Beyond Feelings

112 PART TWO The Pitfalls
b. Some parents who believe their college-age sons or daughters have been
brainwashed by religious cults kidnap their children and have them
deprogrammed. Should they be allowed to do this?
c. Some parents keep their children out of school in the belief that they can
educate them better at home. Should this be permitted?
d. Many motorcyclists object to the laws of some states that require them
and their passengers to wear helmets. They believe they should be free to
decide for themselves whether to wear helmets. Do you agree?
3. Examine each of the following statements and decide whether it contains
an error. If you find an error, identify it and explain it in such a way that someone
who did not read this chapter would understand.
a. The only alternative to affirmative action is acceptance of discrimination
against minorities.
b. We have to choose between creationism and evolution. No middle
ground is possible.
4. List several examples of desirable conformity and several of undesirable
conformity. Explain why each is desirable or undesirable.
5. Advertising is frequently designed to appeal to the tendency to conform.
Describe at least three print ads or commercials that are so designed, and explain
the ways they appeal to conformity so that someone who did not read this chapter
would understand.
6. In each of the following situations, the person is conforming. Study each situation
and determine what effects the conformity will have on that person and on
other people. On the basis of those effects, decide whether the conformity is desirable.
If your decision depends on the degree of the conformity or the circumstances
in which it occurred, explain in what situations you would approve and why.
a. Bert is thirteen. His friends are insensitive to other people and even look for
opportunities to ridicule them. If a classmate is overweight or homely or
unusually shy or not too intelligent, they will taunt the person about it. If the
person shows signs of being bothered by the cruelty, they will see this as a
sign of weakness and increase the abuse. Bert knows this behavior is wrong
and derives no pleasure from it, but he goes along with it and even indulges
in it from time to time so as not to appear weak to his friends. He realizes
that, in their eyes, if he is not with them completely, then he is against them.
b. Rose works in a dress factory. Shortly after she began work, she realized
that the other workers’ output was unrealistically low and that she could
complete twice as much work as the others without straining. Then, in subtle
ways, her co-workers let her know that if she worked at a reasonable
pace, the employer would become aware of their deception and demand
increased production from them. Knowing she would at the very least be
ostracized if she did not conform to their work pace, she decided to do so.
c. Alex is a freshman representative in the state legislature. When an important
issue is being debated, he is approached by a powerful lobbyist who
informs him that his political career will stand a better chance of surviving
if Alex votes a certain way. The lobbyist mentions the names of half
a dozen other representatives and suggests that Alex ask them about the
wisdom of voting that way. He contacts them and they say, in effect,
“We’re supporting the position of that lobbying group; if you value your
career, you’ll do the same.” He takes their advice and conforms.