group think" theory a little scary in certain situations. If you have a bad leader, and everyone follows their opinion, that may lead to a bad situation. I think I will keep this information in mind if I am ever in that situation. I do think it is easier to resist peer pressure as I get older. The more experiences I have the more confidence I gain and I develop more of my own opinions. Hadrosaur012
ReplyDeleteLove this! I couldn't agree more. There has been many times I too have gone along with a group to avoid confrontation or being wrong. It is something worth working on in our lives. I praise those who are not afraid to speak their minds and stand up for what they believe. I wish I could do that more often. In some situations it is better to just keep your apposing opinions to yourself but in others it definitely could be beneficial to both sides. VT012
DeleteI definitely agree with you. This video was very informative and easy to follow. I do agree that everyone at some point has experienced conformity. It is something that can be fun at times but can be dangerous. I can say that I do keep my opinions to my self at times. That is something that I should work on myself. It doesn't matter whether someone agrees with you or not. You as the individual have that peace of mind just knowing that you spoke up and voiced your opinion. That individual may not understand your point of view because you never said anything and that could of possibly changed the way they looked at the situation. It is easy to say these things but when your put into that situation its a completely different story. Yeah you just have to get that confidence level up and learn that its okay to voice your own opinion.Blue012
DeleteI found this video to be an interesting, yet succinct, look at the dynamics of thought processes within a group. I can see a lot of these dynamics (in particular, the very negative ramifications) at play within a cult. Conformity and group polarization both take place when it comes to recognizing the cult leader as an oracle of God and his words as gospel. While some may privately dissent, they must publicly agree in order to continue to be part of the group and, should they speak out, they would be shot down by the polarized majority. In addition, groupthink would be a prominent feature. Many cult members choose to remain in a cult for the sake of unity. They continue to recognize the leader as speaking for God for the same reason (much like the suburb example in the video.) It would be fascinating to conduct a sociological study on members of a cult to see how these factors play out in an actual situation. – Jung012
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your reply; I think this video is more based on social interaction in the community in a more laid-back setting. I too would like to see the same research applied into a cult organization. I think the value of the respect of our peers plays a huge part in the group decisions we make or "peer pressure". I know in my life I have made a lot of dumb decisions based off what I would be thought of by the group. I didn’t want to break away and do my own thing because I would be offset from the entire group of people I was with. Sometimes people go against they’re own values and morals just to fit in. That can’t be said for everybody but I think it happens more often than not. I have a lot of respect for people who can go against the norm in a group setting and stay grounded in they’re own beliefs and values. Twal012
DeleteWhat you were talking about reminded me of a situation I managed to get myself involved in when I was younger. This girl I’m friends with sat me down and told me about this dream she had and she tried to save me and get me to go to church with her again. I have secretly resented her since that day. Yeah me for not conforming. All can do now is hope that my little sister can stand up for what she believes in as well and conform to social norms. TAGTaylor33012
DeleteThis videos is pretty simple. You can sum everything up by just saying conformity is peer pressure. It is something very common it happens everyday when you usually do not think about it. It only makes sense that in a group setting you would rather go with what the majority votes instead of your own opinions to avoid confrontation. Other people may conform because of a fear of being wrong in front of people. It was interesting however to see the difference in private and public dissent. VT012
ReplyDeleteI think the simplicity of this video is why I liked it so much. I was able to follow easily and I feel like I understood everything. I also thought the differences between the private and public opinions were interesting. I didn't realize it was so normal to go along with the crown in a group situation but keep your own opinion in private. Hadrosaur012
DeleteThis video was an excellent representation of peer pressure and group conformity! I really liked how the video was constructed and the examples given about the best way to train a dog. The way the video was broken down really helped me to understand group social conformity. I have experienced informative and normative influence in my own life plenty of times! It reminded me of the first time I ever drank alcohol. I knew when I was feeling dizzy I should stop drinking, however, my friends poured me another shot and said "take it lightweight!" Needless to say I publicly pronounced normative influence that night. I regretted it the next day and when I was out of the group environment I knew I had passed my limits and would not do that again if I were alone. I remember another instance when I was starting my first job laying hardwood flooring. My mentor taught me to lay the floor right to left (tongue to groove). That is the way I installed for years and had no idea of other ways to do it. I later worked for a different construction company where the boss laid the flooring left to right. This was hard to grasp given the way I was informatively influenced by my first mentor! I told the boss at the time if he wanted my labor I was going to install it the way I was taught which was much more efficient in the long run. Twal012
