Consensus and Conformity Essays - 991 Words

The United States had appeared to be dominated by consensus and conformity in the 1950s. As the commotions of the first half of the century ended, people were relieved but faced oncoming internal issues. The Great Depression and the two Great Wars caused people to seek tranquility and harmony. The fifties were the decade of change led by president Eisenhower. During this time the nation was in an up rise in many ways. The economy was booming as the Gross National Product more than doubled from the past decade. Thus there was a rise in consumer spending which had a domino effect on the economy. Though it was unexpected, many issues arrived such as the fear of communism and the suspicion of communists hiding in the government. At this period†¦show more content†¦For instance, nuclear families with the father having a well paid job and the mother and children relax in the house. These sitcoms were factors in turning the dream into a reality. Families living in a rent house were now able to afford to move to the suburbs. New York’s Levittown which consisted of identical houses exemplified the new home of a middle class family. At this time, Levittown and other similar areas were still segregated. Additionally, people made a change in the music they listened to. Elvis Presley the pioneer of rock and roll changed entertainment forever. Elvis’s fleshy face, erotic physique and sexually suggestive gyrations attracted the baby boomer of the decade. Because of these features and his unique dance moves, he faces controversy in the face of the media and some common American people. Parents did not want their children to adapt to the â€Å"King’s† ways. The new attitude followed on youths disobeying order. The same situation would follow on to the next decade and eventually on to the future. The fifties was a period of the emergence of civil rights groups. As with any issue of this time, their main goal was put an end to segregation. Many reasons caused this vision to launch. African Americans argued why the U.S. was fighting overseas but ignored its central issues at home. Higher education and the rise of the black middle class added to the start of the civil rights movement. The laws during this timeShow MoreRelatedThe 1950s : A Decade Of Prosperity, Conformity, And Consensus1470 Words   |  6 Pagesdecade of prosperity, conformity, and consensus, and the 1960’s as a decade of turbulence, protest, and disillusionment. Do you agree or disagree with this view? Show evidence to support your argument. With the overwhelming amount of Levittown houses, the obsession to obtain the perfect American â€Å"ideal family† as seen on TV and the unspoken agreement to fear any and all foreign ideas and values, the 1950s were revealed to be a decade of prosperity, conformity and consensus. Just ten years laterRead MoreAuthentic Dissent And The Devil s Advocate1640 Words   |  7 Pageswith a devil’s advocate (Nemeth et al., 2001). CONSENSUS DECISION MAKING Consensus decision making method is a process that most managers use. It is proven to work and managers tend to feel comfort in using this method. To get a better understanding of this method think of the meaning of consensus. According to the business dictionary Consensus is defined as â€Å"Middle ground in decision making, between total assent and total disagreement. Consensus depends on participants having shared values andRead MoreThe Social Bond Theory854 Words   |  4 PagesTheory there are four basic elements that make up social bonds. They are attachment, involvement, commitment, and belief. It is these four bonds that all humans hold and ultimately determine conformity or deviant behavior(Agnew, 1985). The four bonds are imperative in determining a person’s conformity or deviance to society. When bonds are weak, Hirschi saw that a person becomes â€Å"free† to engage in delinquency (Williams McShane, 2010). The first bond, which is attachment, deals with the relationshipRead MoreOpinions and Social Pressure Essay939 Words   |  4 PagesAsch â€Å"Opinions and Social Pressure† Salomon E. Asch in his essay â€Å"Opinions and Social Pressure† conducted an experiment to determine effects of group pressure towards an individual and concluded that there is a very strong tendency to conformity even when doing so conflicting with their own senses of morality. In the experiment a group of young students have to compare length of lines on two different sheets of paper. On one of them there is a sample single line and on the other one thereRead MoreIs Conformity to Group Norms a Good or Bad Thing? Essay1108 Words   |  5 Pages3310 – Individual Assignment Topic 8 – Question 1 Is conformity to group norms a good or bad thing? Conformity is a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behavior in order to fit in with a group. Conformity is inherent in our everyday lives and can occur when we are with others or when we are alone. For example, many of us follow social standards for eating when we are with a group and when we are alone. Conformity occurs when individuals yield to group pressures or expectationsRead MoreThe Benefits Of Nonconformity1168 Words   |  5 PagesFor some, conformity is an unthinkable evil in American society. All individuals living within a community conform in some way to social norms, yet to label someone a conformist is akin to labeling them ignorant and unoriginal. However, conformity - and its associated impacts - are as integral to the functioning of society as the principles of nonconformity. Conformity is often positively utilised to induce positive social change nationally and internationally. It prompts dissemination of workloadRead MoreThe Justification Of Nazi Officer s Actions During World War II1243 Words   |  5 Pagesperformance in sports events, clothing, or otherwise, we feel the need to compare ourselves to and identify with the societal â€Å"norms† around us. It is better to thrive as a sheep than to starve as a wolf, as the saying goes. This is what is known as conformity and it has been with us from time immemorial. In 1963, Stanley Milgram, a psychologist at Yale University investigated the conflict of consciousness and morality, their clash with the desire to follow directions. Milgram wanted to explore the justificationsRead MoreGroup Minds1068 Words   |  5 Pagesto reach group consensus, now that’s negative peer pressure! Peer pressure will always be a problem and can affect anyone. I say that because no matter where you’re from or who you are, peer pressure is lurking about. Anytime you’re pressured to do something and your conscience is telling you not to do it, and you follow through with the task anyway, that is dismissing your opinion just to please other group members. Not wanting to be ostracized by others is the basis of conformity. Peer pressureRead More Women Conform More than Men Essay994 Words   |  4 PagesWomen Conform More than Men Studies over the years have shown a higher rate of conformity among women than men. Psychologists have attributed this difference to many areas, such as personality traits, differing views of conformity, social status, and situational forces. The following research and studies illustrate the findings which confirm this hypothesis. Personality Traits of Men vs. Women According to Eagley, Wood, and Fishbaugh (1981), women are more concerned than men aboutRead MoreThe Film 12 Angry Men903 Words   |  4 PagesThe film 12 Angry Men, explores the issues of conformity, prejudice, and collaborative problem solving among twelve very distinctive men, each with different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. These disparities add to the intensity of jury deliberations surrounding an eighteen-year old Hispanic male, accused of killing his father. The story demonstrates how sociological biases impact the way with which people perceive information. When facts become secondary to perception, challenges arise. The film