People always crave the feeling of being liked. In school, work or society, one of the most important aspects of our lives are human relationships, with the most significant factor being belonging. Appertaining to a group can affect how we perceive our everyday world and our actions.
How do individuals behave? Our behaviour is driven by factors that affect us. When we are not in a group, we tend to let our guard down without worrying about how we might be recognised. Allowing our thoughts to flow without judgement, as we know there is no one to criticise us except for ourselves. We act naturally, without fear of ostracisation.
In a group however, we tend to conform to the norms of our circle, trying to fit the best we can. Our belonging and emotional needs, right after safety and basic needs in Maslow’s hierarchy (1) are critical and definitely have an impact on our behaviour, making us more cautious about how we might be perceived by our actions, decisions, and thoughts.
Another important aspect to consider is group behaviour. Associations create conformity that can either be a positive, or a negative influence on an individual. It polices and normalises certain actions which vary depending on a group. It can make us change our mind to fit better into the norm. This is shown perfectly in a study performed by Solomon Asch (2), that put participants in a team and asked them which of three lines was the same length as a fourth line. Only one participant in each group was a ‘real’ test subject, while the rest were actors. After picking the correct answer a few times, every actor was instructed to pick the wrong line: the results were impressive, because about 75% of ‘real’ participants conformed and picked the wrong answer at least once during the study. Although it is extremely visible that people prefer to conform, it’s important to mention that the experiment has proven that individuals feel much more encouraged to resist group pressure when there is at least one person agreeing with their view that contradicts the majority. For example, if one employee in a workplace voices concerns about unethical decisions, it will be easier for others who thought the same to speak their mind as well. Also, there are cultural differences – in individualistic societies such as US there may be different conformity levels than in collectivist counties like Japan or Korea. In individualistic cultures personal beliefs could be prioritised over conformity, which can cause more exceptions from adaption to the group.
Not only do they create conformity which, inter alia, is able to change our opinions, social circles also make the decision making within a society more precise. While the decision-making process is happening, group polarisation proven by Teger and Pruitt (3) in 1967 may occur, strengthening the association’s attitude towards a certain matter. It can lead to social traps, meaning situations when people behave in a negative manner because the view is already established. Even though they know their results will not be in their best interest. What can happen, although it does very rarely, is a leader that would encourage changing and breaking the traditions and norms to reduce negative conformity issues.
Group polarisation may have a positive impact on an individual, for example the idea that eating healthy is beneficial. Although group polarisation may sound strict and close-minded, anonymity and diffusion of responsibility in a social circle isn’t always favourable – it can cause more impulsive or aggressive behaviour. For example, in an anonymous online group discussion, people are more likely to share their views that contradict with common opinions. These opinions may be harmful, as nobody can ostracise the conversationist for it.
It is undeniable that while individuals behave more freely without fear of being perceived as unfitting for the crowd, groups act differently by creating conformity, policing and normalising certain behaviours, group polarising and allowing more precise decision making. The crowd we surround ourselves with can impact us in both negative and positive ways, so the best we can do is stay true to our beliefs whilst remaining open-minded.
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