Conformity And Social Norms

Conformity is a form of social influence that involves you to change your beliefs to fit in with a group. This change is due to the physical presence of the group members, or imagined group pressure that involves the pressures of social norms. In the public services compliance with common practices is following a particular course of action which is the social norm. It can be seen when the police are dealing with suspects as the suspect is innocent until proven guilty and the law should not be taken upon in one person’s hands.
Social Norms can be as common as being polite by saying sorry in certain situations. But the norms of the public services can be seen as members taking account of the social norms or implementing them upon themselves.
A high self-esteem you consider yourself to have a sense of worth and have self-respect. However, by having a low self-esteem you tend to feel insecure which can relate to the individuals upbringing and background. This has got great importance in the public services as if you have low self-esteem as a public service member you will not have that sense of self-respect when wearing the uniform, therefore not looking the part when in the eyes of the general public and on inspections. It’s not only that but some parts of the uniform like a fire fighter’s uniform is personal protective equipment, PPE. It has to be worn when out on the job to help prevent the risk of burns and other injuries. Wearing a uniform makes you recognisable by the public so they know if you are an individual that holds a position of authority, it also a symbol a unity, it shows that you are a police officer if you wear all the equipment and clothing. But you wear it with pride such as a green beret in the Royal Marines; it proves that they have successfully completed their training and that they are the elite of the elite as a Royal
Obedience is needed in the public services to carry out orders that are given. If there are no obedient members in the public services it could lead to the loss of life as orders will not be followed and orders are given for that reason. Obedience can be unconscious or conscious. New recruits that join any uniformed public service may find that taking orders is a bit strange and that they are not used to it. However, after they have passed a certain stage they will start to obey the orders and won’t have to think about what they are doing as much, it will become second nature, this is called unconscious obedience. This form of obedience is vital in emergency situations when an instant response is