Collective Illusions and Conformity

Why are humans afraid to deviate from their groups?

• It is a natural instinct to prefer being with the group

• It is dangerous to be ostracized from the group

• Humans are hardwired to conform to group consensus

• Loud voices and repetition indicate majority agreement

What is the consequence of deviating from the group?

• An error signal is triggered in the brain

• Punishment from the group

• Feeling of being fundamentally wrong

• Short circuiting of the brain

How was conformity bias used for benevolent ends in Bogotá?

• Public shaming through mimes reduced traffic accidents

• Out-of-work mimes were hired as traffic police

• Corrupt cops were replaced by mimes

• Jaywalking was made illegal

What can happen when the group consensus is not challenged?

• The group may continue to believe in a collective illusion

• The group will always arrive at the correct conclusion

• The majority opinion becomes a fact

• The group becomes more divided

What is an example of a historical group error?

• Continuation of segregation despite majority disapproval

• Successful challenge to group beliefs

• Belief in a collective illusion

• Massive social cost of conformity

What is the current threat to free expression and disagreement?

• A vocal fringe that manipulates conformity bias

• Lack of common ground for respectful disagreement

• Belief in collective illusions

• Inability to challenge group consensus

What is the cost of giving up private values for conformity?

• Believing in something one disagrees with

• Being punished by the group

• Losing the ability to express oneself

• Becoming a vocal fringe member

What is needed to protect differences of opinion?

• Creating a space for respectful disagreement

• Eliminating vocal fringe opinions

• Forcing conformity to majority beliefs

• Suppressing free expression

How can common ground be found despite differences?

• By recognizing shared values

• By conforming to majority beliefs

• By avoiding disagreement

• By ignoring differences

What is the purpose of Stand Together?

• To tackle our biggest challenges

• To promote conformity and collective illusions

• To create a vocal fringe

• To suppress free expression