Social Influence on Behavior - Essay Example

? Social influence on behavior Social influence on behavior “We cannot live for ourselves alone, for our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads” (Herman Merville) The behavior of an individual alters owing to different social circumstances that he or she may come across, and these experiences can start as soon as that person is born. People become skilled at familiarizing themselves to society by altering their conduct so as to cope with the rest of the world. Individuals act in a different way in the company of different people. When we are children we are trained that there expected behaviors depending on the social circumstances we face. We are required to make no noise in a library or the cinema, we dress up properly when we attend school, however it is fine to run and yell when in a sports ground. Based on the place or the person with whom you are determines the suitable and expected behavior. Social influence, on the other hand, is the procedure in which people bring about genuine transformations to their emotions and behavior because of the communication or interaction with different people who are professed to be alike, desirable, or skilled. Individuals alter their attitudes regarding the view points of others to whom they believe to be alike and therefore feel satisfied and wanted. Two examples of such altered behaviors modified by social influence can be use of drugs and aggression. Both these examples can be perceived as tolerable or intolerable based on the social condition. Aggression or violent behavior is an antagonistic or harsh manner or a compelling deed or process. Social learning is basically the gaining of behaviors by observing others, and this also applies to learning violent or aggressive behaviors. Studies have proved that young kids copy such behavior, and statistics are present that imply that exposure to violence on media intensify an individual’s propensity to be violent or forceful. Domestic violence is when an individual is beaten by a next of kin and this is a severe modern social dilemma. “Studies indicate that male abusers often come from families in which the mother was abused or have frequently observed other violence.” (Riane Isler) When we think of aggressive activities which take place in a social condition or surroundings, the first picture that occurs in mind is the atmosphere of a sports event. Images of the riots at football or rugby sports competition along with the campaigns and rioting on the roads are such examples of aggression. Majority of such individuals are those that usually would not think about such aggressive or damaging behaviors but unfortunately they are bogged down by the group of people with an aggressive state of mind. It can begin from chanting, singing, and shouting taunts and such indecency rise to hurling products like food or bottles at different people. This behavior may intensify when these people rush to the ground or try to break down the gateway to enter which can result in grievance or death from being trampled. When thousands of people are chanting and yelling for a team we wish to ‘ fit in’ “So if we see someone throw a beer bottle and it draws cheers from our group members who we're really identifying with at the time, we might be apt to match that behavior or up it" [ (Handwerk, 2005). According to my views they are obvious models of “group think”. It is "a concept that was identified by Irving Janis that refers to faulty decision-making in a group” (Neil R. Carson). More than a few aspects should be concerned to think about a result as a groupthink behavior. For instance, a person will fail to look at other possibility of behavior; in addition, they will not disapprove of the groups’ conduct. There is more often than not a harmful result of these sorts of actions. Lack of self-respect or self-esteem can be a factor in a person’s capability to remain independent. This kind of person will give way to the behavior of the groups. As Janis stated that a few of the indicators of “group think” are illusion of imperviousness, a delusion of agreement that doesn’t convey a person’s real thoughts or feelings. Our second example is when an individual’s behavior change depending on social circumstances like when an individual decides to use drugs. A person can observe this behavior in a person who on a regular basis does not use drugs but are seen to be smoking or using alcohol when they are making an effort to behave like “everybody else.” These kinds of behaviors are possible to be observed in events like a social gathering, a club, or a fashionable party, where a person will think of it as appropriate to get acknowledgment or appreciation from the social group. Youngsters, particularly in schools and universities, think and find themselves in circumstances where they suppose that in order to get support from the other students to boost their confidence and fame, partying and drinking is necessary. Smoking and drinking is publicized everyday as a method of “having fun” which leaves a deep impact on the mind of such young people. In schools, where students want to blend in, peer pressure or social influence can manipulate a person to do activities even if it is something which is not on their ethical range. Certainly, if groupthink permits a person to carry on with devastating conduct, then a therapeutic interference can be essential. There are probable health danger to the user of drugs and even the people around them. Doing mistakes at office, poor relations or sexual options while under the effect of drugs may also take place. One kind of treatment is Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment. These therapy endeavors to assist patients acknowledge, prevent, and deal with it. This makes the person recognize the situations in which they are most likely to use drugs and hence prepare them to avoid such events. Cognitive therapy comprises preparation to assist in changing previous behaviors and is trained to build on improved abilities and practices. Based on the harmful drugs that an individual is using, there can be medical cures and support groups that might be utilized to help in revival. Everyone alters their actions or behavior based on where or with whom we are. Humans are known to be social animals and in order to survive they must interact. However, it depends whether we take on the manners of others or stay firm on our values and ethics. Work cited: Brian Handwerk, Sports Riots: The Psychology of Fan Mayhem, June 20, 2005. National Geographic News Carlson, N. R. (1977). Physiology of behavior. Boston: Allyn and Bacon Cohen, M. J. (2003). The web of life imperative: A primer of organic psychology : the science of greening human services, education, and alternative medicine, humanities, politics and spirituality. Victoria, B.C: Trafford. Read More