Stuck In The Matrix: The Danger of Social Conformity in Politics
BY Vincenzo Iodice
Consciousness is like water, able to conform and mold to its surroundings yet free in its ability to fill space, and to not abide by the forces that attempt to bind its unbound nature. As a body of water moves in sequence, so does humanity. Alone, a single drop of water is isolated in the same fashion as those who have the courage to break free from the tension of coherence and the unwillingness to seek comfort in conformity. Together, humanity finds itself caught up in the deep swells of conformity, aimlessly floating through the motions of life, essentially lifeless. How has conformity damaged society, and why is it a factor of modern human consciousness more so than ever before? Conformity, being a factor of primitive subconsciousness, has adapted the human mind in a way that finds comfort in the social matrix of the modern day and ignorance in the politics that control it. Thus, to identify these variables is to free the mind, a mind of slavery to a phantom world of illusion governed by political systems and representatives that the people have become distant with. In this pursuit, the society that Americans desire to find themselves in can be constructed by genuine political attitudes, driven by responsible citizens that take it upon themselves to realize the significance of their voice in the world around them.
Social conformity begins with the concept of what society is. The society that humanity finds itself in is bound by the authority of the government, which enforces laws and regulations to keep the innate disorder of humanity under control. Dr. Karl Figlio and Dr. Barry Richards, professors of psychosocial and psychoanalytic studies, break down the idea of a social matrix in the modern world. In their studies, they determine the relationship between the individual and their surrounding environment, exploring “the internal structure of the external world and how the containing matrix of the external world in turn resonates with the internal world of the subject” (Figlio and Richards). This distinct relationship, as they describe in “The Containing Matrix of the Social,” is present in the manner in which the individual interacts with reality, a nightmare where “unconscious fantasy mixes indistinguishably with external” (Figlio and Richards). This frightening idea is a result of the power of the human mind, and the many factors of the external world that can influence the way in which humanity behaves. This, the social matrix, is the primary cause of social conformity in its essence, an observable factor of the incomprehensible idea of the subconscious, and conscious, working together.
Although social conformity can be observed on a physical level, many of the underlying factors are rooted in the neuroscience behind human behavior. An article from the National Library of Medicine has developed ways, through innovative work, to make people aware of the behavior of people around them. As a result of this, positive behavioral change can be implemented on a societal level. Their studies examine four main concepts: social influence, conformity, reinforcement learning, and compliance. Social influences are the effect of others on personal attitudes, opinions, and behaviors. Researchers have found that “conformity recruits neural signals that are similar to those involved in reinforcement learning” (Stallen and Stanfey). In a study that analyzed peoples’ opinions on a specific matter, those who had opinions that contrasted with those of the majority had increased activity in the medial prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain that is involved in the processing of conflict. This fear is the same fear that individuals face in the social matrix, an anxiety to express oneself in a way that is fulfilling to societal standards rather than expressing true, unique perspectives. The opposite has the same effect. When complying with the external environment, activity in the nucleus accumbens increased, the part of the brain that is associated with the expectation of reward. This is an indisputable example, supported by scientific evidence, that social conformity is affecting the brain in a negative way and distorting individualism with the expectation of being rewarded.
Danish theologian Soren Kierkegaard, considered by many as the first existentialist philosopher, said that cultivating one’s uniqueness is like “riding a wild stallion,” whereas conforming is like “falling asleep on a moving hay wagon” (Kierkegaard). This analysis has a much deeper meaning, one that relates to the relationship between the individual and democracy. What makes an individual an individual is their uniqueness, their personality and the distinct ways in which they express themselves. Kierkegaard describes those who have escaped the social matrix as riding a wild stallion, free to move in any direction, at a higher point of view, and in control of the situation at hand. Those who have done their own research, and have adapted their own political perspectives have mounted this stallion in conquest of a better, foreseeable future. In contrast, those who find themselves stuck in the social matrix, conforming to society’s unwritten expectations and favorable political attitudes are asleep on a moving hay wagon, blind to the world around them, and aimlessly floating away on a raft in the middle of the ocean. An individual of this nature has no genuine political comprehension, is engulfed by the opinions of others, and is walking against the current of progression. Kierkegaard takes this analysis further, saying that an individual stuck in the social matrix “finds it too risky to be himself,” and “far easier and safer to be like the others, to become a copy, a number, part of the crowd” (Kierkegaard). These concepts relate to the neuroscientific discoveries of brain activity in the spectrum of conformity, where human consciousness finds itself being inevitably controlled by a force within itself. In the face of politics, people have become so disconnected with the importance of government representation that the very freedom they wish to have is being stripped from them by their own political ignorance.
In his book Popular Delusions, Stephen J. Coleman analyzes conformity as both subconscious and conscious in nature, and the implication of human adherence to the social matrix on political attitudes. He explains that social conformity is not an issue to be overlooked, especially in a nation where voting is the basis for a democratic process. When conformity starts to affect how people vote, which it has, the problem must be addressed. Coleman addresses three principles of conformity that help to make his message more clear. The first principle is that people are more likely to conform to something that is considered normal by society when they are reminded of it. The second principle is the consistency to which society conforms, in the fact that a response to a social norm generally translates to other, similar social norms. Lastly, the third principle combines the two, meaning that if an individual is reminded about social norms, they will conform to not only that norm, but norms that are similar to the initial norm. Such a societal norm is the importance of voting. With reference to these principles, the argument of whether voting is genuine arises, and whether it can effectively display unique political attitudes. The question is, how can it? How can voting be an effective measure of political attitudes when voters are aligning with the expected majority, or with their friends, and not voting based on what they know, but rather, on what they don’t know. Conformity is not only damaging society, but is allowing for a false sense of security that the people have put into place on the basis of conformity. As the United States progresses into the future of politics, the fabric of societal norms becomes more prevalent than ever before. As the nation becomes more politically divided, and the social matrix continues to engulf the vulnerable, society will be forced to conform. This is why it is essential that one must escape these bounds, to preserve the liberty that the founding fathers envisioned for this country, before it is too late.
