Conformity bias is a psychological phenomenon that occurs in social interactions and group decisions. It describes the tendency of people to adapt their own opinions, attitudes and behaviour to the norms and expectations of a group, even if this contradicts their own beliefs.

This effect often occurs in social situations where the pressure to conform to the majority is particularly strong. People have an innate need to belong and be accepted, and the conformity bias can lead them to sacrifice their individual points of view in order to remain integrated into the group or avoid conflict.

A classic experiment that illustrates this phenomenon is the Asch conformity experiment. In this experiment, the psychologist Solomon Asch showed that participants often gave incorrect answers to simple questions simply because the other group members had given incorrect answers. This illustrates how powerful social pressure can be to influence one's own opinion.

There are many reasons for the conformity bias. On the one hand, it can be a mechanism for avoiding conflict in order to maintain harmony in social groups. On the other hand, it may be due to the fact that people are often insecure and look to others for information and orientation.

However, it is important to emphasise that the conformity bias is not always negative. In many cases, conforming to the norms and expectations of society or a group is necessary to enable social co-operation and coexistence. However, it can become problematic when it leads to people supporting unethical behaviour or abandoning important principles.

In psychology and social science, research into conformity bias is of great importance as it offers insights into human behaviour and social dynamics. It can also help to develop strategies to promote individuality and critical thinking in order to reduce blind conformity behaviour.

In today's society, which is characterised by social media and peer pressure, understanding the conformity bias is more relevant than ever. It reminds us to find the balance between social conformity and maintaining our personal integrity.