Nonconformism actively manifests itself in adolescence, when young people strive to show their individuality. Denial of generally accepted rules, constant contradictions with adults, arguments on any topic - all this is typical for young rebels.
In adult life there is also a place for inconsistency, rebellion, and the desire to differ from the “gray masses.” Nonconformism structures all this in psychology and other scientific disciplines. If you have long noticed that every time you contradict accepted norms, you are confident that you are right and are ready to fight for your truth, perhaps you are a real nonconformist.
Now let’s figure out what nonconformism is and how it manifests itself.
What is nonconformism
Nonconformism is a combination of rebellion, an active life position, and the desire for individualism. The individual to whom this concept applies denies generally accepted rules and norms, does not comply with requirements and tries to have his own opinion that contradicts the majority.
Most often, this feature manifests itself in the form of teenage nonconformism, when young boys and girls “revolt” against society and, first of all, their parents.
Speaking about what nonconformism is in simple words, we should emphasize the importance of disagreement in terms of this concept. That is, the individual prefers to disagree, to deny some norms and rules.
Nonconformism and conformism are opposite concepts. The latter means compliance, agreement with general rules, suggestibility and subordination.
Causes
A person is born with a set of natural qualities, which can be adjusted if desired or due to life circumstances. Traits characteristic of nonconformists may develop at a conscious age, or may accompany a person from birth.
When the desire to stand out and oppose oneself to society are acquired qualities, their formation is due to certain reasons. Such reasons may be:
- hidden or overt desire to control and dominate;
- a feeling of helplessness that creates a desire to become strong and be able to withstand any difficulties;
- the desire to preserve one’s individuality and resistance, if necessary, to “bend under” someone;
- no need to constantly confirm that you are right, since self-confidence is unshakable.
In other words, the start of nonconformist beliefs in most cases originates from a person’s personal qualities.
How does nonconformism manifest itself?
The best way to explain what nonconformism is and how it manifests itself is to give an example of the behavior of a teenager. Almost every young person who has entered a “difficult age” turns into a nonconformist over the next few years and demonstrates all the characteristics characteristic of this type.
He constantly strives to emphasize his individuality and uniqueness , disagrees with adults, questions and challenges generally accepted norms of behavior, and contrasts his own point of view with the opinion of the majority. He also constantly commits some undesirable actions in defiance of his parents, just to emphasize that he decides what to do.
As teenagers grow older, nonconformity in most cases goes away. However, adults are not without nonconformist tendencies. Often, adults deliberately develop nonconformism in themselves, because it seems to them that they too easily and often agree with other people’s opinions, and they don’t like it.
Signs
A fairly clear sign that a person is a nonconformist is his self-confidence in his own rightness. Moreover, an individual may not even know such a concept, but this does not deprive him of certain qualities, for example, the following:
- high, sometimes inflated self-esteem;
- insensitivity to external circumstances;
- demonstration of one’s opinion, contrary to the generally accepted one;
- the desire to be unique;
- desire to assert oneself;
- desire to dominate;
- having your own opinion on any matter;
- independence.
Nonconformity is considered in many disciplines, including philosophy and psychology. This is an isolated movement, whose adherents strive to stand out from the crowd with their atypicality and uniqueness.
Reasons for nonconformism
There are a fairly large number of reasons that can lead to nonconformist behavior. Psychologists call the following factors as the most important:
- need for dominance;
- a feeling of helplessness and a desire to correct the situation;
- desire to be an individual;
- categorical unwillingness to obey someone else's will;
- unshakable confidence in one’s rightness.
It can be noted that many of these reasons are themselves findings for a psychologist. But one way or another, nonconformism in most cases develops from very specific personality traits.
Advantages and disadvantages
Let's look at the pros and cons of nonconformism. The phenomenon itself does not bring anything bad, but if a person decides to go to extremes, things can end in tears. So, the cons:
- excessive desire to stand out, using methods that can harm others;
- adherence to a contradictory opinion out of a desire to rebel, and not out of sincere support for it;
- propaganda of destructive rules out of a desire to prove one’s power of persuasion;
- self-affirmation at the expense of those who are weaker.
There are also advantages, since nonconformism is a multifaceted concept. Advantages:
- introduction of new technologies, knowledge, skills that contradict generally accepted ones, but surpass them in their effectiveness;
- adequate individualism, creating a unique personality with interesting and unusual views on familiar events and things;
- development of critical thinking and constant analysis of information coming from outside.
The achievements of nonconformism are formed precisely from its positive manifestations. If an individual strives to defend his own position and deny everything common, his opinion should be based on real facts, so as not to bring destructive energy to the masses.
Pros and cons of nonconformism
Usually, nonconformist behavior makes a person stand out from the general background, and at the same time he can create a different impression. To some he seems to be a strong, self-sufficient person, to others - to a capricious, infantile person who is always dissatisfied with something. In general, nonconformism has both pros and cons.
Pros of nonconformism:
- non-susceptibility to other people's influence;
- independence and self-sufficiency;
- determination, strong willpower;
- developed creative and critical thinking;
- good analytical skills.
Disadvantages of nonconformism:
- Trying to be an “expert” on everything doesn’t always look good to others and can become obsessive;
- a person constantly strives to participate in disputes, even without reason;
- nonconformists are often unpleasant interlocutors, because they look for a reason for an argument in any topic of conversation;
- You can’t relax when talking to a nonconformist, so even your loved ones don’t like to have a heart-to-heart talk with such people.
Even having thoroughly understood what nonconformism is, it is impossible to say unambiguously whether this is a good or bad phenomenon. It has certain advantages, since such people, as a rule, are strong and purposeful individuals with well-developed intellectual abilities. However, their tendency to argue about and without reason often makes them unbearable for loved ones.
