#OrbitofrontalCortex

New meta-analyses suggest social conformity has remained steady for nearly two decades, even as digital networks explode. Combined with modern brain-imaging studies, these findings deepen our understanding of why people align with or resist their peers. The implications are meaningful for Thai society as it navigates rapid social and technological changes.

Social conformity is our tendency to adjust attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors to fit a group. In Thailand, where collectivism and hierarchical respect influence education, workplaces, and family life, understanding conformity helps shape health campaigns, classroom practices, and civic participation. The latest meta-analysis, which covers studies from 2004 to 2022, shows that social influence exists but has not grown dramatically due to the internet era. Researchers note the need for more work to identify factors such as culture, media, and peer pressure that shape conformity in different settings.

In the digital age, where social media’s influence is ever-expanding, many assume that people have become more susceptible to groupthink. However, a recent meta-analysis suggests otherwise, finding that social conformity has remained surprisingly consistent over nearly two decades, despite the explosion of digital networking. These findings, alongside cutting-edge brain imaging studies, are helping scientists unravel how and why individuals choose to align with—or deviate from—their peers, with major implications for Thai society navigating rapid social and technological change (Counterpunch, 2025).