We can push this even further. Social exchange seems to be operating not only when someone does someone else a favor. It occurs even more simply when people gather together and get to know one another. When this form of exchange is established, then the push to conform and to distort reality (or at least lie) on behalf of the group is great. Ariely identifies this as “altruistic cheating” and notes that “altruistic cheating overpowers the supervisory effect when people are put together in a setting where they have a chance to socialize and be observed.” (Ariely, p. 228) While Asians might have their more explicit and ritualized way of establishing social exchange, this form of exchange seems to take place without formal ceremony or the granting of gifts in Western societies – it is just a matter of this exchange not being explicitly acknowledged and the resulting acceptance of another person’s reality not being made either conscious or negotiable.
Adopt in-group values and goals
A number of writers have considered the contradiction of conservative Christians accepting Trump as their political leader given his self-described philandering personality. Some writers have noted conservative Christian hopes that “are directed toward a single redemptive figure who, it is believed, will lead the people of God, now suffering and oppressed, into a better historical future” (eschatology | religion | Britannica). Trump was highly successful at adopting the values and goals of conservatives and Christians to become their “sinner-savior”.
In this role, Trump could do or say anything, and his followers would believe only him. Trump’s comment “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters” underlies his reading and understanding of his audience. Once Trump established himself as the “sinner-savior” of their values and goals, so he could undermine any challenge made to him and his supporters would support him – even to their own detriment. If Trump belittled and undermined opposing views from leaders and experts, so would his followers.
To gain a better sense of what it means for a rational and thoughtful person to succumb to a bizarre and often self-destructive set of beliefs and actions, we must turn to the psychological dynamics that operate In groups. These dynamics include not only the socialization and enculturation that takes place in groups –primarily though something called social modeling, but also the subtle pressures that lead to conformity and collusion. We will first take a look at social modeling. Ariely (2012, p. 207) points to specific research findings:
. . . [T]hese results show how crucial other people are in defining acceptable boundaries for our own behavior, including cheating. As long as we see other members of our own social groups behaving in ways that are outside the acceptable range, it’s likely that we too will recalibrate our internal moral compass and adopt their behavior as a model for our own. And if the member of our in-group happens to be an authority figure [Bion’s assumption] -a parent, boss, teacher, or someone else we respect-chances are even higher that we’ll be dragged along.