Examples of nonconformism
Nonconformity is part of history. The existence of humanity has always been replete with individuals who questioned generally accepted truths. For example, the world-famous Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno. The scientist denied existing theories of the world order and proposed his own works, which were received negatively by society. The sad end of a philosopher is burning at the stake for heresy.
The equally famous “witch hunt,” which occurred in many cultures at different times, is more likely to refer to conformity. Society has been taught that, for example, beautiful women with red hair are absolutely witches. The led people believed in similar truths for decades and centuries, just so as not to bother themselves with research and analysis of their horrific actions.
Nonconformism is easier to understand through examples. Another common manifestation is stubbornness and rebellion in children and adolescents. And if everything is clear with little people, since they explore the world and constantly check what is possible and what is not, then with teenagers the situation is different. It seems that every second teenager is an ardent nonconformist.
Most often, young representatives of society strive to contradict and defend their own principles not so much for the sake of such principles themselves, but for the sake of disagreement itself. For example, parents require you to put things in a closet and keep order. The desire to step back and “revolt” pushes the teenager into an obvious contradiction - he will not put things in the closet, but will carelessly throw them on a chair, on the floor, on the bed. In general, anywhere except the closet.
Think about yourself when you think about resistance. Examples of nonconformism in your life will definitely come up, even if not directly related to you. Any examples will give a complete picture of the understanding of what the content of the concept of “nonconformism” is.
How to become a nonconformist
The question of what unites the concepts of conformism and nonconformism is quite simple. Both phenomena are based on social pressure. In the first case, a person bends under the weight of generally accepted norms, in the second, he resists and “revolts” against everyone. The phenomenon of nonconformism interests those who are ready to fight with society and defend their opinion.
The desire for constant analysis of events and information, the denial of rules and norms, and the creation of one’s own picture of the world is based on critical thinking. It can be developed, but for this you must clearly understand what nonconformism means.
You can follow his principles at certain periods of your life, or you can remain a nonconformist for life. This is similar to following certain truths in all circumstances. If you decide to argue that an orange is not orange but blue, you will have to constantly remember this. Simply put, it is easy to become a nonconformist when the impulse comes from the heart, if you will. You really have to believe in what you are broadcasting and standing for, and then everything will fall into place.
What is conformism
Before giving a definition, let’s figure out what the meaning of the word “conformism” is. It is derived from the Latin conformis, which means “similar”, “corresponding”. Conformity is a concept from social psychology. Refers to a form of adaptation to a small group. To become “similar,” an individual accepts the opinions, rules of behavior, norms and values of the majority, even if they contradict his personal opinions, beliefs, values, norms, etc.
Conformism
Conformism in psychology is following the majority, the authorities. Conformity involves living like other people. An individual listens to the same music as the majority. He wears the same thing as everyone else. He eats the same as everyone else. He rests just like everyone else. In general, he does not stand out from the crowd.
Conformism in sociology is the blind submission of a person to the majority. He prefers to be like everyone else in everything, hiding and suppressing his individuality. This helps to avoid problems, conflicts, and difficulties. This is necessary for socialization. Social conformity (conformity) is a person’s behavior that obeys the expectations of a group that is significant to him.
Mechanism of development of conformity
The basis of its development is the fear of public condemnation and censure. “Keep your head down if you don’t want to be an outcast or be eaten,” this is the thought that drives the individual. Society doesn't like it when someone opposes it. Unique personalities, individualists have always been persecuted and misunderstood by the gray masses.
On the other hand, conformity can be considered as a manifestation of loyalty, that is, trust in people. For example, when the majority, through silence, agrees with the actions of the rulers: “They know better.” True, this is rarely backed by true loyalty, that is, true trust and respect. More often this is due to cowardice and laziness. A person is too lazy or afraid to understand pressing issues and fight for their rights.
Conformism and nonconformism
Nonconformism is the opposite of conformism. Derived from the Greek words non (a prefix meaning negation) and conformis, which means “conforming”, “similar”.
Nonconformism is the desire to be different from everyone else in everything, to stand out from the gray mass. Nonconformists are rebels. They are never silent, they always go against the system, express their point of view, fight for their rights and try to change the world.
In a broad sense, nonconformism is understood as the denial of all generally accepted norms and values. In this sense, the phenomenon is similar to negativism. For example, an individual who denies any norms, throws garbage past the trash can on principle, does not close the door, wears light clothes in winter, etc. Children and teenagers often behave this way.
Conformism: examples from life
What is conformal behavior? This is behavior in which an individual suppresses his desires and interests and submits to the opinion of the majority. Simply put, this is “I’m like everyone else” behavior. The subject repeats after others. This applies to everything: thoughts, actions, emotions, deeds.
Examples from life:
- Imagine a pedestrian crossing. The light is red, but the road is empty. First, one pedestrian ran across the red light, then another, followed by another couple, etc. This is the simplest example of conformism in real life.
- At the market, people stand in the longest line because they think that since so many customers want to buy this particular product, it means it is much better than others. In fact, it may be the exact same product. In principle, similar to this, people are chasing branded items and equipment.
- Fashion is one big example of conformity. People are trying to be in trend, and it doesn’t matter whether they like it or not, whether it suits them or not, whether it’s convenient or not.
- Students, looking at each other, run away from their classes. By the way, examples like “everyone went, and I went”, “everyone kept silent, and I kept silent” are found at every step.
- A teenager begins to smoke “for company” or to gain the favor of a “cool” group.
In everyday life, such people are called weak-willed, dependent, suggestible, weak-willed. However, most people have a positive attitude towards conformists, because they are easy to manage. There are more conformists in our world than non-conformists.
