Conforming to the Group

N I C H O L A S PA R K E R

What is the pack mentality?

Its the idea of being part a group Think of a wolf pack in this case a group of wolves

working together becoming one unit We humans even have a slight sense of this as well, we enjoy the company of others and want to fit in This is exactly what I wanted to examine but even further I wanted to look into how and why we do this and how the group can even change its members.

What is a Group?
According to theorist Shaw in 1981 a group is Two or

more persons who are interacting with one another in such a manner that each person influences and is influenced by each other person. (Mullen)

Self-Attention Theory
In theorist Carvers Self-Attention Theory the process of

taking oneself as the focus of ones own attention, or becoming aware of ones self (Mullen) According to Psychologist Brian Mullen PhD at Syracuse University In this theory behavioral standards define appropriate behavior, some even become very noticeable and important to the environment, becoming the norms for the group, through self-attention an individual will notice if their behavior does not match the group standard, and usually then proceeds to adjust their self to fit in the group standard Similar to the phrase If youre the only one doing a certain thing, you might be doing something wrong

Self Presentation Theory

According to Psychologists Roy Baumeister PhD and

Debra Huuton PhD both from Case western Reserve University, in cleveland self-attention takes effect and we take note of the fact that we are being viewed by an audience and therefore will seek to please the audience, behaving as the audience would expect us to. This is easily explained with the fact that you would not be at church with your parents acting like you do if you are out partying with fraternities or sororities. (Mullen)

Above the Influence

The counter point to the previous statement would be that

there are people who still decide to remain in the group but will not conform. Keep in mind that this is subconscious even though we do feel it, but with the right determination you could ignore this urge just like the urge to move out of the way or close you eyes when something is flying at you , but instead you catch it.

AKA Peer Pressure

According to Dictionary.com peer pressure is defined as

social pressure by members of one's peer group to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted.

How It Works
"the identity shift effect", is introduced by social psychologist, Wendy Treynor,

combining two of Theorist Leon Festingers two social-psychological theories on cognitive dissonance, and social comparison. Peer pressure process works in the following way: One's state of harmony is disrupted when faced with the threat of external conflict for failing to conform to a group standard. Thus, one conforms to the group standard, but as soon as one does, eliminating this external conflict, internal conflict is introduced. To rid oneself of this internal conflict, an "identity shift" is undertaken, where one adopts the group's standards as one's own, thereby eliminating internal conflict, returning one once again to a state of harmony. Even though the peer pressure process begins and ends with one in a state of harmony, as a result of conflict and the conflict resolution process, one leaves with a new identitya new set of internalized standards.(Wikipedia)

Above the Influence Continued

Going back to the counterpoint made earlier there are

some who go against this theory and will not conform to the group Obviously being a topic that would require more research

Work Cited
Baumeister, Roy F., and Debra G. Hutton. "Self-Presentation

Theory: Self-Construction and Audience Pleasing." Theories of group behavior (1987): Print. Mullen, Brian, and George R. Goethals. Theories of group behavior (1987): Print. Mullen, Brian. "Self-Attention Theory The Effects of Groups composition on the individual." Theories of group behavior (1987): Print. "Peer Pressure." Dictionary.com. Web. 15 Oct. 2013. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/peer+pressure>. "Peer Pressure." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, Web. 15 Oct. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer_pressure>.