It was first demonstrated in Solomon Ach’s experiment in the 1950s. Since then, it has become major and is seen constantly everywhere. As in the book, Social Dynamics, Steven Durlauf explains, “To some extent people simply want to be like other people,” (134-135). People find numerous ways to conform to others, through fashion, entertainment, and even simple societal standards such as greetings; everyone wants to fit in and be like the cool people. There are different types of ways and reasons why people conform. There is upward and downward social comparison, unanimity, and low self-esteem. These at times can also boost people’s self-concepts. The size of the majority also affects conformity, the more the people, the more of the chance of conforming increases (Durlauf 136). People always seek to evaluate their beliefs and abilities by comparing it with others. The feelings of censure occur when people feel like they do not live up to or fail at behaving with the norms of society or their acceptable ways of their group (Durlauf 137). Conformity can be a major problem, leading to dangerous and negative impacts, but at the same time it can be a good thing. For example, if an individual has bad habits, but looks to others who have better habits, that individual can be influenced to be more like them and change those habits (Durlauf 138). The different motivations that are …show more content…
It is very complex and is shapes and constructs many aspects of a person’s life. This also deals with how and when you gain self-acceptance. Many people have issues with this as they deal with society and the issues that are important to them. Personal Identity is a theoretical construct that consists of a subjective representation of relations that have formed from different identities. These different identities help in forming the complexity of social identity leading to many diverse identities. Everyone has their own, unique identity, but in society people try to conform and fit in. They even at times change their selves while doing this. As explained in the book, Personal identity, by Harold W. Noonan “Everything is identical to itself. Nothing is identical to anything else” (85-99). Being unique is what makes everything diverse and more functioning. That is why sometimes our personal identity is a positive thing. People should be true to their identity, but this is not so easy when society and roles are changed all the time. Another theory that is a part of a person’s personal identity is the looking- glass self. It describes how people develop their identity through their interactions and relationships they form from the context of society (Noonan 112). It also deals with how we perceive others around us and how we also perceive one’s self. Social context is deals with how