Must Modern Society Have a Public Conscious and a Private Conscious?
Modern times have advanced almost completely in several different ways including societal. Society is defined as the aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community. In most societies of the 21st century there are certain things and behaviors that are considered as norms that most follow to avoid social persecution. Consciousness becomes a huge factor in these behaviors and fixates them onto certain levels of consciousness. Consciousness, in the 21st century, almost defines life. Consciousness is defined as the state of being conscious. Being conscious means to be aware of one’s existence, sensations, thoughts and especially surroundings. Consciousness
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“If a person perceives a difference between a standard and a current behavior, his or her self-focus should enhance the motivation to reduce that difference. Thus, when possible, a self-aware person conforms to internalized standards of correct behavior, which may or may not coincide with the common social standard of conduct” (Goukens, Dewitte, Warlop 1). The text exposes that in public environments humans are likely to conform to what they are experiencing around them. Thus, temporarily metamorphosizing the personal aspects of each individual while they stay in public vicinities. Usually, conformity is looked down upon as not expressing oneself to one’s full potential. However, nonconformity can result in being looked down upon as well. That is why societally, both public and private consciousnesses are thought to be needed for a balance in …show more content…
With private consciousness conformity is not meant to follow one home. “Social stimuli and social others are not thought to induce or activate private self-conscious thoughts. Rather, turning away from the social stimuli, and focusing inward, vis-a-vis diary writing, introspection, mediation or daydreaming, is posited to characterize the experience of private self-consciousness” (Wojslawowicz 8). Wojslawowicz is stating that private self-consciousness usually takes place alone and reflects on the self in several ways. Private self-consciousness is needed so one can express themselves in every way possible. These ways consist of likes, dislikes, values, beliefs and morals. When one is in private, the aspects of the individual come out from the recesses of their mind and become dominant now that the host is not in a public
Many people have trouble being apart of a society. These troubles come from trying to fit in, which is also known as conforming. Another trouble is trying to express one’s own style with one’s own opinion. This is a trouble due to the fact that many people have the fear of being frowned upon when being the black sheep of the group if one’s opinion does not correspond with other opinions. This is where one’s own sense of who they are, individuality, and trying to fit in, conformity, can get confused. A nickname for conformity is “herd behavior” which is the name of an article where the author relates animals that herd with people that conform. Many people have a different philosophy of this topic which will be expressed in this essay. An important
Societal norms are ultimately the sociological expectations for our society. So, when people see somebody standing in the middle of a crowded public place doing nothing, they are going to take notice. I realized that while standing in the middle of the mall where many people
Furthermore, sometimes the desire to be accepted is stronger than prevailing conventions. This makes an individual to do things to make him feel accepted in the society. Krakauer compares the people in Alaska and McCandless. He writes, “And I’m sure there are plenty of other Alaskans who had a lot in common with McCandless when they first got here, too, including many of his critics. Which maybe why they’re so hard on him. Maybe McCandless reminds them a little too much of their former selves” (Krakauer 221). In today’s society, an individual confirms itself to what a society wants and expect him or her to be.
"People Fear Becoming Authentic and Independent Thinking Individuals-It Is Easier to Conform!" HubPages. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2013.
In outward conformity and in inward questioning, there is the power, the ability, and the motive to see and accept change. This change can be brought out by the tension that takes place between the two, and that change is the identity of a person; it is the difference between myself and the crowd. This realization can transform the world in a different sense: the sense of character.
Others consider Consciousness a simply state of being, of existence, triggered by some mechanical patterns which developed through Evolution, while some people think Consciousness is the subjective experience of one individual, a more philosophic approach where one is aware of himself, his existence, his identity, his moralities and the role he has in this world.
Consciousness is a very common and much used word used to describe the condition of being awake and aware. In other words, being conscious means responding to the environment, in contrast to being asleep or in coma. But in philosophical terms, consciousness is defined as the state in which humans are able to clearly distinguish between themselves and all other
The most basic concept in social psychology is conformity. Conformity is the idea that behaviour or a belief is changed in order to follow, or conform, to what is considered the “norm.” One of the oldest experiments to support this notion was conducted in 1935 by Muzafer Sherif (Song, Ma, Wu, Li, 2012 p. 1366). There are two different types of
Mark Twain once said, “A round man cannot be expected to fit in a square hole right away. He must have time to modify his shape.” This quote revolves around the idea of conformity. Conformity or collectivism is the tendency to align attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors with those around you. It's a powerful force that can take the form of overt social pressure or subtler unconscious influence. As much as people think of themselves as individuals, the fact is that we're driven to fit in, and that usually means going with the flow. The problem with conformity or collectivism is the loss of individuality.
Conformity is defined as behavior in accordance with socially accepted conventions or standards. This is not a good or bad thing, this just is. It exists as a compliment to earlier humans congregating into larger groups, using agriculture and domestication to create sustenance. Also, conformity is essential for life. We need people to share the same ideas, ideologies and a way of thinking in order to work efficiently and effectively. There many examples that exist like, at work or in your house and even within yourself. Sigmund Freud has explained the phenomena of group psychology in a piece titled, Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego. Using Freud’s theory of conformity I will explain the self, what we call “me”,and its different constituents using The Principles of Psychology by
Conformity involves the changing of one’s attitudes, opinions, or behaviours to match those of the ‘norms’. The “norms”, established by society, are what we should or ought to be thinking, feeling, or doing if we wish to be accepted into a group. This desire to be accepted and belong to a group is an undeniable human need.
“Consciousness is defined as everything of which we are aware at any given time - our thoughts, feelings, sensations, and perceptions of the external environment. Physiological researchers have returned to the study of consciousness, in examining physiological rhythms, sleep, and altered states of consciousness (changes in awareness produced by sleep, meditation, hypnosis, and drugs)” (Wood, 2011, 169). There are five levels of consciousness; Conscious (sensing, perceiving, and choosing), Preconscious (memories that we can access), Unconscious ( memories that we can not access), Non-conscious ( bodily functions without sensation), and Subconscious ( “inner child,” self image formed in early childhood).
Individuality and conformity both play a major role in society. No matter what it may be individuals will need to choose appropriately between conforming and acting individualistically about their situation. Individuality allows individuals to freely express themselves while conformity offers safety under the protection of other conformers. Both of these aspects are beneficial to many individuals and is a key to maintaining societal order; however, it is disastrous to have too much of either side of the spectrum. Therefore, there should be a balance between individuality and conformity because having too much of either side morally and physically harms components of society, such that it pressures and forces individuals to do tasks against their will, and causes individuals to think selfishly and worry solely about themselves.
Unfortunately, this struggle for conformity often extends beyond a personal level. It is not uncommon for society to chastise a person for being different, in one particular way or another. This chastising could range from polite disapproval, to snide comments, to harmful, oppressive tactics such as bullying and harassment. This causes more people to conform to society for the fear of being labeled a