Social Influence - Essay Example

Social Influence Social influence occurs when an individual causes change in the behaviour of another individual. This may occur either intentionally or unintentionally. As a result, the individual will have a different perception to life, as the influencer has changed the mind of the individual. Apparently, many people in the world change their behaviour as they need to behave like their peers. It is noted that most people change their behaviour due to per influence. The people that change their behaviour always want to comply with the other people in the society. In essence, there are three ways in which people are associated with social influence. First, there is influence through conformity. Secondly, there is social influence through compliance. Thirdly, there is social influence through obedience. Conformity is when an individual agrees with other people in society, as long as the other individuals are opinionated as confirmed by Sherrif’s auto kinetic experiment (Breckler, James and Elizabeth 309). The individual always tries to agree with other people, as long s they have a stronger opinion as opposed to their opinion. Apparently, the people that always conform to the opinion of other individuals always try to hide their dissenting options. The privacy of their opposing opinions is a way of ensuring there is conformity in their behaviour. In most instances group of people will always behave in a particular manner, as it pleases their peers. In some instances, the peer group does not have the slightest idea of the behaviour of the other people in the group. This shows he group has conformity, as the group has a particular prevalent behaviour. Secondly, there is social influence through identification. Many people are influenced as they have unrelenting influence from respectable people. Similarly, some people make changes in their life, especially in the way they behave after influence from people that are respected in the society. Some people that are liked by the whole society always have influence to the other people in the society. In the current world, many people are celebrities, who are respected in many societies. As such, they have a certain influence in the society, especially when they are liked by many people. Owing to their influence they can cause a positive change in their behaviour. For example, many children in the society always conform to the behaviour of their favourite musicians. The musicians always have a way of selling their music through certain behaviour. Apparently, most celebrities are linked to a certain behaviour, which influences other children in the society. For example, celebrities are always linked to behaviour, which is a prevalent activity. Conversely, most celebrities are renowned for their negative behaviour, while few people focus on the positive behaviour of the celebrities. In fact, many celebrities are engaged in corporate social responsibilities as way of influencing the behaviour of other people in the society positively. Similarly, the celebrities are used in marketing products, as way of enhancing social behaviour. When such celebrities market the products, they influence the market to buy the product. This enhances repetitive purchasing, as the people will link the product to their favourite celebrity. Thirdly, there is social change through internalisation. This is where individual wither publicly or privately decide to accept certain trend of behaviour in the society experiment (Breckler, James and Elizabeth 126). In many instances, the behaviour is mutually accepted by the society. The continuity in the behaviour ensures the whole society is homogeneous. Heterogeneity states that the whole society has to believe in a certain set of behaviours, as they need to enhance the behaviour to other generations. In many instances, the people that are in control of the society will continue to persist in strengthening the behaviour in the whole society. Psychologists state that most people in the society have to conform to a certain behaviour, as it is an expectation of the other people in the society. He need to be right and the society is also a social influence, as other people have control over the life of an individual. After such in an influence, the individual will always want to change behaviour, as other people have authority over their behaviour. Individual decision is always linked by the power of other people, as they are a priority in the behaviour models. This is known as normative influence, where the need to be liked changes the behaviour of an individual experiment (Breckler, James and Elizabeth 333). This leads to conformity, as rebellion in such an instance will lead to discordance. Apparently, all human beings are considered social creatures, as they have an identity. As fact, there are two reasons for the need to conform to the behaviour that is acceptable by the society. First, there is a need for companionship as people need the companionship to behave in a certain manner. As a result, people that do not behave in a certain way will be isolated from a certain group. With such restrictions, people have to behave in a certain manner, as the companions have to approve the behaviour (Eysenck and Cara, 231). For example, many people feel that rapists should not be their companions. Therefore, any companion that is involved in a raping incident will cease to be their companion. Similarly, people who use drugs are isolated, as they can influence others who do not use them. Since the drugs affect addictive, they may be adversely affected. However, when such people are isolated from such other harmful groups, the group feels secure, as they are under minimal threat. Social influence may happen through association. People always associate with other people, as they spend a lot of time together. People that always spend a lot of time together have to show compliance in their behaviour, as they exhibit certain traits connected to the group. This may lead to public compliance, as the people always want to be associated with a certain group. Apparently, most people always display public behaviour, as they want to be associated with the group. This limits private acceptance, as the group always wants to display a series of behaviours. For example, some groups of people always have dreadlocks, as a way of identification. In the previous decades, reggae musicians always had dreadlocks, as it was a way of identifying the reggae artists. Similarly, there is need for social obedience, whereby people have to heed to the advice of other people. In conclusion, social influence is a prevalent approach in the world. Many people change their behaviour through social influence. This is due to a number of reasons. First, they need to conform t the needs of society. Secondly, there is a need for acceptance in the society. Lastly, the need to associate with a certain group leads to social influence. Therefore, it is evident that people may change behaviour due to social influence. Works Cited Breckler, Steven J, James M. Olson, and Elizabeth C. Wiggins. Social Psychology Alive. Belmont, Calif. [u.a.: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2006. Print. Eysenck, Michael W, and Cara Flanagan. Psychology for As Level. Hove [England: Psychology Press, 2000. Print. Read More