About public opinion
Public opinion constantly changes as people prove not only rationally, but also is irrational. People differently perceive and explain themselves reality. For each person perception of reality – only reflection (and who does not trust, let reads Descartes). The instability of public opinion in various groups and communities creates ample opportunities for psychological manipulations.
What is conformality?
At researches of a phenomenon of group pressure (and it is one of types of psychomanipulations) the conformality phenomenon was revealed and experimentally confirmed. The conformality as behavior, is registered at most of members of any group in a conflict situation between opinion of the individual and the general. Ordinary, more than two thirds of group submit to the general opinion. And, can influence, both the intra group majority, and minority. Reasons of transition to the point of view of group: character of the individual, low I.Q., low self-assessment, nature of the situation.
It is accepted to distinguish external conformality (when in the course of group pressure the opinion of group is accepted only externally) and internal (when the individual begins to believe in correctness of the majority).
If he does not agree – protest
Some individuals in a situation of group pressure are capable to show negativism – they do not agree with opinions of the majority or even intra group minority, do not give in to group pressure. As a rule, it is persons with strong characters, capable to resist to pressure, or those whom the role misunderstood, offended for various reasons suits victims. Sometimes such behavior is represented more favorable, and sometimes and more ethic.
How group pressure is formed?
The opinion of minority in group amplifies if pass others to it (is open or hidden). After all, the public statement and permanent following of the individual to the beliefs influences opinions and beliefs of all group and changes him. Results of such influences and changes can be estimated both conditional and negative, and conditional and positive. In expression of disagreement with opinion of group various feelings and estimates can cause resistant and consecutive resistance: from irritation, hatred and rejection before strengthening of respect and increase in the authority of not agreeing. Changes happen due to demonstration not only of the power of opinion of minority, but its increased value as it seems that the ideas, beliefs and positions of minority have a certain supervalue. It increases appeal of positions discordant.
Around minority the formation of the new majority, certainly, under certain conditions can begin. The phenomenon of group pressure and conformality are very important object of a research for social, organizatsionalny and business psychologists, conflictology and sociology. Results of these researches have important practical value and broad applied application.