Individuality Vs Conformity

This article brings to light the opposite spectrum of what most society would not consider which is toxic followers. Most times in society we always look to the leader and how they are toxic or manipulative. We never consider who they are consulting or who they are looking to when it comes to making those big decisions. Many times you can have the follower that tries to protect the leader or the one who tries to lead the leader astray based off their own personal agenda. How can we as a society make sure that not only the leaders are being ethical but, that the followers are acting in the same ethical way?

1. Define conformity, and distinguish between compliance, obedience, and acceptance, giving examples of each. What types of influences lead to conformity? When are we likely to conform and why does it have a negative connotation in Western society? Compare and contrast the conformity experiments of Sherif and Asch. Describe their methodology and the results that they observed. What processes seem to be at work in each case? In your view, would we get the same results today?

Willa Cather's "Paul's Case," displays the conflict between conformity and individuality through the main character, Paul. On a number of occasions, Paul is forced to lie and steal to escape the conformists who wish to control him and stifle his unique imagination. However, his lying, stealing, and attempts to escape the conformists, only force Paul into isolation, depression, and feeling a sense of shame for his individuality. Throughout the story one might see Cather's constant contrast of individuality versus conformity, as well as Paul's lying and stealing. Cather seems to draw the conclusion that extreme individuals, much like Paul are simply misunderstood, and not offered the acceptance they desire

To all those teachers who told me I would understand something once I was older, “How much older do I need to get?” Here is another unanswered why question, “Why does the United States’ education system promote conformity instead of individuality?” I never understood as a child why being curious and searching for the unknown answers was looked down upon, but now I see our education system was established to prepare citizens to learn the same way and conclude the same way, all while developing trust in the system. The United States’ education system is a curiosity killer and causes fear of individuality and conformity in children early on in their educational journeys.

Public schools are designated to give equal opportunity to every citizen while introducing these students a variety of curriculum designed to improve society. Nevertheless, this system encourages conformity amongst students, resulting in less individual synthesis and creativity. Individuality leads to innovation and strengthens a society unlike conformity which sets limits on advancement. Thus, the public school system in place in the US needs to be varied to encourage more individuals. Schools should concentrate more on student’s individuality; to find self-fulfillment, but not to the point where society is lost.

To the extent that your personality is the expression of your individuality, it works to your credit. To the extent that your personality represses your individuality, it adds to your debt. It pays to have a personality that expresses one's life uniquely and truly. It pays in the way that it pays to sow a seed. Our initial compensation is never more than satisfaction in a job well done. Eventually there are further benefits and dividends: we get to reap what we sow. For example: It pays to have a loving personality. You are paid with the love you express. Being loving doesn't mean you will be loved and appreciated in return. Loving others does not place them in your debt. By loving, you experience the love you express and learn to appreciate

Conformity has been a point of contention for many years in our society. Conformity is an essential elements that help to maintain standard of ethics. Nauture of the job and professionalism aspect are the vital to consider wheather conformity is appropriate for the people to explore their creativity.

To conclude, according to Mark Twain, individuals are responsible for questioning the values and principles of the majority. This idea corresponds with a major tenet of American Romanticism that society and social institutions such as organized religion and political parties corrupt the purity of individuals. Emerson and Thoreau urge individuals to rely on their intuition to decide what is right and not conform to the will of the majority. Individuals should “pause and reflect” because non-conformity can make the minority powerful. It can establish the individual as the source of power and authority of large institutions like the Government. Furthermore, separation from the majority can increase the freedom of individuals. Thus, the individual

In modern culture, societal views on individuality are vastly effecting the new generation of people. Individualism, emphasizes the ability for one's morals to be independent from society. Many who express individuals tend to dismiss the status-quo, as they recognize their self worth and the capability to realize it is acceptable to be different. Meanwhile, others who may struggle to determine their individualism, tend to struggle with figuring out who they are and why they are special in society. Society creates sources of criteria that enables stereotypes that reducing one's ability to become an individual. Society also creates ideals of who you should become in society which tends to be similar to your peers around you. Although there are people who are accepted by society who express enormous amounts of individualism, the overall impact of society tends to hinder one's role as an individual in the community due to requirements that society has created.

