In the Conformity chapter and in the two supplemental readings, documented human behavior both inside and outside the laboratory showed real people acting in ways that are objectively undesirable and even harmful to other people. The examples of Kitty Genovese and the Challenger launch, as well as many experiments involving conforming to an obviously incorrect viewpoint, inflicting harm on others' at the direction of an authority, and failing to help others contribute to this body of evidence.

Can you think of examples in your everyday life that demonstrate some of the negative effects of conformity? Can you think of examples where conformity is beneficial to the individual? To society?