What is a conformist? Conformist – who is this? Socially approved behavior

Society consists entirely of social groups. What it is? Quite conventionally speaking, a social group is an association of people who have common values ​​and goals. Social groups are small, medium and large in terms of the number of people they include. Each of them puts forward its own norms, called social ones. These are certain rules of behavior that are characteristic of almost all representatives of this group.

In relation to these norms, people can be divided into conformists and nonconformists.

Conformist - who is it?

It is important to understand that every person is a conformist to one degree or another. And sometimes this is even good. The problem is that some people make it their lifestyle. But what is conformism? A conformist is a person who submits to the demands of a social group or society as a whole. Based on this, we can conclude that each of us is related to this concept, since we, to one degree or another, still adhere to group and social norms. A conformist is not a powerless member of society. Moreover, he himself chose this model of behavior. And it can change it. Thus, we can draw another conclusion: a conformist is a lifestyle, a habitual way of thinking that is subject to change.

An example could be family, school charters, and so on. In the case of social norms, these are mostly rules of etiquette: “don’t swear,” “give way in public places.” If a person does not want to obey the norms, he is called a nonconformist.

Degrees of nonconformism

We also have this characteristic. Freud also said that our psyche is constantly torn between its natural impulses and social demands. These provisions were supported by such a social psychologist as McDougall and many others. Nonconformity is characteristic of everyone, but each person manifests it in his own way. There are several degrees of nonconformism.

Socially approved behavior

A pure conformist is a certain category of individuals. People of this type try to conform to group and social norms as much as possible. If this cannot be done, then the person feels that quite often some norms are contradictory. What is permissible in one social group is punished in another.

And the confusion that appears in such people leads to a number of processes that are destructive to self-esteem. Therefore, conformists for the most part are insecure people. This makes it very difficult to communicate with others. A conformist person is one who submits to the demands of society. And sometimes it is necessary. Without this it would be impossible to simply survive.

Deviant behavior

Deviation is actually a deviation from the norm. Deviants can be called those people who swear loudly, do not give up their seat on public transport, or show nonconformity in other areas. Such behavior is characterized by deviations from social or group norms, and it is not approved by society. However, for such people there are no special sanctions, except for comments from others. It’s another matter when the degree of nonconformism reaches such proportions that the behavior begins to be called delinquent.

What is delinquent behavior?

Delinquent behavior is such a small degree of conformity that a person goes to break the laws. However, everything is relative here too. After all, the cause of delinquent behavior can be the same conformism. Based on this, we can conclude that this same behavior can be both a manifestation of conformism and the result of nonconformism. It all depends on which social group is taken as the starting point. It would be quite logical to talk about a conformist. How is nonconformism expressed in this case? What can you call such people?

Social conformism

We have already figured out that there are several types of norms: group and social. In fact, the latter are a larger phenomenon, and group norms are only a small part of social norms. But the phenomenon of conformity remains the same in any case. What is social conformism? Let's figure it out. A social conformist is a person who feels the desire to go with the generally accepted flow, to fully comply with the requirements put forward by society, or to try to do so. Social conformism is characterized by such a phenomenon as fashion.

People who chase it try to wear what is currently trending to gain social approval. Yes, this is really good for self-esteem. But at the same time, everything should be in moderation. You should not make yourself dependent on the approval or, conversely, disapproval of people. This is a losing tactic that will lead nowhere. Under no circumstances should you lose your “I” behind the abstract “We”. You need to learn to balance between social norms and personal desires. Everything needs moderation, then you can live normally.

Marginalized

Marginalized people are people who exhibit social nonconformism to the greatest extent possible. They seem to cut themselves off from society due to the fact that their system of life values ​​does not correspond to the generally accepted one. Examples of marginalized people include criminals or people of lower social strata. Moreover, in a large number of cases, they themselves chose this model of behavior. This factor should be taken into account.

conclusions

As for the results of this article, they are as follows: it is necessary to include conformity with the right people, based on your own system of life values. They should be the determining factor that will indicate whether you need to listen to the demands of others or not. If for some reason yours do not meet the standards, then you should look for the social group in which this is approved. After all, there is another parameter called group values. And it is from them that the norms come. Only in this case can your self-esteem be optimal. You need to think with your head and not adhere to the herd instinct.

