Definitionv1
Conformity: the social-perceptual system that evolved to
Conformity: the social-perceptual system that evolved to treat isolation from the group as a survival threat, manifesting as the tendency to defer to authority and group consensus even when individual judgment suggests otherwise, with costs including social friction and loss of information
Why This Is a Definition
This definition establishes conformity by naming it, categorizing it as a social-perceptual system, and specifying its evolutionary basis and operational characteristics. It clearly distinguishes it from independent thinking and explains its mechanism and costs, providing precise boundaries for the concept.