ReplyDeleteGood for you. It can be hard to stand up to a group when you have a differing opinion on something. You might have made some of those guys realize that your way was better, and that's how they'll do it from now on. It is crazy how people can have such different opinions on such things as small and simple as that. It's all the same in the end. Crown012
DeleteThat drinking experience is very true to some people I know as well. There are quite a few small influences that we can overlook thinking its only one more, or just one time. Sometimes a firm hand to say no I’m done is what is necessary. And with your work example, most people are too afraid to say no to the boss because of the obvious conformity to authority, and certain situations it calls for it.-Pasta012
DeleteThis kinda reminds me of grade school when the teacher asked a question and you looked around at everyone else before you raised your hand. I think we're all influenced by the group that we are in, especially when we are younger. As we get older some of our opinions and ways of thinking will change, and we'll find ourselves in other groups with people that think like us. We need to teach our kids that it's ok to not follow the crowd. They can have whatever opinion they want, as long as they can rationalize it. Like we talked about in class, the business world especially is looking for more free minded people. It's cool to have strong opinions and beliefs, and you should voice them if you feel strongly about them. You might make someone realize that they've been wrong. Crown012
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you and that is an awesome example on the raising your hand in grade school. I remember back in the day when a teacher would call on you in class and you would know the correct answer but wouldn't answer or would act like you didn't know because you wouldn't want all the cool kids or your friends to think you were smart or teachers pet. That is so weird to think of how it was then to things we would do now. I would so never care now what somebody thought, but I sure did then and would get so upset if somebody didn't like me in grade school. Your so right on teaching our kids not to follow the crowd, but at the same time its also very hard for them just as it was when our parents tried to teach us the same. I think it just comes with age. Deacon012
DeleteI remember before starting high school my middle school had some guy talk about peer pressure and watch out how we need to see who are friends really are. Rather if we trust them or they make us do stupid things and be funny about it. BlackHawks012
DeleteYes I remember doing this all the time in grade school. I would know the correct answer to a question but be hesitant about saying the answer because sometimes everyone would disagree. Your example made the idea of group think all the more real to me. It is also interesting to see this happen in the workplace or with friends. Group think is very common. Moot012
DeleteConformity can be very useful for mental health with proper guidance and direction. It takes more than peer pressure to make a decision however it can seem damaging not to go along with the crowd. We all want to be social is some way and being cast out of a group you identify with can be a scary proposition. Sticking with your own morals can be harder when you are raised that the group is necessary for survival especially. Although as kids it may be into something more minor, as adults it can be much more influential and a larger scale. When you are little, not playing basketball and instead going to the playground to play on the monkey bars could get you made fun of because of some perception of the monkey bar group as losers and nobodies. As an adult however it can be similar, at work for instance the boss could say that only the good workers who want a raise or promotions give up weekends and holidays and never take vacations. It can seem more important to ‘play basketball’ with the cool kids even if it isn’t what you wanted to do.-Pasta012
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement "it can seem damaging not to go along with the crowd" so much! We try not to stray from the norms because of the ridicule we may receive for taking the road less traveled. I like how you made up an example of this. Although we should be able to make our own decisions without criticism from others it is almost impossible nowadays. Storm012
DeleteIn regards to an individual who is well-rounded in most affairs, and well in the head, I believe it is the best choice to follow your morals. Even if you are criticized and bullied, it is better that you know that you didn't cave-in on who you are as a person and what you believe in. Marley012