The 29-year-old director's bleak view of the motivation of human actions indirectly reflected his disappointment in the May 1968 events.

According to its 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film received the highest rating from professional film critics. In 1971, it was awarded the Italian national film award "David di Donatello" for the best film of the year.

The complexity of the narrative structure and innovative cinematography of The Conformist had a significant impact on the development of world cinema, opening the way for the creation of a new generation of psychological dramas - such as The Godfather (1972) and Apocalypse Now (1979).

Conformism (from late Latin conformis - “similar”, “conforming”) is a moral and political term denoting opportunism, passive acceptance of the existing order of things, prevailing opinions, etc.

Conformism means the absence of one’s own position, unprincipled and uncritical adherence to any model that has the greatest pressure.

Examples of the use of the word conformist in literature.

The second one is complex conformist, philistine, snob, personification of prejudices, hypocrisy and vulgarity of society.

No, Bloom is not an Everyman, not conformist, he is a man, albeit pliable, albeit with small thoughts and emasculated passions, but with a generous soul, altruistic nature, and a rare ability to empathize.

Shem and Sean are warring but inseparable opposites, active and passive principles of life, rebel and conformist, artist and censor, Cain and Abel, Jim and Stanny - Shem-Pisaka and Sean-Dubina.

MIFF Paris-Texas Then the video era began: Last Tango in Paris and Conformist Breathless The Illusionist Terminator 2 and Silence of the Lambs Citizen Kane Subway Twin Peaks Pulp Fiction Leon, seen, however, in the cinema, like Reservoir Dogs Then I became a film critic and there were a lot of good films?

The popular movement knew many ups and downs, and in its ranks there were many conformists who easily renounced their former beliefs, as soon as the political situation changed.

In general, the artistic world of a person with an openwork soul is inaccessible to Europeans and conformists, this world is predominantly personal.

They will cease to be conformists, because they will have nothing to reconcile.

I was indignant at the bishops, considered them, if not traitors, then, in any case, conformists, I was glad that among their names I did not meet names that I respected and valued, such as Anthony Minsky, Pavel Novosibirsk, Leonid Rizhsky, etc.

How to prevent him from dying out in such conditions, from turning into an ordinary person or conformist?

It is obvious that such people are conformists those who try to strictly control themselves for the purpose of self-defense: they are more secretive and less emotionally sincere than those whose level of dream memorization is high.

Source: Maxim Moshkov library

Who are conformists

A conformist is an opportunist, a person who easily abandons his own point of view under the influence of public opinion. A conformist is an ordinary person who is characterized by passivity, lack of enthusiasm and initiative. A conformist is indifferent to the world around him, to the troubles of other people, he tries to avoid difficulties and problems in any way. For a conformist, the main thing is personal comfort, which he wants to receive, even after sacrificing his own life principles. Like a chameleon, a conformist takes on the shape of the environment in which he finds himself, follows the pattern that is popular and has power and pressure over other people.

: Example: A conformist in life adheres to the rule: “To live with wolves, howl like a wolf.” (Definition given by Lawyer)

who is a conformist

There are internal and external conformism. Internal conformism presupposes the conformity of a person’s worldview with generally accepted moral and ethical standards and principles of behavior; During external events, people demonstratively follow generally accepted norms, although due to their beliefs they may not agree with them. A person’s reluctance to be conforming may carry the risk of social rejection, so external conformity may be chosen as a behavioral tactic in order to ensure one’s own integrity in the group. Most of these cases involve groups of similar age, culture, religion or educational background. Conformist behavior may be an attempt to avoid criticism and aggressive reactions from group members - although it can also be a factor in the suppression of the individual.

