Ideological Conformity in Literature & Literary Theory

Ideological Conformity: Etymology, Meanings and Concept

“Ideological conformity” refers to the adherence or compliance with a particular set of beliefs, values, or principles within a social, political, or cultural context. The term “ideological” pertains to ideas or ideologies, while “conformity” denotes compliance or alignment with established norms or standards. The concept encompasses individuals or groups adopting and internalizing a specific ideology, often resulting in uniformity of thought, behavior, or action within the given ideological framework. This conformity can manifest in various forms, including political alignment, religious adherence, or cultural practices, shaping individuals’ perspectives and influencing societal dynamics.

Meanings and Concept:

• Adherence to Beliefs: It involves individuals or groups adopting and sticking to a particular set of beliefs or ideologies.
• Alignment with Norms: Conforming to established norms or standards within a given ideological framework.
• Uniformity of Thought: Resulting in a consistency of thought patterns or perspectives among individuals or within a group.
• Influence on Behavior: Impacting actions, decisions, and behaviors based on ideological principles.
• Social Dynamics: Shaping societal interactions, institutions, and power structures through shared ideological conformity.

Ideological Conformity: Definition of a Theoretical Term

“Ideological conformity” refers to the tendency for individuals or groups to adopt and adhere to a specific set of beliefs, values, or principles within a particular ideological framework. It involves the alignment of thoughts, behaviors, and actions with the prevailing ideology, often leading to a uniformity of perspective and behavior among adherents. This concept highlights the influence of societal, political, or cultural norms in shaping individual and collective ideologies, thereby contributing to social cohesion or conflict.

Ideological Conformity: Theorists, Works and Arguments

Theorists:

• Emile Durkheim: Durkheim’s works, particularly “The Division of Labor in Society,” emphasize the importance of social solidarity in maintaining social order. He explores how conformity to shared values and norms contributes to cohesion within a society.
• Max Weber: Weber’s concept of “rationalization” delves into the rational principles that increasingly organize modern societies, leading to the standardization of beliefs and behaviors and the rise of bureaucratic structures.
• Theodor Adorno: Adorno, part of the Frankfurt School, examined authoritarianism and conformity in works like “The Authoritarian Personality.” He investigates the psychological factors underlying ideological conformity and the potential for authoritarianism in society.
• Stanley Milgram: Milgram’s obedience experiments shed light on individuals’ willingness to conform to authority, even when it contradicts their personal beliefs or morals. His research underscores the powerful influence of social norms and authority on individual behavior.
• Herbert Marcuse: Marcuse’s critique of consumer society in “One-Dimensional Man” explores how capitalist ideologies shape desires and limit critical thought. He argues that ideological conformity perpetuates social inequalities and stifles genuine freedom and creativity.

Works:

• The Division of Labor in Society by Emile Durkheim
• The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism by Max Weber
• The Authoritarian Personality by Theodor Adorno et al.
• Obedience to Authority by Stanley Milgram
• One-Dimensional Man by Herbert Marcuse

Arguments:

• Durkheim: Emphasizes the role of social solidarity and conformity to shared values in maintaining social order.
• Weber: Explores the rationalization of modern societies and the standardization of beliefs and behaviors.
• Adorno: Investigates the psychological factors underlying ideological conformity and authoritarianism.
• Milgram: Highlights the powerful influence of social norms and authority on individual behavior.
• Marcuse: Critiques how ideological conformity perpetuates social inequalities and limits freedom and creativity in consumer society.

Ideological Conformity: Major Characteristics

Major Characteristics of Ideological Conformity:

1. Adherence to Established Beliefs: Individuals or groups conform to a set of predetermined beliefs, values, or principles within a given ideology.
2. Uniformity of Thought and Behavior: Conformity results in a consistency of thought patterns and behaviors among adherents, promoting cohesion within the group.
3. Influence of Social Norms: Social norms and pressures play a significant role in shaping and enforcing ideological conformity, often through mechanisms such as peer pressure or societal expectations.
4. Resistance to Dissent: Ideological conformity tends to discourage dissent or divergent viewpoints, reinforcing the dominant ideology and marginalizing alternative perspectives.
5. Role of Authority Figures: Authority figures within the ideological framework often play a crucial role in enforcing conformity, exerting influence through leadership, rhetoric, or coercion.

Description and Literary References:

• Adherence to Established Beliefs: In George Orwell’s novel “1984,” the citizens of Oceania conform to the Party’s ideology, embracing concepts such as doublethink and Newspeak to align their beliefs with the regime’s propaganda.
• Uniformity of Thought and Behavior: Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” depicts a society where conformity is achieved through conditioning and social engineering, resulting in a homogenized population that adheres to predetermined roles and behaviors.
• Influence of Social Norms: Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” portrays a dystopian society where conformity is enforced through censorship and the burning of books, illustrating how societal norms can suppress individual expression and diversity of thought.
• Resistance to Dissent: In Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” the totalitarian regime of Gilead imposes strict conformity on its citizens, punishing dissent with severe consequences, thereby illustrating the suppression of dissent within an ideological framework.
• Role of Authority Figures: In William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies,” the character of Jack represents the embodiment of authoritarian leadership, using fear and manipulation to enforce conformity among the boys stranded on the island, highlighting the influence of authority figures in shaping group dynamics and conformity.

