Conformity and obedience have a big impact on how groups work together and make decisions.
Conformity is when people change their beliefs or actions to match what the group thinks is normal. This often happens because they want to fit in and be accepted. For example, if everyone in a group wants to eat pizza for dinner, someone might go along with it, even if they’d rather have sushi. This keeps the peace in the group, but it can also lead to groupthink. That’s when people stop thinking critically and just follow what everyone else wants.
Obedience is different. It means doing what someone in charge tells you to do. A famous experiment by Stanley Milgram showed this well. In his study, people were told to give electric shocks to others when asked. Many followed these orders, even when it went against what they felt was right. This shows how authority can push people to make choices that don’t align with their own morals.
When conformity and obedience are both at play, they can make decision-making easier. However, they can also silence different opinions, which might lead to bad choices. So, while these social influences can help a group stick together, it's important for them to also encourage everyone to share their ideas. Balancing conformity with individual voices is key for better group decisions.
Conformity and obedience have a big impact on how groups work together and make decisions.
Conformity is when people change their beliefs or actions to match what the group thinks is normal. This often happens because they want to fit in and be accepted. For example, if everyone in a group wants to eat pizza for dinner, someone might go along with it, even if they’d rather have sushi. This keeps the peace in the group, but it can also lead to groupthink. That’s when people stop thinking critically and just follow what everyone else wants.
Obedience is different. It means doing what someone in charge tells you to do. A famous experiment by Stanley Milgram showed this well. In his study, people were told to give electric shocks to others when asked. Many followed these orders, even when it went against what they felt was right. This shows how authority can push people to make choices that don’t align with their own morals.
When conformity and obedience are both at play, they can make decision-making easier. However, they can also silence different opinions, which might lead to bad choices. So, while these social influences can help a group stick together, it's important for them to also encourage everyone to share their ideas. Balancing conformity with individual voices is key for better group decisions.