uuh.... Conformism?
Is it bad or good? Maybe it depends on quantity of it (good in small doses, bad in large)?
Is it Fe related (yes?)?
And why was I in horror when friend told me that I am conformist?
I mean, I am, I play by the rulls, but I really have need to make my own answers...
a) it depends on which society you're in and their rules, spoken or not. It also depends on your self-sufficiency in many levels, how amicable and/or sociable you are, and other social worths, amongst other things.
Most reason for social conformity are for safety; people you don't know, you don't trust. Simple as that.
Soo... for example / half theorizing here:
About location; in Japan, which actually has a slogan of "The nail that sticks out gets hammered"; those that are different in lots of ways are 'straightened', their rules are definitely more pushing for conformity compared to, say, United States.
Now if I'm self sufficient and capable on living by yourself, or at worst living well even when being ostracized, the worth of conformity decreases because I know I can still live -- companionship of people who accept me as it is will come, sooner or later. It will of course be easier being introvert that requires/craves less social contact than extroverts.
The same about being amicable and sociable (note that this is different from being 'nice', or being 'kind' even) ; if I still able to show that LOOK I DON'T BITE, I'M NOT THAT DIFFERENT; more chance of people not raising their defenses. Hence you can get away with more nonconfomity.
Now if I've got other social advantages (rich, hot as hell, famous), the chance of it will be seen as a harmless quirk will also increase. and thus, decreasing the worth of conformity.
So again, it depends. I would say it's 30% useful in Western societies, and 50-60% useful in Eastern.
b)Yes. Fe is related, but more in the proactive sense. They reach out to others and somewhat enforces their rules, conscious or not. But not all will conform out of Fe; Te could possibly surmise that conformity is the 'safest' way to achieve their goals and thus a necessary evil. Si would conform because that -works- best. And other thing.
c) Because...conformism to a degree is being portrayed as a bad thing; I noticed has a connotation of being gullible, lacking free will, Hoi polloi, stupid, amongst other things...?