The value of genuine expression in politics is the foundation of democracy in the United States. Taylor Carlson, an Assistant Professor in the Political Science Department at Washington University, says that “Individuals must choose between sharing their true political opinions, a modified version of their opinions, or nothing at all as they navigate what they are willing to reveal in this contentious socio-political environment.”(Carlson). These three options have been extremely prevalent in the recent history of politics, as the media has done a great deal of distorting political ideas and figures, as well as society shifting away from acknowledging the presence of politics in daily life. In his article “Political Chameleons,” Carlson analyzes the extent to which political discussions become distorted in the fear of social repercussions, abandoning true political beliefs to satisfy a given expectation. Despite an attempt to escape social discomfort and political misalignment, social conformity in the space of politics brings about a greater divide between political parties in America, leaving numerous important issues unsolved. As political interactions have become, as Carlson describes, socially contentious, so has political behavior. As social conformity becomes a driving factor of the distortion of politics, people are more likely to continue to conform to the group and lose touch with the reality of politics and their genuine political assessments. Furthermore, Carlson’s research suggests that, with these factors in mind, individuals find that “disengagement from public exchange of opinion is preferable” (Carlson). As Americans continue to succumb to social conformity in the political world, they will find themselves falling asleep on a moving hay wagon instead of riding wild stallions as gusts of freedom weave through the locks of their hair.
Daniel Mallinson and Peter Hatemi, both researchers from Pennsylvania State University, have conducted studies exploring political conformity, coming to similar conclusions of Taylor Carlson. In their article “The effect of information and social conformity on opinion change,” Mallinson and Hatemi found that “citizens more often than not wish to disengage from discussion when they face opposition to their opinions”(Mallinson and Hatemi). This analysis calls for a “stealth democracy,” one that keeps democratic procedures private. However, being that America is a deliberative democracy, this type of reasoning would not guarantee optimal political outcomes, ones that are genuine. With suboptimal political outcomes due to the underlying threat of social inclusion, and the fear of having political perceptions that contrast the ideas of others, distorted political ideologies become the basis for electoral behavior. How can a nation such as America, built on the concept of genuine democracy, continue to effectively represent the people if political conformity affects political perspectives, voter behavior, and social awareness? The answer to this question is that it can’t. In order for democracy to be saved, the American people need to realize that the cause that they are trying to fix is in the power of their own hands. This comes with the responsibility of developing authentic political perceptions, having the courage to accept that people are going to have different opinions than you, and being open to having political discussions. In today’s society, political discussions have developed such a negative connotation, due to the fear of political disagreement, that they have become discouraged in society as a whole. These discussions are essential in a democracy like the United States. Furthermore, Americans need to realize that the problems they face are trying to be solved by both parties, Republicans and Democrats. The only difference in solving these problems is the course of action that the different parties take. Thus, political division based on party affiliation is unreasonable and is due to the pugnacious nature of modern politics. Mallinson and Hatemi acknowledge this factor, and the inherently social nature of politics, positing that “changes in the perceived contentiousness of politics have heightened the salience of the social dimension of political behavior”(Mallinson and Hatemi). These changes have ruined the premise of politics in the United States and divide the country more and more every day. Rather than focusing on the social dimension of politics, that of which social conformity plays a factor in, Americans should focus on policy, and what they deem is best suited for America to go in the right direction.
In its entirety, social conformity is a prevailing, damaging agent to modern society and has caused great confusion in both human interaction and politics. As demonstrated through the work of psychologists and through scientific research, conformity is a factor in decision making and has distorted human behavior and reason in a negative way, especially in democracy and in the age of technology. The solution to this problem must be adopted by the wide array of people who find themselves in the social matrix in order to pursue the efforts of bringing originality, individuality, uniqueness, and ultimately freedom back to humanity. When establishing the democracy of the United States, the founding fathers placed the power of the government at the will of the people. In doing so, they gave the American people the responsibility to be politically aware and the ability to enact change in the free lives that are meant to be lived on American soil. With the future of a great nation in mind, Americans must reflect on these principles to bring forth a better future for the many generations to come, escaping the social matrix and liberating the mind of social conformity.
Works Cited
Carlson, Taylor N. “Political Chameleons: An exploration of Conformity in Political Discussions.” New York: Springer Science+Business Media, 2016. Web.
Coleman, Stephen. “Social Conformity — The Collective Dimension.” Popular Delusions: How Social Conformity Molds Society and Politics. Youngstown: Cambria Press. 2007. Web.
Figlio, Karl and Richards, Barry. “The Containing Matrix of the Social.” Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press. 2003. Web.
Hatemi, Peter K. and Mallinson, Daniel J. “The effects of information and social conformity on opinion change” Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 2018. Web.
Stallen, Mirre and Sanfey, Alan G. “The neuroscience of social conformity: implications for fundamental and applied research.” Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 2015. Web.
“The Psychology of Conformity.” Academy of Ideas, 2017. Web.