Conformism stays adaptive under rapid change though heavy social learning does not

Evidence

There are three important themes that emerge in this chapter. First, that conformity is normal, not an abnormal personality weakness. Like any other belief, attitude, and behavior, we learn how to feel about others and social groups from our family, our peers, and our culture. Having attitudes and beliefs that are very different from our friends is uncomfortable, and we are likely to change them to fit our friends, or change our friends to fit our beliefs. To desire to fit in is normal, natural, and leads to highly adaptive social behavior. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1936 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

No animal behaves in the same way irrespective of conditions. Nor, of course, do humans. Departures from the norm are not necessarily pathologies generated by abnormal conditions. They may well be highly adaptive responses to particular ecological conditions. — Diego Gambetta, Trust - Making and Breaking Cooperative…, 443 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Conformist transmission evolves robustly across far more conditions than heavy social learning does — Joe Henrich and Robert Boyd, The Evolution of Conformist…, 65; Conformist transmission lets learners aggregate dispersed wisdom rapidly — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success: How Culture…, 179; Conformist transmission is triggered by difficulty, uncertainty, and stakes (+7 more)

Related

• Conformity in attitudes is normal and adaptive, not a personality defect (similarity 0.90)
• Prejudice conformity is normal, adaptive, and learned from local norms (similarity 0.83)
• Conformity to social norms persists because deviance carries individual and social costs (similarity 0.82)
• Conformity benefits both individuals and societies and does not imply weakness (similarity 0.81)
• Conformist transmission evolves robustly across far more conditions than heavy social learning does (similarity 0.81)
• Conformist transmission means copying the commonest behavior more than its frequency warrants (similarity 0.80)
• No flexible-learning scenario eliminates the adaptive need for conformity. (similarity 0.80)
• Apparent personality traits often reflect attempts to conform to local norms (similarity 0.80)
• Learning and conformity are distinct psychological processes (similarity 0.80)
• Conformity carries both individual survival and cultural efficiency benefits (similarity 0.79)
• Conformity is a normal, essential social function, not a personality weakness. (similarity 0.79)
• Conformist transmission is favored across a broader range of conditions than mere social learning. (similarity 0.79)
• Conformist bias evolution requires less environmental stability than social learning evolution itself. (similarity 0.79)
• Conformist transmission occurs across many social-learning species. (similarity 0.78)
• Cultural variation between groups requires an adaptive explanation consistent with evolved psychology. (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Conformity functions as adaptive social coordination, not weakness #corroborates (0.85)
• Conformity in attitudes is normal and adaptive, not a personality defect #corroborates (0.85) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1936
• Behavioral departures from norms can be adaptive responses #expands (0.80) — Diego Gambetta, Trust - Making and Breaking Cooperative…, 443
• Social systems can enable change, and new roles redefine group stereotypes #complicates (0.75) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 226
• Stress, threat, and lack of information increase conformity to group norms #complicates (0.75) — Holm Gero Hümmler, Ulrike Schiesser, Fact and Prejudice, 186