conformity
As a 18 year old, i have heard all different points of views and reasonings for people conforming to all sorts of things.These range from sports, to religion to style and numerous other things. Obviously everyone has different styles but by people going totally opposite of the "fashion" are they not conforming to not conform? What are the biggest reasons you see for young people to conform instead of being their own person? Does it have to do with popularity, or the way one wants to present them-selves to the public? Is there a problem with conformity, or does it allow certain people to be the person they want to be, ornot be the person 'society' wants them to be? Are there alternate pressures youth feel such as parents, teachers, peers? Do these people influenceone's personality in how it views cliques, groups and friendships? I know this is a lot to handle, but isn't that the fun of this?
posted by A. Boles @ 6:55 PM
11 Comments:
I don't think conformity should be made a big deal until it is forced on people. Conformity can be a good thing. It might give someone a since of belonging. Then, you have the forced conformity that will bring groups down due to disagreements or other things. Conforming to the right things isn't a bad thing. Just don't loose who you are when you conform. You are still an individual to the group. Remember that.
When I see a young person conforming a lot of things go through my mind. Some teenagers go through what I call a phase in life where there trying to figure out who they are and there purpose in life. On the other hand I see teenagers who conform in a negative way for attention,or to fit in with the "in crowd". In my opinion its the parent's responsibilty to make sure the child conformity is in a healthy way of ones expression and identity.
Why do people conform instead of being their “own person?” The main issue presented in the situation is one of fear. Human beings often have the mind set that if they do not follow the “in crowd” they will be belittled. I believe this has a serious impact on the person conforming, because if they do not conform they might consider loosing self-respect or the thought of standing alone could frighten an individual. People must contemplate the situation and stand on their on two feet.
Conformity is just an issue of balance. I think that because of the way we are made we have a desire to fit in with a group of people. I also think, however, that we have a desire to present our idenity within that group. By group I don't mean the people you hang out with, but rather the people you idenify with. I believe that the healthy way to go about fitting in with your society and knowing who you are is to figure out the fine line between the two.
These are great, tough questions the blog master asks, and several people have chosen to offer good responses to them!
From where I sit as a professor, conformity in students can be both a blessing and a curse. In one sense, it is good when students will adhere to the course requirements and live up to the standards set for college English because it makes my job easier. In another sense, student conformity is a terrible thing when it means that a person follows the crowd without thinking. When I say this, I know that I probably sound like I'm talking out of two sides of my mouth because I want students to conform to my way of doing things but don't want them to conform to my way of thinking about things. Some of you may even call this perspective hypocritical!
What it boils down to, I suppose, is that I am more interested in mental freedom, which has to do with the liberty of conscience and a willingness to rebel, than I am with more overt sorts of freedoms. It is one thing to appear free on the outside; it is entirely another to be free inside. Interior freedom is not always observable from the outside, and what looks like freedom can sometimes be just another form of conformity.
If you want to learn more about this way of thinking about conformity and liberty, just read some William Blake, who wrote of waging mental fight as a way of remaining intellectually free.
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I believe conformity is among us and it is at a level that many choose not to ponder. Meaning, we all have the same needs as human beings. No matter how distant one chooses to make themself, or how "mainstream" someone is trying to appear the fact remains we're not that different. There are literally billions of us, I bet there is a Chinese or German or Mexican version of os across the globe. It's weird when people say what their friend was about to say as the friend is thinking it. The way people choose to be or the path a person follows is a direct result of their circumstances. "Herd mentality" is what it is all about. Even though a person is smart and people are dumb doesn't mean people aren't stronger and more capable as a group. In most instances where II've seen "someone go against the grain" there has been one of two possibilities. The person genuinely is not at all like the others due to many factors (i.e. age, sex). After all we are creatures just like dogs and a whole bunch of other territorial sex machines. Second this person is screaming for attention. Nine out of nine times this kid needs guidance, or as some may call actright. Whether the absence of parents or the neglect of loved ones sparks a kid to contradict everyone, it still pisses me off to have to hear some little asshole whine because they want it their way. But anyways that is conformity, join and live, or run and hide.
I feel that nonconformists are simply negative conformists...and I am not speaking biasly as I am not a conformist in any sense. I feel nonconformists are the same as conformists, just they are a different style. Nonconformists only like others who try to be different (generally), while conformists usually associate with those who conform. I feel that if the amount of nonconformists continues to grow, one day the sides will switch and the conformists will become the nonconformists. Therefore, I feel there is a very thin line between conformist and nonconformists besides the style of dress and lifestyle.
The subject of conformity regarding clothes, cliques, ect seems more like a smoke screen for other serious issues. By worrying what social group they are, many people do not question authority in the ways that are constructive. Many people do not ask the question, "what are my rights?"
Of course, this is not always the case. Conformity can be a good thing. People conform to a certain norm that is productive.
All young people conform to something whether it's a social group or, in my case throughout most of my youth, religous thought processes. All authority figures help mold young people into the person they grow into. Even those who choose to rebel against the norm conform to the class of "rebel."
conform to whatever makes you happy, but question everything for that truly makes you into an individual.
I think people conform sometimes to try to fit in. Maybe they don't know who they are and they are teying to find a group to fit in to. I onformed a little bit in my freshman year in high school, then after a while I realized I was trying to be someone I wasn;t and said forget it and went back to being myself. I see it as if someone don't like you for who you are then drop them. Be yourself. Don't try to be someone your not.
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