In everyday use, the words “conformism”, “conformal” most often have a negative connotation, focusing attention on the negative role of conformity. Because of this false dilemma, nonconformism is often attributed to the absence of the negative qualities inherent in conformity, and the positive qualities that conformity lacks.

formation of unity in crisis situations, allowing the organization to survive in difficult conditions

Conformity reduces the ability to independently navigate new and unusual conditions

Conformism dulls the critical perception of surrounding reality

Conformism promotes the uncritical substitution of individual moral and ethical standards with social ones

Conformity contributes to the development of prejudices and prejudices against minorities

Conformity reduces the ability to have original and creative ideas

Conformists

Conformism (from Late Lat. conformis- “similar”, “conformable”) - a term denoting the passive, uncritical acceptance of the prevailing order, norms, values, traditions, laws, etc. Manifested in a change in behavior and attitudes in accordance with the change in the position of the majority or the majority itself. There are external conformism and internal conformism. Nonconformism can be seen as a form of conformity.

In everyday use, the words “conformism” and “conformal” most often have a negative connotation, focusing attention on the negative role of conformity. Because of this false dilemma, nonconformity is often attributed to the absence of the negative qualities inherent in conformity, and the positive qualities that conformity lacks.

The role of conformity

Positive

  • formation of unity in crisis situations allowing the organization to survive in difficult conditions
  • simplifying the organization of joint activities due to the lack of thinking about behavior in standard circumstances and receiving instructions on behavior in non-standard circumstances
  • the adaptation time of a person in a team decreases
  • the group acquires a single entity

Negative

  • a person’s unquestioning adherence to the norms and rules of the majority leads to a loss of the ability to make independent decisions and navigate independently in new and unusual conditions
  • Conformism often serves as the moral and psychological foundation of totalitarian sects and totalitarian states
  • Conformism creates the conditions and prerequisites for mass murder and genocide, since individual participants in such actions are often unable to question their expediency or compliance with universal moral principles
  • Conformity often turns into a breeding ground for all kinds of prejudices and prejudices against minorities
  • Conformity significantly reduces a person’s ability to make a significant contribution to culture or science and interferes with original and creative thinking

Factors that determine conformity

  • the nature of interpersonal relationships (friendly or conflicting)
  • the need and ability to make independent decisions
  • size of the team (the smaller it is, the stronger the conformity)
  • the presence of a cohesive group that influences other team members
  • current situation or problem being solved (complex issues can be resolved collectively)
  • the formal status of a person in a group (the higher the formal status, the less manifestations of conformity)
  • informal status of a person in a group (a non-conforming informal leader quickly loses his leader status)

see also

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See what “Conformists” are in other dictionaries:

CONFORMISTS - (new lat., from lat. conformis conformable, from cum with, and forma image, appearance). This was the name of those members of the English Church who accepted 39 articles of the Anglican Confession in 1562. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

CONFORMISTS - (English: conformist, lit. consonant), organisms (animals), the internal environment (physiological state) of which changes in accordance with changes in the external environment. All poikilothermic animals are conformists. Ecological encyclopedic... ... Ecological dictionary

CONFORMISTS - (English conformist lit. consonant), a common name for supporters of the state Anglican Church in England ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Conformists - (Conformers) English Protestants who submitted to the 39 articles of the Episcopal Church of 1562. Those who did not accept the articles were called non-conformists, later dissenters ... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron

conformists - (English conformist, literally agreeable), a common name for supporters of the state Anglican Church in England. * * * CONFORMISTS CONFORMISTS (English conformist, lit. consonant), a common name for supporters of the state ... Encyclopedic Dictionary

Conformists - (conformist, literally agreeing) a common name for supporters of the state Anglican Church (See Church of England) in England, who accept all its dogmas and rituals and oppose their change ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Conformists - (Conformers) English Protestants who submitted to the 39 Articles of the Episcopal Church of 1562 (see Church of England). Those who did not accept the articles were called nonconformists (see), later dissenters... Encyclopedic Dictionary of F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

Lyon, Dmitry Borisovich - Dmitry Lion Birth name: Dmitry Borisovich Lyon Date of birth: March 17, 1925) Place of birth: Kaluga ... Wikipedia

ROCK CULTURE is a phenomenon of a youth subculture that emerged in Great Britain and the USA in the 60s. around the new music. style and expressing nonconformist pathos. “Rock is more than just music, it's energetic. center of new culture and youth revolution”,... ... Encyclopedia of Cultural Studies

Shnol, Simon Elevich - This article lacks links to sources of information. Information must be verifiable, otherwise it may be questioned and deleted. You can... Wikipedia

The word conformist

The word conformist in English letters (transliterated) - konformist

The word conformist consists of 10 letters: i k m n o r s t f

Meanings of the word conformist. What is a conformist?

