Conformity to social norms persists because deviance carries individual and social costs

Evidence

Conformity is prevalent because it has both individual and societal benefits. At the individual level, there are dire consequences for those who fail to conform. Those who do not follow social norms may be overtly punished or ostracized, may fail to gain respect, and be unable to advance in their careers (see Rudman, ch. 7 this volume). Conformity is also useful at the cultural level because it helps create a smoothly functioning society. Conformity transmits cultural values and mores, the important “group beliefs” of the society (Bar-Tal, 1990). It guides speech and actions, making social interactions predictable. Taken this way, conformity simply means that a person adheres to the prevailing social norms in a given situation, as would be expected of any upstanding society member. Conformity does not necessarily imply weakness, dependency, or a lack of creativity; it occurs as a normal part of everyday existence. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1899

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Everyday conventions carry status value that yields social rewards or penalties — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 153