We’re wired for conformity. That’s why we have to practice dissent. | Todd Rose for Big Think

“I believe our society’s gotten to the point where you can’t question. You can’t provoke. You just have to adhere to consensus.“ Subscribe to Big Think on YouTube ► Up Next ► 10% of people are ruining social media. Who are they? Cultural norms are a lubricant that make socializing easier, but if we’re not careful we can overly rely on conformity. We need to catch ourselves from our natural tendency to go along with the group and we need to speak up with innovative ways to change and make progress. In the end, you might even find that the group agreed with you all along. Read the video transcript ► Collective Illusions is a 9-part series brought to you by Stand Together: a community of changemakers tackling our biggest challenges. For more stories, ideas, and advice from changemakers, subscribe to Stand Together ► Watch the entire Collective Illusions playlist ► And visit Stand Together’s website to learn more ► ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Todd Rose: Todd Rose is the co-founder and president of Populace, a think tank committed to ensuring that all people have the opportunity to pursue fulfilling lives in a thriving society. Prior to Populace, he was a faculty member at Harvard University where he founded the Laboratory for the Science of Individuality and directed the Mind, Brain, and Education program. Todd is the best selling author of Collective Illusions, Dark Horse, and The End of Average. He lives in Burlington, Massachusetts. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Read more of our stories on cultural norms: How ‘Violence Against Women Centers’ are reforming Pakistan’s deadly cultural norm ► Why the U.S. and Belgium are culture buddies ► Is this the twilight of American culture? ► ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Big Think | Smarter Faster™ ► Big Think The leading source of expert-driven, educational content. With thousands of videos, featuring experts ranging from Bill Clinton to Bill Nye, Big Think helps you get smarter, faster by exploring the big ideas and core skills that define knowledge in the 21st century. ► Big Think Make your business smarter, faster: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want more Big Think? ► Daily editorial features: ► Get the best of Big Think right to your inbox: ► Facebook: ► Instagram: ► Twitter: