B2 – Upper Intermediate
Conformity bias refers to our tendency to go along with a group and to be influenced by those around us. It occurs when we model our behavior to fit the behavior of others rather than using our own judgement.
Watch the video to know what conformity bias is and see how it works and be able to answer the questions that follow.
Discussion Questions:
- What is conformity bias? Cite some examples.
- How does conformity affect decision-making?
- What should we do in order to maintain independence in the face of the pressure to conform?
- Share an experience you had about conformity bias.
- What is your opinion on groupthink?
6 replies on “Conformity Bias”
Discussion Questions:
1. What is conformity bias? Cite some examples.
It’s the pressure of the group, and how it’s affects your decision, opinions and also to your behaviour. Some examples apart of the cases told in the video, are common in life: p.e.: the way we dress according with the trend, what your friends say, etc… not according with your own taste; to follow the rules of some dangerous cults; to drink alcohol or try with drugs when you are young just because the group of your friends ask you to do it, etc
2. How does conformity affect decision-making?
In a very strong way, because sometimes, even if you think something is wrong, just because of the pressure of your peers you can support these ideas, and sometimes some are crucial decisions.
3. What should we do in order to maintain independence in the face of the pressure to conform?
It’s very difficult if you are not mature enough, for example at your teenagers, but I think that maybe can help to express your opinion in a politeness way, but saying finally what you really think…
4. Share an experience you had about conformity bias.
A lot of them, about all, related with the pressure of the friends when we were young, like smoke, drink… this kind of behaviours.
5. What is your opinion on groupthink?
I really don’t like it, its terrible… if you think in the Nazism a lot of people acted in a terrible way just because of the groupthink. It is the same case in the case of the dangerous cults, culture of the gangs, etc.
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1. It is the “pull effect” we feel when we see the crowd acting in some specific way, and therefore we feel the need to act accordingly in the same way.
2. When all the others are choosing the same options, even we feel that the option is wrong, we feel the pressure to chose that same option, even if it is wrong.
3. Just think by ourselves and act accordingly, there is nothing wrong to go in the opposite direction if we feel it is the right way.
4. I do drink too much, even on parties, and because of that I feel the pressure to drink all my life, because everyone else tend to drink a lot. That way, I feel a bit off when all the people around me is drinking, but I am not.
5. We all feel more brave when we have the support of a group, and that happens a lot.
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What is conformity bias? Cite some examples.
when you follow the group instead of thinking by yourself. You feel afraid of no fitting in.
How does conformity affect decision-making?
It tends to influence not to pick the best decision, if everybody in the group does not feel free to express their own opinions, it will not be a decision taking into account all topics. Therefore, it affects to make poor projects, take poor decision.
What should we do in order to maintain independence in the face of the pressure to conform?
Be brave, there is no other way. you must tackle the situation, express what you think with assertiveness
Share an experience you had about conformity bias.
Politics, I have not expressed my own opinions when I have been with my boss and other workmates, it is true that I did not follow their arguments to search for approval, but i did not confront them with my thoughts.
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