- Joined
- Oct 9, 2012
- Messages
- 6,607
Interesting little study (one of the study authors was Robert Cialdini, for all you Cialdini fans) I just came across in the research for my new book:
So:
Now you know why girls who seem to like you say and do a bunch of dumb socially conformist things and you have to lead them out of that (e.g., with secret society stuff).
Now you know too why guys who feel intimidated (such as men unfamiliar with nightlife who suddenly get thrown into a big loud club with scary bouncers and other aggressive and muscular club patrons) under-perform: too busy conforming due to feeling threatened to non-conform and exhibit unique/attractive qualities to women.
Chase
A self-protective goal increased conformity for both men and women. In contrast, the effects of a romantic goal depended on sex, causing women to conform more to others' preferences while engendering nonconformity in men. Men motivated to attract a mate were particularly likely to nonconform when (a) nonconformity made them unique (but not merely a member of a small minority) and when (b) the topic was subjective versus objective, meaning that nonconformists could not be revealed to be incorrect.
So:
- When people feel threatened (men and women), they conform.
- When women want to attract a man, they conform.
- When men want to attract a woman, they non-conform.
Now you know why girls who seem to like you say and do a bunch of dumb socially conformist things and you have to lead them out of that (e.g., with secret society stuff).
Now you know too why guys who feel intimidated (such as men unfamiliar with nightlife who suddenly get thrown into a big loud club with scary bouncers and other aggressive and muscular club patrons) under-perform: too busy conforming due to feeling threatened to non-conform and exhibit unique/attractive qualities to women.
Chase