DeleteI did not dislike this video as much as I thought I would! In the video, the speaker was actually very clear with the examples he was trying to relate with groups and the way we make decisions. I liked very much how it kept the same examples and altered them to fit different kinds of communication and decision making processes. This helped me follow along with the video better. I agreed with the speaker very much. I think that we all have to make decisions sometimes that are definitely affected positively and negatively because of different groups. It can be extremely difficult to be the one person to not follow the flow of the crowd, and be the so called outcast of the group. The world around us is so judgmental and criticizes those who do not tend to follow along with the "norms". I wish we lived in a world where it was acceptable to be free to make decisions without the fear of ridicule. Storm012
ReplyDeleteAgreed it is often a struggle to not conform with the crowd and do your own thing. It is very tricky due to the fact sometimes you are almost forced to conform and you might not be able to justify a reason not to or just bring yourself to do so. I find it very interesting that we can be persuaded by just the mere presence and actions of the people around us and a lot of the time we don't have a clue who these people are. MuayThaiGuy012
DeleteI have two different sides when it comes to conformity: on one hand it's "conformity only happens to those who don't have a mind of their own" and on the other it's "conformity can happen to even the smartest person, because of the pressure to not stand out". A lot of the time when I hear about conformity happening it is about people in situations that I wouldn't even consider putting myself into willingly. Like someone eating an orange peel, just because their friends said it's good for your skin. I would never do that, because it sounds ridiculous and the peel of an orange is not the most appetizing part of of an orange. I wouldn't sacrifice my taste buds to maybe get clear skin. But that's just conformity that is easily avoided. Other forms are subtle and not even noticeable when you start doing things that you despise. This peer pressure can be dangerous when others on the wrong side of good understand how it works. Your friends influence the decisions you make, I think, the most. They are the people you are around and you unintentionally start to mimic their ways and vice-versa. So, if they pick up random, small, piles of dollar bills at their house, you start to do it at yours. Then you see them actually going into their parent's wallet to take money out and you do the same, without even thinking. These things can snowball and cause a huge mess and no one would be the wiser. Marley012
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you . Conformity when applied with common sense and consciousness makes the person and the social setup they influence makes it better. I think the person who withstands the negative influence of peer pressure eventually wins in their personal and professional life. When someone confirms to negative peer pressure - such as drugs and drinking, then they not only mess up their own life and the influence is far reaching, often times they don’t realize that. I wish all of us, especially the young folks in college, can apply the reasoning and come above their peer pressure if and when it is about to negatively affect their own self and their family. – chichi012
DeleteVery good point about not even realizing how we conform sometimes. It can be something done over time rather than a split decision that involves you knowing you are doing it solely based on others. Purple012
DeleteI think we all have experienced the peer pressure conformity part by this time in our lives. Most people don't want to "stand out" or be "outcast" from everyone else for fear of not being liked or being embarrassed or considered wrong maybe. I think most of us would agree with if you have positive peers or group then its more likely the outcomes are going to be positive. My teenage son is dealing with this now and has hung around a less desirable, troubled crowd and has made some poor choices that he knew were wrong but didn't want to not "be cool", or get "made fun of" so went along with it. I think its very hard at that age and that most kids do it because their still trying to find their place in this world and who they want to be, and everybody wants to be a part of something. I've tried to explain to him that he has to stand for something he knows is right on his own and maybe if he does others who may not be as strong will follow his lead because they may be feeling the same way. I don't think peer pressure is as strong when we get older because for most of us we've already kind of found our place or friends, and kind of know or remember our morals. We also know what goals we want to achieve in life therefore may listen, but don't really care what other people think. One of my favorite sayings I seen and that I think is not only funny but true says that between the age of 17 and 30 your life is like playing a video game where you skipped the tutorial, your just there runnning around not really knowing what to do. Deacon012
ReplyDeleteI completely agree I think everyone experiences the peer pressure part of life. even though we know what we are doing is wrong we still do it to "fit in". If your peers are up to no good then you are too. If your peers are doing the right thing and trying to succeed in life then you go the golden ticket because you are going up with them. Godzilla012
DeleteThis comment is really groovy! I totally agree. When I was in high-school, it was the same way. I lacked a sense of self identity, and until I found that and became stable I was very subjectable to peer pressure. I think that a lot of it has to do with how the child was raised and how their home life is, but we all know that there is no set cure. It's all situational. =leafy012
