Q7: Group Cultures (II)

derived from t1: Norm-based Conformity

Essence: When you join a group you notice or enquire or are advised about a variety of informal behaviours relating to the culture: "how we do things around here". You willingly conform because you know how necessary it is to be accepted. In society this process commences from earliest childhood as parents model and enforce cultural expectations as part of socializing their children.

Consequence: You get off to a good start in the group.

Settling Here: This is most unlikely unless it is a very short period of membership.

Transition: While you may know a little, there is much more to learn. However many cultural rules and habits are never spelled out. So learning usually follows a comment or interaction whose inappropriateness is made explicit.

derived from t2: Social Pressure

Essence: Everyone in a group is continually but silently and mostly unconsciously monitoring everyone else for conformity. The moment you violate a norm, someone is likely to step in with gentle social pressure. Perhaps a gesture of disapproval is enough, while in other case a verbal correction and explanation is required. An apology and a prompt response to such pressure ensures there is no long-lasting damage to group participation.

Consequence: You are perceived as sensitive to informal group expectations and willing to adjust yourself.

Settling Here: This is most unlikely unless it is a very short period of membership.

Transition: In many situations, you are likely to wish to apply preferences, views and behaviours based on socialization in a previous group or even another society. This is simply unacceptable so you have to watch yourself carefully in the early days of assimilating.

derived from t3: Personal Restraint

Essence: Even if you believe that the group's expectations are irrational or harmful based on your knowledge or past experience, you must be very careful not to allow that to interfere with conforming. There will be a way to communicate, but you need to start from the position that your views do not have any priority. Insisting on your rights as an individual will be entirely counter-productive. The only way is to monitor yourself and restrain all such tendencies.

Consequence: Your individuality will be somewhat suppressed and channeled in ways that fit the culture.

Settling Here: This is possible, but you could still be exposed in some situations.

Transition: There will be special situations where you simply will not know the required ritual or forms of relating. The only way to manage this is to get implicit guidance from others and do what everyone else is doing.

derived from t4: Deliberate Imitation

Essence: The aim in fitting in is to be like everyone else. That is most easily achieved if you watch others and copy them. In unusual or rare situations, this is the only course of action: someone will say: "just follow me and do whatever I do". This imitation needs to be sincere and not used to mock the culture.

Consequence: You are now recognized as participating in the culture.

Settling Here: Norms have become embedded through a combination of inner determination and outer pressure in the previous Stages. Conformity-μ1 has developed from «learning norms» in Stage-1 to «accepting norms».

Transition: Becoming a recognizable group member via conformity is not enough. You have to be able to show you can handle situations and function effectively within the culture, which requires a fuller response.

derived from t5: Altered Expectations

Essence: You cannot deal with situations simply on the basis of expedience or the rational pursuit of an outcome. Instead, you must view all situations through the lens of the culture. Cultural norms apply before anything else becomes relevant. That means adjusting your expectations of others involved, of what is right for yourself, and often of what counts as a satisfactory outcome.

Consequence: You can successfully manage group-related situations.

Settling Here: This is possible.

Transition: You can now conform while still remaining psychologically somewhat apart from the culture. Not being wholehearted about the group and its culture leaves you vulnerable. Others in the group may not fully trust you.

derived from t6: Communal Mindset

Essence: The group will have a mindset that members use whatever the challenge being faced. You need to appreciate and apply a similar mentality in order to function effectively in many situations. If you can internalize the essential features of the group mindset and use it as a way of thinking things through, then others will be more likely to view you as one of them.

Consequence: Your way of functioning now harmonizes with the culture.

Settling Here: This is possible.

Transition: While you can handle most everything, the group can still from time to time generate arrangements or events that you find unsatisfactory or undesirable. Avoiding or escaping such situations would indicate you have not yet fully identified with the group and its culture.

derived from t7: Unequivocal Surrender

Essence: Whatever the system or situation that confronts you in the group, you must force yourself to surrender to the group's modus operandi. Particularly in a large group, there is an implicit battle between your own individuality and the culture. As it is impossible to fight against a culture and its systems, surrendering in that implicit battle is the final requirement and much easier now that your mentality is altered.

Consequence: You are now fully identified and socialized into the group. This may generate issues if or when you move to another group.

Settling Here: This is the end-point. Compelling yourself to surrender is the final Stage of assimilation. So conformity-μ1 moves from norms that are accepted to norms that are adhered to in a natural and spontaneous way.