Freedom and conformity: the complex dynamic between dependence, independence, and conformity

In a setting where a person is given responsibility, their singular option for getting a positive reaction from society is to conform to society's rules. This makes sense because on the whole there's no reason that any person would voluntarily give another person what they want without getting something in return. Examples of this range from relationships to economics. In all of these cases, people expect a consistent (or conformist) pattern of behavior. This dynamic changes once a person is no longer responsible for their own actions. When a person isn't held accountable for their actions, they have no reason to conform to expectations because there are no rewards for that conformity. This is an extremely complex topic and there are many nuances that exist within the accountability/conformity dynamic. Resources that deal with this issue range from biblical, the creation of Adam and Eve, to modern, Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis. In Metamorphosis as well as in Genesis, both stories explore the consequences and rewards of conformity, and come to the same decisive conclusion that conformity on the whole is more rewarding for individuals and society.