Why is it important to study social influence?
Whilst social influence can have a positive effect on behavior, its disadvantages have been a motivating factor behind research into conformity by psychologists such as Stanley Milgram. Conformity to a narrow set of behaviors and views can discourage the nurturing of new ideas which could improve the lives of a group.
What are social influences in psychology?
Social influence is the process by which an individual’s attitudes, beliefs or behavior are modified by the presence or action of others. Four areas of social influence are conformity, compliance and obedience, and minority influence.
Why is research important in social psychology?
Social psychology research methods allow psychologists to get a better look at what causes people to engage in certain behaviors in social situations. These methods allow researchers to test hypotheses and theories and look for relationships between different variables.
What is social influence research?
The study of social influence is central to social psychology and to understanding group processes and intergroup relations. Social influence research covers a broad range of topics, from persuasion and attitude change, to compliance and conformity, to collective action and social change.
How does social influence affect decision making?
Behavior that is consistent with the authority influence hypothesis should be better described by the social influence model, which allows decision makers to give greater weight to the information that is inferred from the behavior of the higher ranked other person.
How does social influence affect behavior?
Social influence comprises the ways in which individuals change their behavior to meet the demands of a social environment. Typically social influence results from a specific action, command, or request, but people also alter their attitudes and behaviors in response to what they perceive others might do or think.
What are three most common research methods used in social psychology?
As you can see in Table 1.4, “Three Major Research Designs Used by Social Psychologists,” there are three major approaches to conducting research that are used by social psychologists—the observational approach, the correlational approach, and the experimental approach.
What are some examples of social influence?
Social influence comprises the ways in which individuals change their behavior to meet the demands of a social environment. It takes many forms and can be seen in conformity, socialization, peer pressure, obedience, leadership, persuasion, sales, and marketing.
What is the social need to influence others?
Three areas of social influence are conformity, compliance and obedience. Conformity is changing how you behave to be more like others. This plays to belonging and esteem needs as we seek the approval and friendship of others.
How does the view of others affect decision making?
When we think of the “right choice”, too often we allow our decision to be guided by our perception of what other people might think about our choice, or what someone else might believe is right. When we rely more on what other people think than our own values, we increase the likelihood of making a bad decision.
What was the first experiment on social influence?
Research on social influence has a long history in social psychology, and an experiment on social facilitation effect that was conducted in 1898 by Triplett is often considered the first social psychological experiment (see also Ref.). Since then, social influence has fascinated scholars in various fields.
How is social influence used to influence people?
Psychologists have spent decades studying the power of social influence, and the way in which it manipulates people’s opinions and behavior.
How does social influence affect the development of a child?
The social-influence hypothesis focuses on how teenage childbearing disrupts the developmental trajectory of young mothers, introducing social and economic stressors that constrain their ability to parent effectively ( Jaffee et al., 2001 ).
What is the role of minority influence in social change?
Minority influence including reference to consistency, commitment and flexibility. The role of social influence processes in social change. Conformity and obedience This area of the course on social influence, covers one of the most interesting and controversial areas in Psychology.