Peer Pressure?

• ·         Do high expectations of behavior create certain behavior?
• ·         Is it ethical to conform to the majority opinion regardless of personal view?
• ·         Do imperialistic regimes reach a “no turning back” point in which they cannot show weakness in fear of severe consequences?

The power of peer pressure can be amazing and appalling. It can lead a person to behave in a way that would normally be unthinkable, but pressure and an audience or group of people, as well as their behavior and expectations, can lead to action that is totally out of character. The balance of power can be set up so that, regardless of unethical mistakes made by a regime, certain patterns must be adhered to in order to avoid chaos. Do imperialistic regimes reach a “no turning back” point in which they cannot show weakness in fear of severe consequences? Orwell experienced this when faced with the ethical dilemma of shooting an elephant that, at least for the time being, seemed to have overcome its rampage. In already placing himself in a position of ridicule from natives resistant to colonization, as a sub-divisional police officer among a population that harbored little to no respect for him or the country he came from, he comes to the conclusion that he must follow the cues of the masses, anxiously awaiting the death of this animal.   

Had he decided not to shoot the elephant he would have no doubt been the object of societal mockery to an extent that his position of power (a police officer) would not have held any value whatsoever. Until this point Orwell had been able to just do his job and keep his opinions to himself with aspirations of an end to this endeavor, but when expectation called for action his part, he had no choice to obey. His position of authority would have been compromised because they would have seen his weakness and used that as a way to gain the upper hand. A revolution could have possibly ensued because flaws were detected in the ruling regime. If an oppressed group sees an opportunity to reverse roles you better bet your life that they are going to jump at the chance to end an empire.