defense of the noncomformist: Asch Milgram psychology sociology Zimbardo
by SIF
13 comments
The nonconformist
Nonconformist: what a misleading term! The definition from Collins online dictionary:
If you say that someone’s way of life or opinions are nonconformist, you mean that they are different from those of most people.
Nonconformists, sound deceptively rare, but what could be more universally human then finding oneself at odds with one’s family, culture or society? I defy you to locate someone who has never felt their skin crawl with the discomfort of knowing that one’s actions, ideas, beliefs, appearances do not conform with the current social pressures. How many novels, tv shows, plays and fairy tales show characters grappling with such problems? This sort of conflict speaks to us. We can identify with people on the ‘outs.’ We’ve been there.
As you can probably tell by reading this blog, I’m fascinated with the pressures we all feel to conform–they make us do the damndest things! I present for your (re)consideration three famous experiments:
- The Stanford Prison Experiment –A 1971 experiment in which ‘normal’ people proved they could be cruel and sadistic when placed in the roles of prisoner/prison guard. (Mirrored sunglasses anyone?)
- The Milgram Experiments–A 1961 experiment aimed at understanding the disturbing trend towards ‘following orders’ in Nazi Germany during the holocaust–in which we learned that ‘normal’ Americans were also prepared to inflict what they believed to be painful (even lethal) levels of electric shock on others . . .depending on the perceived level of ‘authority’ of the person ordering the electrocution or the perceived ‘humanity’ of the person receiving the shock. (The strange influence of a white lab coat . . .)
- The Asch Expermiment–Which demonstrated in 1958 that even one’s perception of the length of a bar on a chart can, in fact, be subject to peer pressure. (Yes ‘reality’ can change before your very eyes depending upon who you have around you and what they think.)
The above studies, of course, are subject to scrutiny(and the obvious ethical question!). I personally operate on the hypothesis that we are all subject to social pressure in the form of roles we play in society, voices and figures of authority and the simple peer pressure of those around us. I also believe that all human beings possess a capacity for recognizing their situation, questioning their roles, challenging authority and rethinking whether or not they should follow along with conventional wisdom. In fact, the capacity to behave ethically and humanely in the face of such pressure creates a moral obligation to do so . . .in my humble opinion.
Are some people simply born nonconformists, naturally acting on what is right or logical without influence from the world around them? Maybe so, but I am apparently not one of the ‘chosen’ if that’s the case 
. I personally squirm under social pressure on a daily basis–which explains why I have an entire category on this blog devoted to the ‘nonconformist’ in society. The only commonality between this loose grouping of articles is that feeling I have of resisting social pressure to do the right thing that I felt during the situations I discuss in those posts.
Clisby–I’ve not seen the Fantasticks, but I think that line definitely illustrates the universal feeling of being different/separate.
(And it’s a good thing you commented because I realized that my post had been somehow cut in half when I uploaded it. It took me a long time to write that sucker!)
What great timing since just last night my 9yr old daughter was asking me about Anne Frank, Nazis and gas chambers (they had talked about it at school). How do you explain to a child that these things can and have happened? And why? I had heard about those experiments before, but not the fact that one lone dissenting voice could change the entire course of events. So yes, we should speak out, even at the cost of being seen as a ‘party pooper.
Strength in numbers can be devastating — I see it nearly every day taking my kids to school on the subway. We often ride with close to 100 boys who go to a private school on our route– they wear navy blue jackets, white shirts and ties. Some of them are as young as 6 or 7 years old. Model citizens, no? But you should see how cruel they can be when someone a little different gets on the train (students from a special education school also ride that train). I don’t think any of those boys would have the courage if they were alone…
Interesting post about nonconformity. The group/herd mentality can be scary, that’s for sure. A dominant Alpha personality can have a lot of influence on ‘weaker’ personalities.
I have been a non-conformist in many ways — eloping vs. the traditional wedding, missing the senior prom and not caring (although it can get weird when the topic pops up on occasion), refusing to dissect a frog in high school, not smoking pot when most of my friends did, etc…
I don’t think I’m stronger than others; it’s just that I’m sometimes a bit oblivious to social conventions and just do what I want to do. I’m very laid back yet can be opinionated (if that makes any sense) so most people don’t push me.
Tracy, I’ve been fascinated by such studies since I saw Zimbardo–who lead the Standford Prison experiments–speak at my university years ago. His lecture certainly gave me more perspective on topics like the holocaust–topics that really should get a person wondering. By the way, the interview link at the bottom of the post also gives his perspective on the Abu Grabe prison atrocities. . .
The boys sound like a good example of the ethical dangers of following along with the crowd. If you think about it, the brave kid would be the one to stick up to others who were picking on the ‘different’ folks. . .
Oil and garlic–sometimes remaining laid back really helps in a peer pressure situation–if you don’t let people get a rise out of you, they often stop the pressure–If that’s what you mean. Sometimes in the past when confronted with rather nasty forms of peer pressure, I’ve just calmly said, “no way” and it seems to work surprisingly well. And yes, oblivion to social conventions doesn’t hurt either. But I myself am not so oblivious to those–I’m really fascinated by them!
It’s funny because the experiments I cited in the post had to be discontinued for ethical reasons before they could take the time to study those few folks that didn’t buckle under pressure from authorities or peers and commit real or perceived atrocities. It’s too bad, because it would be great to know what allows a given person to dissent . . .
Thank you so much for visiting my blog and commenting. I love making new blog friends. I have added you to my blog roll and plan to read your blog daily. I’m actually jealous a bit of you. I’d love to live in France for a while just to experience the culture.
I haven’t read this article I’m posting on, but will when I’m hanging out at Starbucks this afternoon with my hubby!
Anita, you know, one thing I miss a lot about US culture is the whole wireless internet/coffee shop setting. You know, where you sit in an awesome cozy chair and have coffee and just escape from the world. . . happy surfing.
I think conformism makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint. When the crowd is protecting you, it makes sense to conform to whatever the crowd is doing, even when what it’s doing is immoral. Luckily, we have the ability to engage in higher reasoning, which allows us to transcend the draw of peer pressure. On the flip side of that, though, is a tendency to not conform just for the sake of not conforming, which can have some comical results, such as groups of punk rockers wearing the same punk gear with bands they’ve never actually listened to.
Pickler–true, you have to watch out for the ‘non-conformist conformist’ 
. I think you could say thought that the punk rockers are conforming to the rules of their own group in a way?
And yes, I saw plenty of references to evolutionary psychology when researching this topic. I think it makes sense too. I even saw one author describing being brave enough or altruistic enough to go against the flow to help others as ‘risking passing along one’s own genes.’ It’s in interesting way to look at it, although I don’t think that most of us sit around thinking about how important it is to pass on our genes. . .(but perhaps we should hah! )
@tracysimplylivinginspain
Why not move up to the bullied kids and offer your support? By watching and not speaking up you are participating. Also it might work to talk to the bullying kids school.
This was a great read and the comments were good too. I don’t think I’ve conformed. I don’t have a degree; married barefoot in a t-shirt; no engagement ring; ex-pat, also aiming for the simple life 3000 miles away from home. I decided to live the life I thought I needed to live rather than a template designed by thousands before me.
JN–I think you have fine-tuned the art of living for yourself instead of for convention! And I look forward to checking out your blog.
One of my favorite lines from a play is at the end of Luisa’s monologue in The Fantasticks, where this romantic teenage girl clasps her hands and says,
“I am special. I am special! Please god, please, don’t let me be normal!”