Social Influences on Behavior
Social influences on Behavior
Psychology 300
May 26, 2013
Social influences on Behavior
In psychology there have been countless experiments on social behavioral patterns in different sized groups to better assess how individuals will react in a situation with social pressure. These experiments prove a variety of different reactions, from minimal change to extreme changes in social behavior. These results also varied on group size and the subjective information of the study. All of these studies are extremely helpful today when trying to asses tough situations with group behavior but can’t always help prepare for any given outcome. These social behavioral changes happen daily and many of them are unseen by most because they are almost expected or considered harmless. A few examples could be lying, stereotyping or even arousal. These different behaviors are all directly affected by social surroundings and situations.
Perhaps one of the biggest socially affected behaviors is conformity. Countless people fall prey to “peer pressure” on a daily basis just to conform or fit in to the group. An example could be receiving an offer from co-workers to go out for a drink after work. Even though the individual had no intention of going out after work and perhaps even just wanted to relax that night the social group pressure could be just enough to persuade them otherwise and change plans. This new change in plan could now lead to a number of different outcomes for the night and have severe consequences if the individual is not careful. These times of persuasion can often be explained by social judgment theory. This theory explains that in a given situation you have say three choices that can be considered, and if given the right information could be persuaded into the one others want chosen. For the example listed above the three options could be refusal and go home for the night, go out and have a quick drink then head home, or accept the night and go have fun with
Psychology 300
May 26, 2013
Social influences on Behavior
In psychology there have been countless experiments on social behavioral patterns in different sized groups to better assess how individuals will react in a situation with social pressure. These experiments prove a variety of different reactions, from minimal change to extreme changes in social behavior. These results also varied on group size and the subjective information of the study. All of these studies are extremely helpful today when trying to asses tough situations with group behavior but can’t always help prepare for any given outcome. These social behavioral changes happen daily and many of them are unseen by most because they are almost expected or considered harmless. A few examples could be lying, stereotyping or even arousal. These different behaviors are all directly affected by social surroundings and situations.
Perhaps one of the biggest socially affected behaviors is conformity. Countless people fall prey to “peer pressure” on a daily basis just to conform or fit in to the group. An example could be receiving an offer from co-workers to go out for a drink after work. Even though the individual had no intention of going out after work and perhaps even just wanted to relax that night the social group pressure could be just enough to persuade them otherwise and change plans. This new change in plan could now lead to a number of different outcomes for the night and have severe consequences if the individual is not careful. These times of persuasion can often be explained by social judgment theory. This theory explains that in a given situation you have say three choices that can be considered, and if given the right information could be persuaded into the one others want chosen. For the example listed above the three options could be refusal and go home for the night, go out and have a quick drink then head home, or accept the night and go have fun with
References: Hendricks, C., & Olsen, D. (2002, April 18). P324 Spring 1998 --Physical Attraction. P324 Spring 1998 --Physical Attraction. Retrieved May 25, 2013, from http://www.units.muohio.edu/psybersite/attraction/ O 'Keefe, D. J. (1990). Social Judgment Theory. In Persuasion: Theory and research, 29-44. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. McLeod, S. A. (2007). Social Psychology - Simply Psychology.Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/social-psychology.html