Black Mirror : Identity, Conformity, And Society

“Etiquette is all human social behavior. If you’re a hermit on a mountain, you don’t have to worry about etiquette; if somebody comes up the mountain, then you’ve got a problem…” This quote from American journalist, Judith Martin, illustrates the concept that the presence of others creates or inspires expectations. Social norms, or specific cultural expectations for how to behave in a given situation, are practiced throughout various societies and cultures across the planet. People relay on social norms to provide order and predictability in social situations. Social roles are the part people play as members of a social group. With each social role one plays, the behavior changes to fit the expectations both you and others have of that role. It is most common for people to conform to the guidelines provided by the roles we perform. When one does not conform to the social norms, it is considered abnormal behavior. For this assignment, I faced the challenge to disregard expectations of social roles and norms in society.

Conformity refers to an individual’s behavior that is performed because of group pressure, even though that pressure might not involve a direct request. Many people want to think that they are conformist enough so that they are not looked upon as strange to others and nonconformist enough to demonstrate that they are capable of thinking by themselves. For many years, psychologists have been interested in human conformity. Usually when people are in groups, they behave according to how those in the group behave. That indicates that conformity can affect a person’s behavior and make a person do things that may be against their ethics, attitudes, and morals. The study of

Many individuals is faced with the decision of conforming or choosing personal desire, and it is not an easy decision. It is hard because being shunned by others for being different is not a good feeling. Choosing to conform over personal desire, often leads to loss. On the other hand, personal desire is what sets others apart and gives them joy. In the poem, “The Jackhammer Syndrome”, Al Purdy discusses the good and bad memories he has experienced. He goes through his memories of when he had fun and made mistakes, but he reflects on what he could have done better. The author of “The Jackhammer Syndrome informs against choosing the welcoming joy of conformity over the long-term gains of personal desire. Making the decision to pursue conformity over personal desire may seem easy at first, but if the choice is to conform, the joy it gives will not last. Making the decision to pursue conformity over personal desire Conformity may seem to give joy at first, but it does not last. When Al is playing pool with his brother, he wants to win badly, but losses. However when he did not care to win, Al wins! Conforming can lead to loss but personal desire has much to gain. If the choice is to conform, personal identity may be lost. In my life, I recognize several instances in which I found several similarities between Al and myself. I have made decisions that were not always good ones such as swimming across long distances with friends.

In today’s social norms or Conformity to fit in with a certain group of individuals you see a lot of “I need to change this or have that” to be accepted. Eating disorder, it’s one of those on the top of the list. You could be in other words Fat or over weight, might be a health condition like a Thyroid. In the other cases, you have someone eating too much. That individual will start eating less or will throw up after each meal to fit in with the society. You could say it for Anorexic individuals also, just the steps would be flipped.

She wants to be recognized as a doctor by virtually everybody, and she does not care about the essence of every visitation. The play uses a number of characters who have different emotional and intelligence orientations to make the protagonist, Vivian, realise that she has a negative character and gives her an emotional role model in Susie.

In media relations, fashion reporter Erin Cunningham in “Our Photoshopping Disorder” and editor Serena Elavia in, “The Collective Conscience of reality television.” Cunningham, and Elavia write articles on what is the most talked about in today's society. Media and reality television may seem different, but in these articles both writers are showing the ugly truth on just how similar they are. Cunningham and Elavia agreed on similar points, in both stories the general agreement of public views, poor behavior that has to show for each, and the facts and potential health issues that are occurring will be the main topics that both authors agree and explain their opinions and supported with facts.

An American culture of strict conformity accounts for the rise of the phenomenon known as the Red Scare, as well as its widespread nature and prominent power. The Red Scare was complicated and a result of many different aspects of American culture. However the American culture in the 1950’s was one of strict conformity. This conformist society, created in the late 1940’s was created by many early discoveries that uncovered Communist members as Soviet spies. There arose a prevalent belief that anyone who thought differently was unpatriotic. This conformist nature of American society thus resulted in few organizations fighting for social justice. The Communist party therefore attracted a wide range of liberals from different aspects of life. Joseph McCarthy himself, along with many other governmental officials, was able to institute anti-communist laws and practices under the pretense that an unwavering conformity was the American goal. The conformist nature of American society in the 1950’s created one of the most powerful anti-communist crusades and allowed for a dominant Red Scare.

In addition to Daisy’s selfish nature, her materialistic values reveal the true reasons behind her actions, illustrating the way members in society value possessions rather than those they care about. Individuals in society often value tangible items as opposed to feelings. Through the character

Imagine a thirteen year old middle school girl, wearing Guess boots and an Abercrombie hood in order to fit in. Visualize a thirty five year old man listening to the top forty radio stations and watching American Idol, so he can have something to add to the discussion with his co-workers over coffee break. The various types of behaviours stated before are pertained to as conformity. Conformity refers to the process by which an individual's attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours are influenced by other individuals. Except, how do these necessities manipulate a being? Social psychologists have conducted an assortment of experiments and concluded that, through a range of forms of social influence, groups can alter their members’ personality.

Everyone is entitled to different life values as you see the world through different lenses than the person who stands beside you. Beth, for example, comes across as self-serving by participating in those activities that would appear to benefit her. Spending time at the golf course and gossiping with those who she plans events with would suggest that her focus is on herself. She appears to neglect the other aspects which make life valuable; family, feeling and emotion. This inability or lack of attempts to understand the world through different lenses would ultimately result in the division of the family and a metaphorical loss of a second child.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” Becoming yourself while not conforming is the greatest accomplishment. Whether or not we think we do it or not, we all have done it at some point in our lives. In 1964, a young woman named Kitty Genovese was murdered outside of her apartment. Many people heard this innocent woman being brutally murdered and just assumed someone would help. So why do people just assume someone will help? Why are we so scared to stand up for what we believe? Why are we so terrified to stick out? Stop conforming and be an individual.

Identity. Is it formed when you were first born? when you were givien a name. Is it formed over time, or possibly even as you grow older you start to relize who you really are as a person. We people have identities.

Envision climbing up 100 meter building and bursting through doors, jeopardizing your life all by yourself to salvage innocent children and civilians from the most wicked humans in the country. This is a daily routine in the life of Lacey Grace, or at least it used to. She thrived on the urgency and risk of being Lacey Grace.

Since I was little I have been told what is “right” and what is “wrong” in the world as a member of the society. According to my parents there are certain behaviors that are accepted in society such as being a good citizen (not causing any trouble, being a good student, being friendly, etc.) But then again, the question is: are all these actions being done because we really want to do them, or is it more because is what society thinks is correct to do? Growing up in a society that is constantly telling people how they are supposed to dress, how they need to behave, or even what music is okay to listen to can cause societal conformity, and it can bring negative effects in some people who conform to society. People should not conform to the norms

Social identity theory, it is a person’s sense that is based around the group they are in, either by their personal identity or with different kinds of social identities. That is, people will try to improve their own image of themselves. The theory was proposed by Henri Tajfel. People can increase their self-esteem by both their own achievement and interaction with a successful group of people. This shows the importance of social belonging. This theory is based around three mental processes, social categorization, social identification and social comparison.