Negotiation Between Personal Truth And Social Conformity
In negotiations, individuals must balance their desires and values against external demands to find compromise and common ground. This process can be difficult when it comes to personal truth and social conformity. When people try to reconcile their inner beliefs with societal norms, they may feel conflicted and confused. This article explores how psychological processes influence this negotiation process.
Individuals may engage in cognitive dissonance, which occurs when there is a disparity between what someone believes and what they do.
If someone holds a liberal political ideology but votes for a conservative candidate, they experience cognitive dissonance. To reduce this discomfort, they might rationalize their behavior, convince themselves that they made the right choice, or even deny their own beliefs entirely. These strategies are often temporary fixes that fail to address deeper underlying issues.
Individuals may resort to self-handicapping, where they intentionally hinder their success or performance to justify failure.
An athlete may purposely lose a match to avoid public scrutiny. By creating a negative outcome, they can deflect blame onto external factors rather than confronting internal ones. This tactic allows them to maintain their identity while still meeting society's expectations.
Individuals may rely on distancing language to protect themselves from criticism or rejection. They may use euphemisms, code words, or vague references to mask their true feelings or intentions.
Someone who supports LGBTQ rights may say "I support equal rights" instead of directly stating their position. This approach helps individuals stay safe but also limits honest communication and openness.
Individuals may engage in impression management by presenting a specific image or persona to others. They may choose to conform to social norms or project an idealized version of themselves.
Someone may pretend to be straight to fit into a heteronormative workplace culture.
This strategy can lead to feelings of inauthenticity and shame if it conflicts with personal truth.
Psychological processes influence the negotiation between personal truth and social conformity. Individuals must balance competing demands while navigating complex emotional dynamics. By understanding these processes, we can better support people in finding fulfillment and authenticity in their lives.
What psychological processes occur during the internal negotiation between personal truth and social conformity?
In the process of negotiating between one's personal truth and social conformity, several psychological processes may take place. Firstly, individuals may experience cognitive dissonance - a mental state of uncomfortable tension that arises when there is an inconsistency between their beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors, and those of others (Festinger 1957).