Essay on Conformity and Political Control - 1353 Words

The political system in the United States of America is ruled by a two party system that is currently fighting for control of the economy and government. In the last century the country has been involved in several conflicts including two world wars and the cold war, which permanently instilled fear and terror in the American psyche. After the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the economy was brought to the edge of failure leaving a bi-partisan political system with the attitude that there is either a democratic or republican solution to the many problems Americans face as a nation. Due to the fact that there is so much at stake, both political parties have resorted to tactics that prey on the fact that human beings usually conform to†¦show more content†¦This is a generalization of the effect, but this geo-political representation can also be shown on a smaller or larger scale. Residents of small towns usually affiliate with the same political party and the majority resi dents of a larger region will usually affiliate with the same party. This is where the idea of the conservative south or liberal north comes from. The fact that people automatically conform to those around them has negative repercussions in more than one political arena. The idea that people conform to political affiliations regionally affects the way the House of Representative re-draws their district lines. This happens so frequently on the state and federal level that that practice has actually been termed gerrymandering. Unfortunately the practice of gerrymandering practically undermines the political process in America emphasizing the importance of which party has the majority in The House of Representatives and taking focus away from their socio-economical principles. The lawmakers of this country utilize the fact that people will automatically conform to others around them to their advantage creating a political system that is not truly democratic. Politicians of both parties also take advantage of the fact that people are likely to conform due to normative influences. Normative influences lead people to conform due to the fear or backlash of others (Kassin, 2011, p.258).Show MoreRelatedFahrenheit 451 Analysis798 Words   |  4 Pagescommentaries he touches upon the topics of censorship and social conformity. All of which are demonstrated through the strategic use of demanded conformities and the dystopian setting. Overall, In Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury comments on the censorship and ideological limitations in today’s society by emphasizing political and social control in his novel. Ray Bradbury criticizes on censorship in the present day society through the political conformities of the dystopian society in F451. The novel takes placeRead MoreEthnic Group Conflict: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict1445 Words   |  6 PagesSocial perception is powerfully mediated by cultural conformity, especially when it concerns religious beliefs. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict demonstrates this concept vividly. Both sides harbor antagonistic social perceptions against each other. Only by changing these perceptions can a reconciliation be reached. The opposing views result in a biased lens, which only serves to uphold the traditionally held generalities each culture has of the other. Even though religion is a primary themeRead MoreThe 1950s : A Decade Of Prosperity, Conformity, And Consensus1470 Words   |  6 Pages1950’s as a decade of prosperity, conformity, and consensus, and the 1960’s as a decade of turbulence, protest, and disillusionment. Do yo u 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 yearsRead More Social Change In Japan Essay1582 Words   |  7 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The Japanese culture has allowed for very little diversity. This started very early in their history. The social controls used to eliminate diversity are the family, the power of gender, the poor treatment of minority groups, the corporate Japanese mentality, and the respect required by people in authority. However, due to globalization and the shrinking of the world, Japanese society is starting to make the change to diversity. The individualistic mentality sharedRead MoreFilm Techniques Used to Emphasize Themes in V for Vendetta971 Words   |  4 Pagesemphasise the idea of everybody having a r ight to individuality, and the right - and duty – to resist forced conformism. James McTeigue uses symbolism in the film V for Vendetta to juxtapose the idea of individuality and the resistance of forced conformity. The first important symbol used in the film is V’s mask. This symbol is shown in all of the scenes V appears in and again in the very last scene. In this scene thousands of citizens gather wearing the masks and remove them. Masks often symbolizeRead MoreCharacteristics Of The American Dream1166 Words   |  5 Pagesof communism still new in everybodys brain, Americans were anxious to come back to their foundations and demonstrate that the American lifestyle was the ideal approach to living. The period momentously merits its reputation as a decade of conformity, political consensus and economic prosperity. However, the hypocritical pattern of racial discrimination continued and millions of minorities were reduced to low paying labor intensive jobs no one else wanted to do. Post war economic prosperity definedRead MoreAn Examination Of The Type Of Culture And Social Influence992 Words   |  4 Pagesexample, Hitler killed millions of Jewish people because they stood in his way of creating a super race. The following paragraphs will take an in-depth review at another dictator, Stalin. In addition, an exploration of the aspects of leadership, conformity, obedience, and social power as it pertains to a dictatorship. Next, an examination of the type of culture in which a dictatorship might exist. Lastly, a brief inspection at how such a relationship between culture and social influence could existRead More The need for social belonging1218 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Five Factor Model, (FFM) of traits and Schwartz’s (1992) theory of basic personal values in searching for defining traits which identify with either the liberal or conservative ideology. There have been obvious connections of personality to political leanings thought of in the past bu t more current research findings have confirmed the suggestions of Freud (1959), Fromm (1947, 1964), Adorno et al. (1950), Tomkins (1963), Wilson (1973), and others in both the professional and lay populations inRead MoreThe Outcome Of The 2016 Election Essay1625 Words   |  7 Pages2016 election came as a surprise to many, pleasant to some and unpleasant to others. However, when looking at the theories and ideas in political psychology, the election of Republican nominee Donald Trump over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is not entirely shocking. Cognitive dissonance theory, schemas and heuristics, and social influence, specifically conformity, can all help to explain why Donald Trump is America’s new president-elect. Cognitive dissonance is defined as â€Å"when people encounterRead MoreEquality In Harrison Bergeron807 Words   |  4 Pagesreally talking about conformity, not equality. In the story, people who are smarter than average, or stronger, or more talented in any way are forced to suffer a handicap. For example, Harrison’s father, George, is forced to listen to a disturbing sound in his brain to prevent him from thinking about what is happening around him. Harrison himself is so talented that he has multiple handicaps forced upon him. This story is really a satire of a society so obsessed with conformity that it eliminates