Social influence shapes our behavior in profound ways. From the roles we play to the unwritten rules we follow, our actions are guided by societal expectations. These influences can be so powerful that they lead us to act in ways we never thought possible.
Understanding social influence helps us navigate complex social situations. It explains why we conform to group norms, follow scripts in everyday interactions, and sometimes struggle with conflicting role expectations. This knowledge empowers us to make more conscious choices about our behavior.
Social Influence on Behavior
Social Roles
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- Social roles are sets of expected behaviors for people in specific positions within a group
- Achieved roles attained through effort or skill (doctor, athlete)
- Ascribed roles assigned based on traits beyond one's control (gender, race)
- People's behavior shaped by the roles they occupy
- Roles carry behavioral expectations that influence individual actions
- People conform to norms and expectations associated with their social roles (professional conduct, cultural traditions)
- Role conflict occurs when expectations of different roles held by an individual are incompatible (work demands vs. family obligations)
- Role strain arises when demands of a single role are excessive or contradictory (conflicting job responsibilities)
Social Norms
- Social norms are unwritten rules guiding behavior within a society or group
- Prescriptive norms indicate appropriate behaviors (politeness, dress codes)
- Proscriptive norms specify inappropriate or forbidden behaviors (theft, violence)
- People conform to social norms to gain acceptance, avoid rejection, or escape punishment
- Informational social influence occurs when people conform believing others have accurate knowledge (following a local's directions in a new city)
- Normative social influence happens when people conform to avoid social disapproval or gain acceptance (dressing similarly to peers)
- Deviance refers to behaviors violating social norms
- Reactions to deviance range from mild disapproval to severe punishment, depending on the norm violated and social context (disapproving glances for minor etiquette breaches, legal consequences for criminal acts)
Scripts
- Scripts are mental representations of how events typically unfold in specific situations
- Scripts provide a sequence of expected behaviors for common situations (ordering food at a restaurant, attending a job interview)
- People rely on scripts to guide actions and interactions with others
- Scripts reduce cognitive load by providing pre-determined behaviors for familiar situations (knowing when to applaud during a live performance)
- Deviating from scripts can lead to confusion, disapproval, or social awkwardness (wearing inappropriate attire to a formal event)
- Cultural differences in scripts can lead to misunderstandings or conflicts when people from different backgrounds interact (variations in personal space norms between cultures)
Ethical Considerations in Social Psychology Research
Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Study
- Zimbardo's Stanford prison study investigated psychological effects of perceived power in a simulated prison
- College students randomly assigned to play roles of prisoners or guards in a mock prison
- Study aimed to examine how readily people would conform to roles of guard or prisoner
- Study's findings demonstrated powerful influence of social roles on behavior
- Participants quickly internalized assigned roles, leading to abusive behavior by "guards" and emotional distress among "prisoners"
- Study highlighted potential for abuse of power in institutional settings (prisons, military)
- Ethical concerns raised regarding study's design and execution
- Participants subjected to psychological distress and potential long-term harm
- Study lacked full informed consent, as participants not fully aware of potential risks
- Zimbardo, as lead researcher, took on role of prison superintendent, potentially influencing study's outcomes
- Study's findings and ethical issues led to development of stricter guidelines for research involving human subjects
- Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) established to oversee research proposals and ensure ethical standards met
- Researchers must prioritize participant well-being, obtain informed consent, and minimize potential risks (psychological support, right to withdraw, debriefing)
Key Terms to Review (9)
Demand Characteristics: Demand characteristics refer to subtle cues or features of an experiment that may inadvertently influence a participant's behavior or responses, thereby affecting the validity of the study's findings. This term is particularly relevant in the context of analyzing research findings and understanding how self-presentation can impact research outcomes.
Social Norms: Social norms are the unwritten rules and expectations that guide and constrain people's behavior within a particular social group or culture. They represent the commonly accepted and appropriate ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving in a given social context.
Zimbardo's Prison Experiment: Zimbardo's Prison Experiment was a landmark psychological study conducted in 1971 that examined the effects of situational power and the role-playing of guards and prisoners in a simulated prison environment. The experiment revealed the profound impact that the prison setting and authority figures can have on human behavior, leading to the emergence of disturbing and abusive actions by the participants.
Face (Social Concept): The concept of 'face' in social psychology refers to an individual's public self-image or social standing. It encompasses the positive social value a person claims for themselves through their actions and the way they present themselves to others in social interactions.
The notion of 'face' is closely tied to the idea of self-presentation, as individuals strive to maintain and protect their public image and reputation within a social context.
Self-Monitoring: Self-monitoring is the conscious process of observing and regulating one's own behavior, thoughts, and emotions in order to present a desired image or impression to others. It is a key component of self-presentation, the way individuals control how they are perceived by others.
Scripts: Scripts are cognitive structures that guide behavior by providing a sequence of expected actions in familiar situations. They represent a person's knowledge about the typical sequence of events in a particular context, allowing them to navigate social interactions and everyday activities efficiently.
Social Roles: Social roles refer to the behaviors, obligations, and expectations associated with a particular position or status within a social system. They define how individuals should act and interact in different social contexts based on their assigned or adopted roles.
Impression Management: Impression management is the process by which individuals attempt to control or influence the impressions others form of them. It involves strategically presenting oneself in a particular way to create a desired image or perception in the minds of others.
Ingratiation: Ingratiation is a self-presentation strategy in which an individual attempts to gain favor or approval from another person by engaging in behaviors designed to make the other person like them. This involves tactics such as conforming to the other person's preferences, offering compliments, or doing favors in order to be perceived more positively.