People have a strong, often even subconscious desire to fit in. This explains what you see in every highschool across the country and why people appear to wear and believe stupid things. Its just them trying to fit in by repeating what the crowd says. No originality of thought. Oh wait i just realized I am describing obama supporters too. *Puts hat on*, oh shit the majority now says its cool to take the hat off *takes hat off*.... aaaand repeat as neccessary.
I love the Asch study where there were a 6 confederates in a room and one participant and they had to decide which line was longest. All 6 confederates would say the wrong one and they would see whether the participant would comply or not. http://www.age-of-the-sage.org/psychology/social/asch_conformity.html
Another good one is the Milgram experiment where a participant was told to shock a confederate until they faked their unconsciousness... They just KEEEEEP on shocking.
Of course modification of definition is also at work here. For example: As children we are taught what the color blue is, but none of us are actually seeing the same color, we are simply linking the definition to our own sensory experience.
IMO many "adults", continue to seek a definition based on group think, rather than self defining as they should from experience, and factual research.
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