DeleteI agree about the whole group thinking opionion. It's very scary because now a days your peers can talk you into anything and you will do anything just to fit in. The video was very informative and like I mentioned in my post with the younger kids it's even more scarier because they will listen to their peers before they listen to their parents. Everyone just wants to fit in and if you have to grow up with these peers how can you blame them? Pinky012
DeleteI liked this video, even though I had to stare at some poor drawings the whole time, no offense the creator of the video. It was very informative from the narrative point of view. The conformity point is right on par with how society is on the most part. We as people don't really like to stand out or draw attention to our selves unless it is in a extremly positive way, or if we would be lucky enough to get famous. Most of the time people who stand out are looked down on in a negative manner as it almost not acceptable to be different. This is changing during current times but back in the day that's how it was. But I think being different is a very good thing as it brings out who we truly are as a person and sets us apart from others. Heck if we were all the same we wouldn't be a society would we? We as humans would be amibas just floating around connecting and merging into one another and that would be just plain old weird and freaky. Every one would like the same things and ther wouldn't be any diversity or personality. MuayThaiGuy012
ReplyDeleteThis shows irresponsibility of what appears to be mostly young folks. If people watching sports can’t control themselves then they should not be a sports man/women or going to sport events. Sport is all about treating winning and loosing equally. This mob seem like lost sanity and control. Serious punishment to these folks may teach some lesson. The need to have sense of what public property means and if they don’t already know, they have to be taught a lesson about public money by making them pay for everything they broke. Strong punishment is the only way to treat these morons. Putting their picture in a public websites and places is another good idea. I don’t think this should be blamed on their drinking, they are expected to have social responsibility when they are in public setup, if they don’t understand then they have to pay for the consequences – chichi012
ReplyDeleteThis was a great video with really good examples it was easy to understand and loved how he used the pictures. I believe that he was spot on with his examples. Many of the decisions that we make are based upon conformity or peer pressure. How many times have you said you would never do something but you ended up doing it because of your friends? How about saying you would never do something unless you did it with a friend? I know there are a couple things that I have done in my life that I promised I would never do it until my friends done it and wanted me to try it. Peer pressure is a very powerful agent that really conflicts with what we believe in. We do it however to fit in like the video said we don't want to be social outcasts but even though we know its wrong we still go along with it. Godzilla012
ReplyDeleteI liked the video but it was kind of obvious on the topic I mean peer pressure is an experience that we all go through. I don't want to hear anyone say they didn't because we all have or we still do because it wouldn't kill to try something new. As long it wasn't a criminal act. I have been in many situations where my friends made me either do something stupid in public, try to make me do something out of the ordinary that I was an idiot doing. Peer pressure can be funny and sometimes peer pressure can be going a little too far with some things. With the conformity example is to state that younger kids need to be around positive kids so that the peer pressure doesn't affect their life as much it did when we where kids because it could lead them to an act that they could regret or be dangerous. BlackHawks012
ReplyDeleteAmazing video, very informative. I most defiantly enjoyed the video, so far this video has been an interesting video to me. I like how he explained the following topics conformity and peer pressure. He brought amazing examples to learn from and take an understanding from. I believe that mostly everyone has experienced conformity or peer pressure in their lives. But theres something that caught my attention on the peer pressure. That was interesting me because I personally have not experienced it it in my life yet. I still wonder if ill make that choice to make If I was in that situation. I dont think id fear from the social rejection by my group. Id stand up to my fear and deal with it, even if I was to get rejected from the social group.Shaklaka012
ReplyDeleteVery informative video in my opinion. I think we all can relate to this in a way. Especially with conformity or in other words, peer pressure. I can write about this topic all day relating this to a criminal justice point of view. Never really thought that with group think it normally has a leader to persuade them to all think of a decision. But it makes sense that the alpha male of the group can persuade the rest to make them think something they would not of done on their own. We also learned about this in psychology and how it clearly is not the best way to handle important subjects.
