Pathways / The Social Mind
The Social Mind
How groups shape what we do, from norms and conformity to the quiet pull of the crowd.
9 steps · roughly 27 minutes to read · Reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA
Social Norms
Groups quietly shape behavior.
Conformity
Going along with the group, sometimes against our own judgment.
Obedience to Authority
The powerful pull to obey a legitimate authority, even when it feels wrong.
Bystander Effect
The more witnesses there are, the less likely any one steps in.
Diffusion of Responsibility
The more people share a duty, the less any one person owns it.
Social Loafing
Effort drops when individual contribution is hidden in a group.
Groupthink
The pull toward consensus that silences doubt and dissent.
Behavioral Contagion
We adopt the actions of the people around us, often without noticing.
Social Comparison
Comparison is inevitable. Its interpretation is optional.