Posted on July 24, 2009

Researcher Condemns Conformity Among His Peers

Nicholas Wade, New York Times, July 23, 2009

{snip}

The strength of this urge to conform can silence even those who have good reason to think the majority is wrong. {snip} Then you’ll bear the less comfortable label of “maverick,” which is only a few stops short of “scapegoat” or “pariah.”

{snip}

{snip} Though they sprout up in every country, they [academic monocultures] may be a particular problem in Confucian-influenced cultures that prize conformity and respect for elders. {snip}

{snip}

{snip} “We still have whole domains we can’t talk about,” Dr. Bouchard said, referring to the psychology of differences between races and sexes.