Social influence can override our own moral compass from "summary" of The Social Animal by Elliot Aronson
In the presence of social influence, our moral compass may sometimes lose its way. We like to think of ourselves as individuals who hold strong ethical beliefs and values, but when we find ourselves in a group setting, the dynamics can shift dramatically. The pressure to conform to the group's norms and expectations can be so strong that we may compromise our own moral principles without even realizing it. This phenomenon was demonstrated in an experiment where participants were asked to estimate the length of lines. When alone, they gave accurate answers. However, when placed in a group where everyone else purposely gave incorrect answers, the participants often went along with the group, even if it meant denying the evidence right in front of their eyes. This showed how easily our moral compass can be swayed by the influence of others, leading us to act in ways that we may never have considered on our own. The power of social in...
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