The influence of other people can cause individuals to change their point of view or alter their behaviour. There are two types of social influence; normative social influence,which is when the individual will go along with the majority in order to appear ‘normal’, and then informational social influence, when the individual conforms because they trust the judgement of those in authority positions such as teachers, doctors and parents. If an individual is influenced the majority and becomes compliant to others, this is known as conforming. Kelman (1958) argued that there are three types of conformity; internalisation, compliance and identification. A study by Sherif (1935) tested the effects of informational social influence and conformity. Later on, Asch (1951) conducted a research study looking at the effects of normative social influence and conformity on individuals. Zimbardo (1973) studied conformity to social roles in order to demonstrate how certain roles have behaviours expected from society. These studies demonstrate how an individual may behave due to social influence in a set up environment that can then be related to real world situations.

Conformity is one of the basic characteristics of human behavior. According to Saul McLeod (2016), “conformity is a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behavior in order to fit in with a group.” Humans as a species have always exhibited behavior implying that they have a desire to socially connect to some type of group. Everyone conforms at some point in some shape or form, even if it is not deliberate or drastic. Western cultures, especially the United States, claim to hold individualistic culture traditions, but even the most radical citizens find themselves blending in with the majority at times. Social media is a great tool that connects people from all over the world; however, it allows for a larger platform to apply pressure to conform. Social conformity has numerous structures and is displayed through social media in many differing ways, including public opinions, trends, and everyday social decisions.

America is a country where people come to be free from persecution and express their thoughts and opinions. This founding principle led American society to pull away from conformity and pushes for individuality. Many family TV shows and several media outlets propagate individuality as a source of pride and evidence of personal growth. In the American society, children are taught at a young age that individuality creates personality. However, as an individual grows, they are forced to choice sides on issues, thus placing them in a position where they must choose to either conform or rebel within their given society. While conformity in the American society plays a structural role by promoting individuality and stimulating growth, and is

Parents and schools should place great emphasis on the idea that it is all right to be different. We are, at almost every point of our day, immersed in diversity. Then why is it that there is so much emphasis put on conformity in the monotonous school system? Schools should focus more on students individuality to find self-fulfillment, but not to the point where order is lost. Individuality leads to innovation and strengthens a society unlike conformity, which sets limits on progress. Therefore, the public school system in place in the United States needs to be altered to encourage more individuality such as students choosing their own schedule and students being able to choose how much time they need in a class. However there still needs to be some conformity to instill balance.

When it comes to schools and education, pushing conformity on students, rather than individuality, has been a concern for some time. Conformity is the compliance with standards, rules, or laws. Individuality is the quality of a person or thing that distinguishes them apart from others of the same kind. In the educational systems, they proclaim that its goals are (1) to help each student gain personal fulfillment and (2) to help create good citizens. Each of these goals push towards the betterment of individuals and society. The goals generally cause much tension in schools because they push more towards the betterment of society rather than the betterment of individuals. Schools would like to encourage students to think independently and pursue interests of their own, but schools also believe that it is right to encourage conformity to socialize. While believing that individuality should be encouraged more throughout schools, conformity should still be encouraged but individuality more.

Let's start off before your existence. Your mom and dad met on a small island off the lower west coast of Canada. Your mom Janice had spent her whole life on this island. Spent her whole life seeing the same couple hundred people and riding her bike along the coast of the ocean. She had an two older brothers and a younger one at the time, plus a sister. At twelve she would lose her youngest brother to a camping trip where his best friend would watch him pulled under the water by a current in the same space of water he was swimming in. He must wonder why it hadn't pulled him under as well. Fishermen found his body over a week later and your mom refused to attend the funeral. Her dad would soon become an alcoholic who missed birthdays and Christmas's