Conformists (conformist, literally - agreeable), a common name for supporters of the state Anglican Church in England, who accept all its dogmas and rituals and oppose their change.

CONFORMISTS (English conformist - lit. - consonant), a common name for supporters of the state Anglican Church in England.

Large encyclopedic dictionary

CONFORMISTS - a common name for supporters of the state Anglican Church in England. In a broad sense - adherents of conformism.

Dictionary of historical terms.

“CONFORMIST” (II conformista) Italy - France - Germany, 1970, 115 min. Existential drama. We can say with complete confidence that those who saw this film in Soviet cinemas do not know the film at all...

“The Conformist” (Italian: Il Conformista) is a film by Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci, filmed in 1970 based on the novel of the same name by Alberto Moravia (1951).

Conformism is the tendency to act, guided by the opinion of authority, the majority, and not by the interests of the case, in order to more successfully solve one’s own material, career and other personal problems. The term is often used in a negative context; from the standpoint of moral norms, it is the conformists who are preferred to be called in everyday life “scoundrels”, “opportunists”, “defectors” or even.

CONFORMISM (Latin conformis - more conformable) is a socio-psychological orientation that develops not as a result of independent decisions (“or full participation in solving) social and moral problems, but passive... A conformist does not develop his own moral position when solving objectively determined problems, but adapts to those standards and canons of behavior and consciousness that they possess.

CONFORMISM (late Latin conformis - similar, similar) - opportunism and passive acceptance of the existing order of things, prevailing opinions, etc. They proceed from a certain concept, according to which society is divided into two sharply opposed groups of people: conformists and non-conformists ( "nonconformists").

Russian Sociological Encyclopedia

Orthographic dictionary. - 2004

Conformism

The meaning of the word Conformism according to Efremova:

Conformism - Passive acceptance of the existing order, prevailing opinion, etc.; opportunism.

The meaning of the word Conformism according to Ozhegov:

Conformism - Adaptation, insane adherence to general opinions, fashion trends

Conformism in the Encyclopedic Dictionary:

Conformism - (from Late Latin conformis - similar - conformable), adaptation, passive acceptance of the existing order, prevailing opinions, lack of one's own position, unprincipled and uncritical adherence to any model that has the greatest force of pressure.

Definition of the word “Conformism” according to TSB:

Conformism (from Late Latin conformis - similar, conformable)

a moral and political term denoting opportunism, passive acceptance of the existing order of things, prevailing opinions, etc. K. means the absence of one’s own position, unprincipled and uncritical adherence to any model that has the greatest pressure (the opinion of the majority, recognized authority, tradition, etc.). P.). In modern bourgeois society, culture, in relation to the existing social system and dominant values, is implanted by a system of education and ideological influence; it is a typical feature of the activities of bureaucratic organizations. In contrast to socialist collectivism, socialist collectivism presupposes the active participation of the individual in the development of group norms, the conscious assimilation of collective values ​​and the resulting correlation of one’s own behavior with the interests of the collective, society and, if necessary, subordination to the latter.

Conformity (conformal reactions), studied by social psychology, should be distinguished from K. The assimilation of certain group norms, habits and values ​​is a necessary aspect of the socialization of the individual and a prerequisite for the normal functioning of any social system. But the socio-psychological mechanisms of such assimilation and the degree of autonomy of the individual in relation to the group vary. Sociologists and psychologists have long been interested in such issues as imitation, social suggestion,

“mental infection”, etc. Since the 50s. 20th century The subject of intensive experimental psychological research has been the ways in which an individual selects and assimilates social information and the measure of his attitude to group pressure. It turned out that they depend on a whole set of factors - personal (the degree of suggestibility of the individual, the stability of his self-esteem, the level of self-esteem, anxiety, intelligence, the need for the approval of others, etc.; conformal reactions are higher in children than in adults, and in women - higher than that of men), group (the position of the individual in the group, its significance for him, the degree of cohesion and structure of the group), situational (the content of the task and the subject’s interest in it, his competence, whether the decision is made publicly, in a narrow circle or in private etc.) and general cultural (how much personal independence, independence of judgment, etc. are generally valued in a given society). Therefore, although high conformity is associated with a certain personality type, it cannot be considered an independent personality trait; its relationship with other socio-psychological phenomena, such as suggestibility, rigidity (rigidity) of attitudes, stereotypical thinking, authoritarian syndrome, etc., requires further research.

