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Conformity by definition is “a change in a person’s behavior or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people.” The concept of conformity is one that changes significantly as an individual ages. Conformity’s influences are most likely farther reaching than one can possibly imagine; from the infamous experiments pioneered by Dr. Stanley Milgram in which participants knowingly administered potentially lethal doses of electric current to another participant as directed by study administration to the mid-flight disaster of the Challenger space shuttle ^[1] , conformity’s effects are deeply rooted in societal and cultural values. Numerous studies have been completed illustrating the role of aging as a dynamic agent in regards to changing one’s own perception and unconscious participation in societal and individual conformity. Additionally, we will examine the role of gender in determining the roles of conformity to one’s own life.
The difference in an individual’s age plays a role in conformity as well. Individuals of all ages frequently conform to the opinions and behaviors of their peers. “The current study investigated this phenomenon in groups of children between 2 and 9 years old. Children often made their judgments conform to those of at least 3 peers, who made obviously erroneous but unanimous public judgments right before them.” Other studies suggest that preschool aged children only change the way they express their judgment of a situation and not their actual opinion. These children are more specifically exposed to a form of conformity known as peer pressure. Preschoolers identify themselves with their peers early in their school career. Identification, as a term, essentially describes one’s response to societal influences that occurs due to the individual’s desire to be more like the individual providing the influence; the influencer. This study made it relatively clear just how early conformity begins to make its effect known, especially amongst peers of one’s own age (school setting). Other studies have also shown the role increasing age plays in a school setting in terms of the influence of conformity. ^[2]
A study was conducted to illustrate the age trends in conformity and independence. The study included 366 children, grades one, four, seven, and ten. Researchers used various stimuli such as choices involving delay of gratification, visual judgments, and opinion statements. Correlations were noted pertaining to age group vs. adult influence, peer pressure with social support from partner, and unanimous peer pressure. Overall, the influence of unanimous peer pressure declined consistently in terms of producing conformity across the age groups (increasing age); male peers were affected greater than female counterparts. The effect of adult influence also steadily declined with increasing age for both male and female peers. The effect of social support from a partner lead to constant low-level conformity across nearly all age groups. Conclusively, it was noted that influences from a group are very similar amongst all age groups. Therefore, as an independent variable affecting peer influence, age may be of low importance and value. Although the effect of age on conformity is well documented and well supported by countless studies, it is not the sole variable in determining the effect of conformity on an individual. Gender roles and the measures taken to adhere to them are also of high importance on the effects of conformity; this relationship was examined below. ^[3]
Athletic prowess typically requires athletes to possess traits that are classically associated with that of the male gender such as aggressiveness, competitiveness, power, and individualism. Females participating in sports often face the dilemma of utilizing standards of long-established male athleticism, but simultaneously attempting to handle expectations of society by conforming to the traditional female roles. By way of examining conformity to gender norms in the world of competitive sporting events, the relationship amongst participation in sports, gender norms, and the perceptions of one’s own body image amongst 143 female student-athletes and non-athletes was explored. The overall outcome indicated that female college students enrolled in course work and participating in competitive sports (student-athletes) and female college students enrolled in course work only (non-athletic) did not differ in their respective levels of conformity to feminine norms. Although the female student-athletes did report higher levels of conformity to some of the classical masculine traits named previously; especially those related with participation in sports such as risk taking and winning. Furthermore, athletic participation did not drastically forecast body esteem for said females. ^[4]
This article will be expanded upon in the future; the relationship between conformity and influences such as culture and socioeconomic status will be addressed.