A hidden camera experiment was conducted to see if most people conform to the behaviors of others. The researchers monitored a woman sitting in a waiting room to record if she would stand up at the sound of a tone simply because everyone else stood up.
Surprisingly, after just three beats of witnessing others stand up at the sound of the tone, the unknowing text subject conformed perfectly to the group without question. She even stood up when the controlled group was taken away.
This internalized form of behavior is part of social learning which starts at a very early age. Our brains literally reward us for following in the footsteps of others by making us feel better. Because we tend to feel out of place, inferior, or uncomfortable when we don’t conform.
Conformity is how we become socialized, but it can cause us to develop bad habits or repeat past wrongs. The only thing more shocking than seeing how conformity affects how we act is that similar forces are subconsciously shaping the way we think.
John F. Kennedy said, “Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth”. To STAND out, you will have to STEP OUT.
📌 Step out of your comfort zone! Get beyond the fear of doing something new or different.
📌 STEP out of mediocracy! Don’t become complacent with being content.
📌 STEP out of the shadow of others! Trust yourself.
Bottom line – many people are successful because of their abilities to do what others are too uncomfortable or unwilling to try.
In the words of Maya Angelou, “If you’re always trying to be normal you will never know how AMAZING YOU CAN BE.”
Be true to you and bloom!
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