Lit.: Kon I. O., Sociology of Personality, M., 1967; General psychology, ed. A. V. Petrovsky, M., 1970, p.; Me Guire W. J., Personality and susceptibility to social influence, in: Handbook of personality theory and research, ed. E. F. Borgatta and W. W. Lambert, Chi., 1968; Marlowe D., Gergen K. J., Personality and social interaction, in: The handbook of social psychology, ed G. Lindzey, E. Aronson, v. 3, N.Y., 1968.

Who is a conformist

How often do you look at others? How often do you do what the majority does because you are afraid to distinguish yourself and cause a wave of disapproval from others? How often have you changed your views and opinions only to conform to the ideas of modern society?

Conformity is the rejection of one’s own opinion to please the majority. As a rule, such a refusal is fueled by a person’s fear of not being justified, as well as of being drawn into troubles and conflicts, where there will be many more attackers. The conformist seeks the encouragement and approval of this crowd of modern society in order to at least slightly “raise” his low self-esteem. Such a life is like one continuous wheel of one opinion, in which a person constantly spins and turns, exhausts himself and does not get any pleasure. Only the satisfied nods of society, which pushes this wheel, make the conformist feel (even if only briefly) a surge of strength.

Who is a conformist

The nature of conformity is often that people, in search of friends and social unity, unite in groups, deeply burying their opinions and views, which often do not coincide with the opinions and views of this group. When such a group of those who have suppressed their personal qualities see someone who does not hesitate to “shout out” what is in his heart, they ask the questions: “how is he better than us?”; “why does he think he can do what we can’t do?”; “why does he think he can challenge us?” Then this group becomes aggressive and argues and tries to suppress the opinion of the minority by force in order to emphasize its superiority in any issue. Such behavior is typical for society.

A conformist in his own way is a “slave” of society. Sometimes it is easier for a person to agree with someone’s opinion than to ask for trouble or spoil a relationship with someone. The fear of standing out or attracting attention (disapproving, skeptical, critical) makes a person a puppet who blindly follows the opinion, trend, fashion that the majority dictates to him. A conformist is not able to fight, he is only able to go where the flow directs him.

There are also those who are simply too lazy to think for themselves, who are ready to “plagiarize” and follow those whom the majority considers “standards”. Conformists are people without imagination, without possibilities. In fact, conformity is their only big thing. They think that they are doing the right thing, but they do not understand why they are not happy with life and do not feel joy, but only a rare relief. On the one hand, they hate those who are self-confident and have their own opinions, and on the other, they worship them, envy them, and dream of being like them.

Who is a conformist

Conformity begins in childhood. As a child and then as a teenager, we often depend on our parents and circumstances. Not yet fully understanding what life is and what place they occupy in this world, children often look up to those around them, thereby trying to meet standards that they still know nothing about. We can only listen to others, since our opinion has not yet been formed. Thus, without seeing an example nearby of someone who would truly follow only his own principles and views, the teenager thinks that living correctly means living the way the majority lives.

The danger of conformism is that it can become (and in some places has already become) a weapon that helps people capture the minds of the vast overwhelming majority. People will be used, instilled with false ideals, only because they know that they will blindly believe everything that the majority agrees with. Conformists degrade with each generation, becoming like slaves, without noticing it. This leads to global social problems, the consequences of which will be dire. Conformity is a brake on overall development in science, art and other important areas of society. Having destroyed individuality, we will not be able to develop further and we ourselves will sink the raft that has saved us all this time.

Conformism is also dangerous because it suits the majority. Such people rarely want to change anything in their lives due to their low self-esteem, which tells them that they won’t succeed, they won’t be able to make their life better, they won’t cope. But is there at least a small chance to get rid of conformity?

