Question: Do you think conformity is the main reason for the treatment of others and their relationships differing?

Rose Turner answered on 17 Jun 2017:

Hi! There is certainly evidence that wanting to conform to group norms, or wanting to obey authority, can impact how we behave towards others (e.g. Zimbardo, Milgram; see also Asch, 1951). However, there are lots of factors involved in how we relate to and treat others – and these factors can be biological and social (and these interact, too). You might be interested in looking at how people ‘perform’ the norms of the groups that they are a part of (this can be like performing a certain job role, or performing the norms associated with your gender) – if you look up ‘performativity’ you should find some interesting reading.
In terms of relationships, there are so many factors that come into play. For example, our personality traits can affect how we relate to others, and these are thought to have both genetic and social influences. Childhood attachment experiences can also influence relationships in young people and adults, and skills like empathising with others and understanding how they think and feel. So it’s a very complicated topic, but that means there are lots of interesting areas to explore! 🙂