• Question: How does social conformity influence a person's behaviour when with other people and how can this effect mental wellbeing?

    Asked by anon-342626 on 29 Nov 2022.
    • Photo: Clare Ashton

      Clare Ashton answered on 29 Nov 2022:

      I am a forensic psychologist… I repeatedly find that adolescents are particularly susceptible to peer influence and in such an environment individuals share a common normative and behavioural background which creates favourable norms for delinquency where individuals can observe, learn, imitate, perform, accept and reinforce each other’s delinquent and violent behaviour. In such a peer environment, antisocial and violent behaviour is normalised and rewarded with loyalty, notoriety, status, admiration and respect; the development of a desirable reputation; a sense of acceptance and relatedness to others; and camaraderie, a sense of cohesion, fitting in and belonging within the group

    • Photo: Mhairi Bowe

      Mhairi Bowe answered on 30 Nov 2022:

      We tend to be influenced by other people whom we feel are relevant to us (share a situation, experience, identity, age group, affiliation etc). We are less influenced by those we feel are different to us (in fact we expect to disagree with them). We conform to group ‘norms’ – guides for usual behaviour and act in a normative way (aligned with our social group) when we are connected with that group. This happens especially when we are in uncertain situations.

    • Photo: Liz Halstead

      Liz Halstead answered on 30 Nov 2022:

      When individuals are pressured to conform to society it can lead to increased stress, depression, anxiety, and other negative reactions, we have seen this from high rates of mental health problems in the LGBTQ community from pressures of social conformity in the past and present day.

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