Who is a conformist

To do this, you need to do the most difficult thing - find your opinion, and then be able to express it without fear of meeting disapproval from the people around you. The main thing is to realize that it cannot be that one group of people has identical opinions and views. Yes, they may coincide somewhere, but they will definitely diverge somewhere. It is stupid to blindly agree with everything that is dictated and told to you. Having your own opinion means having pride and dignity. But this does not mean that being “different from everyone else” is the same as having your own opinion. Not at all. There are people who deliberately provoke the majority with their “difference” and want to attract attention, but at the same time what they talk about and what they actually consider correct differ significantly from each other.

Learn to defend your ideas and beliefs, find the courage and confidence to do so. Ask yourself, do you really think so? Is this opinion really yours? If you don't agree with something, then you have the right to say so. Everyone has the right to their opinion. You shouldn't be afraid of the majority. Don’t give yourself away for the approval of those you sometimes don’t even know.

It is important to start enjoying life. Praise yourself every time you express your opinion. Each time, you will begin to notice that the air you breathe in from this small victory has a wonderful smell. A civilized society should not have a “general herd instinct.” A person is an individual. Everything about him is individual: appearance, thoughts, tastes, preferences, views on the world, opinions and more. Don't ruin yourself and don't be ashamed of your individuality. She is your pride and what makes you special in the whole world. Why become like weak, weak-willed people who are carried away by the flow of even the smallest pond? You are an intelligent being who is capable of choosing which direction to swim.

Who is a conformist?

In your opinion?

(conformist, literally - agreeable), a common name for supporters of the state Anglican Church in England, who accept all its dogmas and rituals and oppose their change.

Conformism is passive opportunism, the absence of one’s own position, unprincipled and uncritical acceptance of the existing order of things, following any model that has the greatest pressure or the greatest popularity.

At one institute they conducted an experiment on conformity. One of the students was taken out the door, meanwhile the teacher drew two circles of different sizes on the board, the students who were in the audience were asked to say that both circles are the same when he asked his question to the student who was standing behind the doors. The student are brought into the classroom and the teacher asks: - Are the two circles the same in size? All students unanimously repeat that they are the same, if the student who comes agrees, then he is a conformist, and if not, then he is called a neoconformist (because he opposes the social opinion. and will express his exact point of view). A conformist is a person who agrees with the opinion of the majority, even if he believes that their opinions are wrong, he cannot resist the pressure of the group (majority).

Who are conformists

Synonyms for the word "conformist"

Morphology:

Making the Word Map better together

Hello! My name is Lampobot, I am a computer program that helps you make Word Maps. I can count perfectly, but I still don’t understand very well how your world works. Help me figure it out!

Thank you! I began to understand the world of emotions a little better.

Question: Is relentless something positive, negative or neutral?

Synonyms for the word “conformist”:

Sentences containing "conformist":

  • How can you create a cultural environment in a province if the living conditions there are such that only a conformist can survive in them?
  • Most likely because I am a conformist who prefers not to tilt at windmills.
  • This does not mean that an extrovert is necessarily a conformist.
  • (all offers)

Few people manage to completely free themselves from group influence. The team very often influences its members, forcing them to take into account the group opinion and take into account common ones. There are often cases when he puts his spirituality to the test and tries to change his attitudes. There are those who, consciously or unconsciously, are influenced by this, defending their right to individuality. Others tend to show conformity and change their behavior to please the team.

The term "conformity" comes from the Latin word having "like." This concept and the phenomenon it denotes can have both negative and positive meaning. The tendency to conform to behavior ensures the preservation of group traditions and helps maintain effective interaction within the team. Due to conformity, the group gains stability and becomes resistant to the influence of destructive external factors.

Conformism as a way of adapting to the environment

Conformal behavior can be overt or disguised. This personality quality usually manifests itself in a reluctance to take independent steps, in passive adaptation to ready-made solutions proposed by formal or informal leaders. A conformist easily changes his opinion to suit the interests of others, although this may affect his self-esteem.