ReplyDelete-Ibanez012
I think as a criminal justice major we could really relate to this. Coming from the different types of people who commit different types of crimes. Raging from area,race, age ext. It's a really interesting stand point. -dicaprio012
DeleteI learned about conformity in psychology as well. I agree we all in some points in our lives have faced these situatios of peer pressure.
Deletemommy012
The behavior of blindly following the leader without considering whether the decision/resolution is the best possible solution, explains many problems with human behavior; from The Salem Witch Hunts, to the video of incidents-"Do No Harm." It is a dangerous scenario. The benefit of working as a group is to pool our thoughts and come up with the best solution for the problem at hand.
ReplyDeleteKnowing this is a weakness, we should know enough to make us act differently, yet it has little effect. We follow, even when we know it is the wrong thing to. I think the term the speaker used in this video was 'disastrous.'
I have always been comfortable with not conforming to a groups ideas, and when I am not in agreement, I almost always speak up- either with my voice or with my body language. Conformity never held that much value to me, and I think most conformers are fearing that their thoughts are wrong because they are different. It is easier to agree and not speak up than it is to be the only person in the group to hold a different position.
I especially liked the analogy using the U.S. Congress. It is a perfect example of group think! Even people of power are not immune to this human behavior.
OICU8 012
This video was easy to follow for me, i was surprised I usually hate these types of videos. But the way he explained conformity or peer pressure was very good and his examples were very clear. Depending on who we are and what kind of people we hangout around are going to change the way we conform. Human behavior is so interesting to know what we may do around one group of people we wouldn't even think about doing around another. -dicaprio012
ReplyDeleteI didn't think I would like this video either but his was very clear and consistent with is explanations. I was pleasantly surprised. And I agree on the second half of your post too. How I act in front of my granny is not how I act in front of my best friend. This can be interchangeable with any social peer. -Jakku012
DeleteHe explained these terms very simply. Nice video. I think we've all seen the negative effects of groupthink, conformity, group polarization. Even if we didn't know they had a special name to label them. I think sometimes a level of conformity is needed. I say a LEVEL because it can really be taken too far a lot of the time. We need to avoid not thinking independently and conforming to everyone else's thoughts and actions. At the same time we can't all be enforcing our own thoughts and actions in all situations. It just doesn't work that way. Let's use his dog training example from the video. If someone didn't agree with the shock collar method, then they could speak up and offer to do some training with the treats. There could be two training groups. This allows for those that may have agreed with treats over the shock collar to speak up and join with that person. The evidence of what works better will speak for itself sometimes. I actually had a similar situation in a dog training class for my own dog. I spoke up the very first night and said that I wouldn't be using some of the exact methods they were telling us to use. I was completely okay with not continuing with the class if that's what needed to be done. I didn't want to mess up the training she had planned for others, I just wasn't willing to do some of the things she was asking. She actually offered alternatives for us during the class and we weren't the only ones that used them. Needless to say, in this particular event, the less harsher training showed more progress than the original tactics she was going to use. It doesn't always work out that way. She could have easily said this is my class and if you don't want to do it the way I have planned you can leave, and I would have, with no harsh feelings at all. We have to be willing to stand up for our own thoughts and feelings, but not to the point of always taking over and thinking we are any more right than others sometimes. Purple012
ReplyDeleteI like the way he explained the different types here. I have fallen victim to some negative peer pressure, and some positive. I'm sure that holds true for most people. I thought his example was very consistent and thorough. By using the same example and changing a few factors, it made the terms more understandable. I think that the peer pressure of speaking up and stating that you think something is wrong is much harder than it seems. Sometimes you have to put social acceptance aside and do what you think is morally best for you and what your opinion is. Everyone has opinions on things, and those opinions vary so it's important to not get tangled up in trying to fit in. -Jakku012
