More thoughts on group identity...

Randomly I came across another article about conformity and how the pressure to conform affects everyone, and especially when it comes to forming into groups and starting to discriminate against others.

Understanding when we conform has all kinds of practical real-world benefits, depending on your aims: it can help you understand your own behaviour as well as understand how others will behave under a variety of different situational pressures.

Here are some of the factors that influence conformity (from www.spring.org.uk)

One of the most important factors affecting whether or not people conform is the size of the group around them. Maximum conformity is seen when groups reach between 3and 5 people. Add more people and it makes little difference, less than 3, though, and conformity is substantially reduced.

As soon as there's someone who disagrees, or even just dithers or can't decide, conformity is reduced.

One dastardly emotional technique for increasing conformity is using fear-then-relief. Make someone afraid of something, then relieve that fear, then they're more likely to do what you want.

Some people have more of a 'need for structure' and consequently are more likely to conform.

Some people have a greater need for liking from others so are more likely to conform.

When faced with an authority figure mere conformity can be transformed into obedience.

Hmmmm, very interesting. Especially in the context of discrimination and prejudice based on race. All these factors are definitely in play when I think about the KKK, Hitler, the Rwanda genocide, the sixties scoop of Aboriginal children...

And I suppose not everyone uses these factors for evil...but the leaders of the above mentioned groups, and many more, certainly do.

Any thoughts?