Conformal behavior is opposed to individualism, which manifests itself in demonstrating one’s own beliefs and following self-developed norms of behavior, which often run counter to generally accepted ones. If conformity reduces the likelihood of conflicts within the group, then individualism often becomes their cause. Many leaders love conformists, and treat those who actively defend their independent point of view with irritation.

A conformist may show compliance in response to imagined or very real group pressure. It happens that a person internally disagrees with the position of the team, but outwardly expresses his positive attitude towards the proposed solutions. Such conformity is called external. The desire to be compliant is determined by the desire to avoid possible reproach or to earn a reward. There is also sincere conformism, when a group member is confident that he joins the opinions of others according to his own convictions.

The level of conformity depends on the specific situation and on how strongly the decision imposed by the group affects the interests of the person. Most often, a person is prone to conformism when he does not feel competent enough in any matter and is not confident in his beliefs. The easier the situation, the less a person tends to accept someone else’s point of view.

Who makes up at least 90% of any civil society? As a rule, these are people who live ordinary everyday lives; they do not dare to do anything too extraordinary. They are usually called law-abiding ordinary people, and a state in which such a percentage of ordinary people is stable, combined with positive demographic dynamics, can be considered successful and happy. But these are real conformists. Yes, the average person is a conformist. What's the problem? Why does the reactive minority have such a negative attitude towards the obedient conformist majority?

It is noteworthy that in the USSR they tried to build a new model of balance between the reactivity (passionarity) of the individual and his conformity (submission to rules, authorities). It was proposed that the individual be passionate strictly in line with conformistically perceived ideological guidelines or specific production tasks. Absurd, isn't it? This is what Olga Maslova (a famous Soviet sociologist) wrote in the mid-eighties (on the eve of Perestroika) about this.

Conformism is one of the characteristic features of modern bourgeois mass consciousness and way of life. Journalists, psychologists, sociologists, philosophers, and politicians are talking about this today. What is it? Historically, conformity is associated with religion, dating back to the Reformation in England and Scotland. The reform of the Anglican Church in the second half of the 16th century led to a split among believers: those who accepted the new set of canons of the Episcopal Church began to be called conformists, and the Puritans who did not accept this state religion were called nonconformists.

In social terms, the concept of “conformist” was revived in the 30s of our century and began to be widely used in the press, literature, and art to characterize a passive, unprincipled opportunist generated by the era of the general crisis of capitalism. Later, social psychology, and then philosophy and sociology, began studying this phenomenon. Conformity is not a specific property of any one class: to one degree or another, it is inherent in various groups of bourgeois society, ranging from the ruling elite and the big bourgeoisie to a certain part of the working class. Conformist tendencies are most clearly manifested in the so-called new urban strata. A passive, conformist position can also act as a defensive psychological reaction of an individual to inhuman alienation, to a painfully felt gap between material well-being and spiritual poverty, to the futility of cultural and spiritual searches, etc.

The self-development of capitalist social relations inevitably leads to a crisis of traditional individualism and gives rise to “automatic conformism.” In modern conditions of state-monopoly capitalism with its rigid bureaucratic hierarchy, traditional bourgeois individualism no longer “works”, does not help to become a popular person and make a fortune. Thus, the only possible and convenient model of behavior for the average person becomes the ability to “get used to” the bureaucratic machine, which suppresses individuality. Many bourgeois philosophers and sociologists note this inhumane tendency, characterizing the social type as “conformist” and “routineer.” These characteristics of conformism and conformists are of a critical nature among Western sociologists; they expose the negative trends in the development of bourgeois society. But none of these researchers went further than a critical statement of conformism, failed to see and understand its social essence, the real socio-economic reasons that give rise to this phenomenon.

The political and cultural spheres of bourgeois society equally need both people - appendages of machines, and the “one-dimensional person”, a conformist and consumer. Capitalism actively shapes it with the help of the media, “mass culture”, advertising, “shows”, spectator sports, religious sermons. This is how patterns of behavior, cultural standards and stereotypes of consumption of not only things and goods, but also thoughts and spiritual values ​​are imposed on the average person. . This may be a refusal to participate in a strike, and unprincipledness, dictated by the desire to avoid some hassle and trouble, and indifference to the troubles of others, and reluctance to respond to a call for help, and ostentatious piety, etc., etc.