ReplyDeleteIt is rather sad how much shame and other people influence our decisions out the simplest of things to the most complex morals to something you would never do. Personal I would never consider putting a shock color on a dog or allow someone else to put it on a dog unless I was able to put it on them for two weeks strait and use it every chance I get. Sorry, I have more empathy for animals than humans. This reminds me of high school I didn’t confide to the norm I hung out with drug addicts and not trying students but I have never been like that I have never smocked drank, alcohol or have done drugs, I have also worked my way through out school from special ed. to the merit role in the processes of missing almost two months of school. I was also able to attend college while still in high school. TAGTaylor33012
ReplyDeleteVery good video, it was very informative and easy to follow. I'm quite sure we were all in some way able to relate to the topic of conformity and peer pressure, in some situations. In these situations of being and a group and the entire group agrees on one thing except for one person more than likely the person who privately disagrees will change their mind to fit in with the groups decision, even if its wrong. I believe that that if the group is of similar age and somewhat common interest it would be cetrian for them to agree with a group. Whereas a young adult settling to agree with someone out of their age group. If more people would have confidence in their thoughs they would be influenced to peer pressure. I really liked the scenarios the guy in the video had gave. Good clip!
ReplyDeletemommy012
Conformity is very interesting to me, especially with younger children as they grow and develop with their peers. It is why growing up with a stable, informative family who lets you know what is right and wrong and makes you strong in your beliefs. When influences come in, children should know that conformity is not necessary. If the person cannot receive this stability through family, they will be weaker when faced with outside influences. They will be much more subject-able to peers and outside factors. This video was a great follow up to the previous one about the riots in Vancouver. It explains some of the simple psychology of why the people acted the way they did. Groups can be so positive or so negative. -leafy012
ReplyDeleteI agree learning conformity from a kids perspective is very interesting. A family that's very informative about how to tell the difference between right and wrong will help a child. So that under peer pressure he/she doesn't internalize the influences around them because they're already so strong in their own beliefs. Believe012
DeleteThis was a good video. It was very informative. I liked how he explained each term and the positive and negative effects it has on groupthink, group polarization, and conformity. I say that in different situations conformity is needed but also it can be taken to far. We can listen to the opinions of others when it matters, but not in every conversation that arises. We have to also be able to openly speak up and go with are independent thoughts as well. Going back to the example with the dog and the shock collar. If you did no agree with what method the group choose then you had the opportunity to speak up and say something. That also gives other individuals the choice to speak up and join your side as well. Sometimes it will work in your favor or you could always try both methods and see which method works best. I think that in society today a lot of what our peers say influence the way we think and act. Just like in the video some individuals act different because of those peers. At the end of the day we need to be able to stand up for ourselves and find a voice. You should never let others make a decision for you or go by what some else wants just to please them.Blue012
ReplyDeleteGroup think is anot her very applicable social pribciple. This is one of those sociology examples that does not require a lot of external evidence to believe because we have all seen this occur at some point in our lives. The other blog was a great example of group think as you can see that the people involved probably weren't all malicious people. It is good to be aware of this principle because if you are, it is easier to realize when you are in a situation with a group that may not be right or something that you would normally be involved in. Moot012
ReplyDeleteI liked this video it helped me get a better understanding of what normative and informative influences are and how to tell the difference between them. I liked how he used the dog trainer scenario to explain. I also realized that we've all done both of these things in everyday life. like agreeing with people so you don't become an outcast to that particular group. Or agreeing with someone external only to keep you own beliefs internal, so you don't really take what the said to heart. Believe012
ReplyDeleteComformity in the form of peer pressure is real. It seems like as we get older it doesn't fade away but it does happen less. When we get older were are more able to really think for ourselves and know to really think about the consequences that would happen with certain situations. The video was very informative, and I really think that younger students should watch videos like this to let them know that it's ok to be different and to do your own thing even if your peers are doing something different. Honestly parents can talk to younger kids all day but I feel as if something like this will get through to them before their parents do. Pinky012
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