Do people begin to act according to how people in their environment act without being aware of it?

Question

Sometimes peer pressure is blind.

Answer 1

I will be different and answer No. People are always aware of how they act and are acting out behaviour that is required of them by society. When they do something out of the ordinary they know it.

Conformity is akin to obedience by accepting conformity without questionning it you are in effect giving implied consent. Ignorance of the law is no excuse is one example. Choosing to accept anything without questionning that being accepted is awareness.

Answer 2

Its called social conditioning.Its a condition we are taught to accept from infancy. Social conditioning's best examples can be seen in social patterns and social structures including education, entertainment and popular culture, and family life. It becomes automatic behavior to follow along in any given situation. Its conformity on a socail level.
This is a vast generalization, but its more or less what you are asking about...sayings like "don't rock the boat" "monkey see, monkey do" and the proverbial parental "if your friend jumped off a bridge would you?" are all great illustrations of social conditioning. We are told to fit the mold, yet at the same time are expected to lead not follow.
Did you ever see someone gazing up into the sky, wonder what he's doing, and gaze up yourself not knowing in the least what you're supposed to be looking for? Did you ever see someone rushing into a store in the mall and find yourself following because maybe they knew about a good sale?
Peer pressure is just another way of demanding conformity...sometimes its harmful, usually its blind.

Answer 3

Most assuredly. Witness mob action, riot,looting, bar fights and a few minor things like using a southern drawl when in the south and you have never been further south than the Walmart in Joliet Illinois. I don't know that I would call it peer pressure unless that term was used for younger people. Mostly just group or mob mentality. ( Now just think, if we could get everyone to do wonderful nice things in a mob action.....hummm)

Answer 4

it is the act of fitting in. and yes it happens. i was born in the northern united states and when i turned 18 I moved to the southern united states my accent changed to a southern draw and when i realized this i tried hard to change it back but as long as i live in the south where this is the way others around me talk it is impossible for me to adjust it back. I also do things in a more southern manner which i was unaware until i went back north to visit friends and family. So yes you will without knowingly adapt to your environment.

Answer 5

Yes, often, but not always.
People even mirror physical posture of others with whom they are speaking.
I have a strange, irresistible habit of adopting the accent of anyone I converse with for more than 5 minutes or so. I swear this is completely unintentional. It's unconscious and seems nearly uncontrollable for me. It's embarrassing.

Answer 6

Yes. Ever been in a small retail store, and at first there's NO line, only to find that a minute later, there's FIVE people on ONE line?
It's like herding, I swear.
And that's one of many examples.

Answer 7

I would say yes over time without really knowing it. It doesn't have to be that way if you are in a paricular enviroment that you don't care for.

Answer 8

yes. i think subconciously we often find things about other people that we like and adopt them at least temporalily for our own. we do this most as a teenager when we are trying to find ourselves. we try things on for a while and decide if those things are us.

Answer 9

Yes. People will synchronize with their environment.

Answer 10

Sometimes it is indeed so that is why we need to find constant reminders to be and stay positive.