Difference Between Conformity And Non Conformity

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Society and Culture Assessment Task 3 Part A: Define Conformity and Non-Conformity The definition of conformity is the compliance with social standards and laws in a particular culture, environment, society and time. If this occurs the individual changes their attitudes, beliefs or actions to align more holistically with those in the surrounding groups and environment, as a result of real or perceived group pressure. This is ultimately a direct result of the power which a group has over the individual. There are two types of conformity, normative conformity, and informational conformity. The motivation behind normative conformity is the desire to be liked and accepted in society. This is most widely known as peer pressure. For example, a student …show more content…

For example, if you were to change your answer in an exam to match the answers of the surrounding people. An example of social conformity is as follows: Imagine you were to attend a movie that you thought was poor quality. When the movie is finished, all your friends were saying how much they liked it. In this instance, if you were to suppress your own opinion and say that you liked the movie, you would be conforming. In contrast, non-conformity is a deviation from social norms. This transpires when a person violates the expectations and norms of a group. This repeatedly occurs when a person chooses to act upon their own thoughts and intuition, in opposition to the expectations of the group, society, and culture in which they live. An example of non-conformity is attending a wedding and wearing only casual clothes when everybody else is dressed formally. Part B: To what extent have the values and behaviours of one group influenced the perceptions of this group in the wider society? The values and behaviour of groups in society have the ability to influence the …show more content…

This is largely due to the fact that the group is recognised by the wider society through their behaviours and values. For example, on the night of December 22, 2002, the Bra Boy’s altercation with off-duty officers, saw this group labelled as rebellious, young teens with criminal tendencies by some in the wider society. However, this perception was challenged due to the events during the Cronulla riots of 2005. The Bra Boy’s proved a crucial element in the cessation of these riots. Consequently, this had seen the perception of the bra boys changed from reckless, non-conformist teens, to young adults who values equality and mateship amongst varying cultures. From these instances, it is clear that the behaviours and values of the Bra Boys have influenced the way in which they are perceived by the wider society to a great extent, serving to both reinforce the negative stereotype surrounding the group, as well as challenge it and portray the group in a new light. Therefore, it is clear that the values and behaviours of groups have the capacity to influence the way in which the group is perceived by the wider society to a great

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