These literary references provide insights into the characteristics of ideological conformity, illustrating how it operates within fictional societies and reflecting its implications for individual freedom and social cohesion.

Ideological Conformity: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Ideological Conformity
Marxist Criticism	Ideological conformity is central to Marxist criticism, which examines how literature reflects and perpetuates the dominant ideologies of the ruling class. It explores how texts reinforce or subvert class-based power dynamics and societal norms.
Feminist Criticism	In feminist criticism, ideological conformity is analyzed through the lens of gender norms and patriarchal structures. Texts are scrutinized for their portrayal of gender roles and the ways in which they reinforce or challenge societal expectations regarding gender.
Postcolonial Criticism	Postcolonial criticism examines how literature reflects and critiques colonial and imperial ideologies. It scrutinizes the ways in which texts reinforce or challenge dominant narratives of colonization, resistance, and identity formation within postcolonial contexts.
Psychoanalytic Criticism	Psychoanalytic criticism explores the ways in which literature reflects unconscious desires, fears, and conflicts. Ideological conformity may be analyzed in terms of individuals’ internalization of societal norms and the repression of deviant desires or thoughts.
Structuralist Criticism	Structuralist criticism focuses on the underlying structures and systems that govern language and narrative. Ideological conformity may be analyzed in terms of the cultural codes and conventions that shape meaning within a text, influencing readers’ interpretations and responses.
Reader-Response Criticism	In reader-response criticism, ideological conformity is examined in terms of readers’ interpretations and responses to texts. It considers how readers’ social, cultural, and ideological backgrounds shape their understanding of a text and their acceptance or rejection of its messages.

These literary theories offer different perspectives on how ideological conformity operates within literature, highlighting its significance in shaping narratives, characters, and readers’ interpretations.

Ideological Conformity: Application in Critiques

1. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison:
   • Ideological Conformity: Ellison’s novel explores the pressures of ideological conformity on African Americans, particularly the protagonist’s struggle to navigate societal expectations and racial stereotypes while maintaining his individual identity.
   • Critique: The novel critiques the ways in which African Americans are coerced into conforming to white-dominated societal norms, as seen through the protagonist’s experiences of invisibility and marginalization. Ellison highlights the damaging effects of ideological conformity on personal autonomy and collective liberation.
2. Beloved by Toni Morrison:
   • Ideological Conformity: Morrison’s novel delves into the legacy of slavery and its impact on African American identity, examining how societal norms and historical traumas shape individual and collective consciousness.
   • Critique: Beloved critiques the ideological conformity of post-Civil War America, revealing how societal pressures to conform to white ideals of success and respectability perpetuate cycles of trauma and oppression within African American communities. Morrison emphasizes the importance of confronting and resisting oppressive ideologies to reclaim one’s humanity.
3. The Color Purple by Alice Walker:
   • Ideological Conformity: Walker’s novel explores the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality within African American communities, challenging conventional notions of conformity and respectability.
   • Critique: The Color Purple critiques the ways in which patriarchal and religious ideologies enforce conformity and silence within African American families and communities. Walker emphasizes the importance of individual agency and self-expression in resisting oppressive norms and reclaiming one’s identity.
4. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates:
   • Ideological Conformity: Coates’s memoir examines the pervasive influence of white supremacy and racial ideology on African American lives, highlighting the ways in which systemic oppression shapes personal experiences and societal expectations.
   • Critique: Between the World and Me critiques the ideological conformity inherent in America’s racial hierarchy, exposing the violence and dehumanization perpetuated by dominant ideologies. Coates challenges African Americans to resist assimilation and reclaim their cultural heritage in the face of systemic injustice.

These critiques demonstrate how ideological conformity operates within African American literature, highlighting its implications for identity, agency, and resistance against oppressive ideologies.

Ideological Conformity: Relevant Terms

Term	Definition
Conformity	Adherence to established norms or standards within a group or society.
Groupthink	The tendency for group members to conform to consensus opinions, often stifling dissent.
Assimilation	The process of adopting the cultural norms and practices of a dominant group or society.
Compliance	The act of conforming to a request or directive from an authority figure or group.
Obedience	Submission to authority or compliance with commands, often studied in social psychology.
Normative Social Influence	Conforming to social norms and expectations to gain approval or avoid rejection.
Peer Pressure	Influence exerted by peers to conform to their attitudes, behaviors, or expectations.
Socialization	The process through which individuals learn and internalize societal norms and values.
Homogenization	The process of making things uniform or similar, often applied to cultural or social contexts.
Institutionalization	The establishment of practices or norms within institutions, leading to conformity over time.

These terms capture various aspects of conformity, highlighting its manifestations and effects within social, cultural, and psychological contexts.

Ideological Conformity: Suggested Readings

1. Adorno, Theodor W., et al. The Authoritarian Personality. Norton & Company, 1950.
2. Durkheim, Emile. The Division of Labor in Society. Free Press, 1997.
3. Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. Vintage International, 1995.
4. Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006.
5. Marcuse, Herbert. One-Dimensional Man: Studies in the Ideology of Advanced Industrial Society. Beacon Press, 1991.
6. Milgram, Stanley. Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View. Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2009.
7. Orwell, George. 1984. Signet Classic, 1950.
8. Weber, Max. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Routledge, 2001.