Conformity: are we afraid to stand out? | Mina Whorms | TEDxUCCI

Summary

This script discusses the concept of conformity, its psychological implications, and its impact on individuals, particularly the transgender community. It tells the tragic story of Joshua Ryan Alorn, a 17-year-old who took his life, unable to conform to societal expectations. The speaker also touches on the historical context of conformity during the Cold War and the authoritarian personality. Personal anecdotes and statistics are used to illustrate the pervasive nature of conformity and the importance of embracing one's true self.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker is a 16-year-old studying psychology and discusses the concept of conformity.
• 🌟 Conformity is defined as compliance with rules, standards, or laws, and the desire to fit in with a group norm.
• 🚫 The speaker shares a tragic story of Joshua Ryan alorn, a 17-year-old who died after struggling with gender identity and societal conformity.
• 🏳️‍🌈 Joshua's story highlights the extreme consequences of not being able to conform to societal expectations, especially for transgender individuals.
• 🔢 Shocking statistics from The Guardian reveal that a significant percentage of transgender people under 26 have considered or attempted suicide.
• 🧐 The speaker explores the historical interest in conformity, particularly during the Cold War, and introduces the concept of the authoritarian personality.
• 👥 The authoritarian personality is linked to prejudice against minority groups and can be traced back to harsh upbringings.
• 🤔 The speaker questions what it means to conform and how it affects individuals' willingness to stand up for what they believe in.
• 📚 The speaker shares a personal anecdote about hiding her participation in a dart scholarship program to avoid further stigmatization as a 'geek'.
• 🌍 The speaker advocates for a world where individuals are not afraid to stand out and be true to themselves, emphasizing the importance of personal authenticity.
• 💭 The message concludes with a call to action for everyone to embrace their individuality and to work towards a more accepting society.

Q & A

What is the definition of Conformity as mentioned in the script?

Conformity is defined as compliance with rules, standards, or laws. In psychological terms, it refers to the likelihood of converging to a group norm, or the desire to be like everyone else in the room and not be different.

What was Joshua Ryan alorn's situation as described in the script?

Joshua Ryan alorn was a 17-year-old who believed he was a girl trapped within a boy's body, a common case of someone who is transgender. He wanted to undergo surgery to become more like a woman and take estrogen, but his religious mother refused and sent him to Christian conversion therapy.

What was Joshua's tragic outcome as mentioned in the script?

Joshua took his own life after posting a suicide note on Tumblr expressing that he didn't want to live in a world that didn't accept him as transgender.

What statistic about transgender people under the age of 26 is highlighted in the script?

The script highlights that 46% of transgender people under the age of 26 have attempted suicide, 30% had attempted to kill themselves in the past year, and 59% had at least considered taking their own life.

What is the 'authoritarian personality' as discussed in the script?

The 'authoritarian personality' refers to someone who is likely to be very prejudiced against minority groups due to a harsh disciplinarian upbringing. This concept was developed by psychologist Theodor Adorno in the 1950s during the Cold War.

How does the script relate the concept of Conformity to historical events such as the Holocaust?

The script suggests that during the Holocaust, many Nazis conformed to the authoritarian personality of Hitler and did not stand up against the killing of Jews because they didn't want to be different.

What is an example of conformity given in the script from the speaker's personal experience?

The speaker recalls a time in a fifth-grade math class when they agreed with the teacher's correct answer of 2 plus 2 equals four, despite initially thinking it was five, to avoid looking stupid.

Why did the speaker feel the need to hide her participation in the dart scholarship program?

The speaker felt the need to hide her participation because she was already seen as a geek and a nerd by her classmates, and she didn't want to reinforce that image by showing her academic achievements.

What message does the speaker wish to convey about being true to oneself?

The speaker wishes to convey that being who you truly are is the best person you can ever be. They encourage people to express their true selves without fear of judgment or rejection.

What does the speaker hope for in terms of societal change regarding conformity?

The speaker hopes for a world where people aren't afraid to stand out and be different, and where society as a whole works towards accepting and embracing individuality.