M3. Explain why conformity and obedience are important in the public services, with reference to research studies. Conformity and obedience are forms of social influence which strongly affect our behaviour is social situations, from following fashions and unwritten social norms which organise our behaviour, to committing immoral acts because we are commanded to by someone who appears to be in a position of authority. This essay looks at the similarities and differences between the three, looking specifically at the factors that influence each two. Conformity within a group entails members changing their attitudes and beliefs in order to match those of others within the group.
On the first page, the bus driver directly addresses the reader and says that he has to be gone for a while. He asks the reader if the reader can watch things, but not to let the pigeon drive the bus. (“So can you watch things for me until I get back? Thanks. Oh, and remember: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus”) As the driver walks off one page, the pigeon walks on the next asking if he can drive the bus.
The majority of the story Julian and his mother are on the bus and he is escorting her to her weight-loss classes at the YMCA. He is escorting her because she is afraid to ride the bus since it has been recently racially integrated. The author of the story is Flannery O’Connor and she has a habit of writing stories similar to the bond that she had with her mother. In this story O’Connor uses characterization and imagery to show this weak bond. Characterization in “Everything That Rises Must Converge” is used in many ways to show the bond between Julian and his mother.
Getting on the bus to go to a younglife camp is where it all starts, sitting with the people you know and worrying about not talking to any people from back home for a whole weekend or week. Whether it’s a long bus ride or just a couple hours it’s a chance
An eminent value of social behavior is giving personal space among fellow peers. As soon as I walked over to the next bus stop for a transfer, “an older Caucasian woman comes and lights a cigarette, and I slyly move away. Not only did I move away, but several other people around her at least took a step back.” This clearly showed me that many people desire personal space; not everyone is fond of smoking, especially in front of children. Many people will react differently to situations like these, either by distancing themselves, and/or confronting the rebel to smoke elsewhere. In my situation, people took a step back, and covered their children’s nose for security.
But some people choose to not belong, that leads to being alienated or excluded from a group. In particular groups or sub groups within society, there are rules that are other written or simply know by members of the group. Usually, it is accepted that to be a member of these particular groups, you will adhere to the rule, in other words, you will conform. You must do this in order to being. Individuals who challenge these rules and fail to conform are generally dealt with in two ways – They are in danger of becoming alienated from the group or the group might accept the changes and broaden their rules.
Le Bon said that individuals are more likely to behave in an aggressive manner when part of a large anonymous group. A collective mindset is created and the group can become a mob. Phillip Zimbardo suggested that being part of a group affects you in two ways: it reduces inhibitions therefore allowing individuals to do things they wouldn’t normally do, and it makes a person feel anonymous meaning there is likelihood of a social disapproval and there is a reduced sense of guilt. Diener believed that Deindividuation is more about less self awareness. He said that strong group feelings, increased self arousal and a sense of anonymity leads to reduced self awareness leading to Deindividuation.
The labelling theory consists of the fact that external people for example higher middle class or forms of authority, labels other members in society as being criminals or being deviant. The labelling theory works like this: a form of authority or even common people instinctively have a stereotype or put certain members of society into certain categories therefore labelling people as being criminals or having deviant behaviour and therefore this makes the members of society being labelled, commit to a self fulfilling prophecy whereby they end up acting out what they have been pre-judged as. Interpretivists accept this concept is highly useful and valid as it is qualitative. However, positivists believe it is low in reliability and usefulness as data is not numerical and cannot be compared, or even that there is no data at all. Being a criminal or deviant could be seen to be a social construct and therefore this may mean that you could question what criminal activity is and whether this social construct is even right since it has been constructed by members of the society.
Conformity, obedience and the social influences involved This essay examines the likely outcomes of human behaviour. By analysing Asch’s study into conformity and Hofling’s experiment about obedience, the extent to which individuals can avoid such social influences is investigated. There’s been great research into why people conform; following Asch’s study Deutsch and Gerald found that there are two types of social influence which makes people conform. Normative social influence; where individuals conform to be accepted and belong to the group. Benefits come from belonging in a group, individuals may conform on the surface but disagree with the group internally.
I continued to ask, until finally it happened. I was given permission to go to the party on the circumstance that I provided my parents with all the details. I simply explained to them that there are no worries, it is a safe party, nothing will happen; no details were given. It was not until the end of that night that I learned a valuable lesson, “ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOU’RE PARENTS.” It was party time; my friends and I were to meet up at the bus terminal. Once we all met up, we waited for the bus, it came, and we were on our way.