Group influence refers to the instance that is characterized by people behaving in a certain way because, a certain clique of people behaves in the same was as he does. In essence, group influence is a phenomenon that dictates the manner in which people relate in our daily lives. In as far as this instance, is concerned, all circles in the society are part and parcel of instances that revolve on religion, politics, academic or educational matters and other social interactions. As a matter of fact and cogency, it follows that the existence of a person in a certain group dictates to a larger extent, the likely instances that later determine the behavior of a person. For the purposes of this study, I am going to canvass on the impact of group influence in matters that arise in our daily societal experiences. People have a tendency of borrowing a lot from what they discuss in group circles (Paulus, 2009).
It follows that, the subconscious mind is greatly influenced by the activities that surround the individual. In general, it has been established that people behave in the way that they do due to influence that the environment pauses to them. In essence the environment in this case, is the group section of the society. It is further true to assert that, autonomy in a society can never be manifested. Psychologists dictate that; people’s behavior is directly proportional to where they are oriented (Adams, 2011). In such cases, people’s attitudes are acquired from the environment. In this case, ideas and principles documented by criminologists also add up to the value of analyzing impacts that groups pause on the way people eventually live.
In as far as the political unit is concerned; people who join politics tends to ascribe to the way of life as that ascribed to by politicians. In essence, politics in itself is a system that has a well elaborated platform that serves to protect individuals in as far as their interests are concerned. Before one is elected or nominated in political cycles, it follows that a person lives a life that is as common as any one’s life. His way of viewing things is not inconsistent to other people’s way of taking life to be. In this case, in the process of wooing and pleading for votes, a political will make promises concerning his plans to diversify his electorate’s lives. However, the political system in most countries is positioned in such a way that it recognizes corruption and individualism once a person is elected into office. In essence, the larger political group in regard to its history, developments and emerging issue has a direct influence in the way people manage their activities (Porter, 2009).On the other hand, the political cycle is characterized by instances that are extensive, manifested in sycophancy.As a matter of fact, the political system is oriented into groups. The groups are as a result of interests and ideologies. People with varying interests and ideologies will obviously be orienting along opposing sides in any political process. In a nutshell, it is evident that groups center stage activities that come along a political system that makes up the country.
As a matter of fact, a layman in the street when asked to say what he thought about corruption in the public and private sector, it is most likely that the person will pinpoint t on the general term, politicians. In this regard, the group name influences the manner in which people view the political set up of the respective country. On the other hand, people often support political candidates out of influence. As a key manifestation to this, it follows that; politicians will always select on loudly and rather rough people with catchy personal relations tactics to spearheaded their campaigns. As a result of this group that shows itself as relevant and outstanding, people are obliged to made decisions that are likely to be along the strata that is oriented towards the majority section. On the other hand, support in as far as the political process is concerned is always in groups. People will always back behind their person of choice. As a result of group influence, post-election violence instances occur (Woods, 2010). Especially in countries in the third world, it follows that; violence manifests itself in different ways that tale the direction of the group fighting a certain group and vice versa. The point of these instances is that people start developing attitudes that are later signified in the manner in which individuals start regarding each other. On the same note, it is reasonable to state that, people end up behaving in a manner that is strictly reflective of what certain group advocates for. According to political analysists who center stage in the after math instances of an election, they state that, people will always want to win. In the event a candidate loses, a party to the same clique will always express ideas that are towards feelings of discontentment. At the same time, the influence of groups is manifested in the political process at the time of voting. At most times, people campaign while oscillating along instances that are oriented along parameters of that call for voting for individuals belonging to a certain group. As a matter of cogency, group influence works for the betterment of most politicians. However, instances that center stage on losing by some other groups are also manifested in these instances.
Religion is another area that has a large influence by group affiliations. Different religious groups embrace different ideologies that are in turn passes on to the incoming generations. Taking for instance, the Christian faith, for example, Christians will always behave in a particular way that is not the same as other religions. In the event we take a case such as givingof tithes in churches is concerned, we find that, not all religious groups call for the activity, some groups are squarely opposed to these instances in support of the different positions takenby these groups, it follows that the groups are inclined to different groups that embrace different values. On the other hand, the way a Muslim student would view a Christian is guided by the cultural entanglements that the same individual ascribes to (Larsen, 2009). Feelings of religious superiority by certain religious groups re significant hallmarks in as far as the elements that encompass the impacts of group influence are concerned. In order to come up with a more cogent position in as far as the effects of the existence of religious groups, is concerned, an imagination of the world that is not divided along religious groups but one that exists on parameters that support and dictate personal forums will be less chaotic and extensively problematic.
Morality is the otheremblement that represents the impacts of groups. Morality refers to the personal and interpersonal inclinations that made up how a person responds to stimuli.At the same time, morality determines the extent in which people view and regard others. Let us take the morality of a child who has been raised in a family that is manifested by, frequent fights between his or her parents, extreme instances of abuses and throwing and exchange of words between family members and general irresponsibility. It is obvious that, this individual will end up as a person who does not appreciate the principles of morality that guide homes. In fact, his or her family that represents a group will have impacted to her this significantly. Similarly, the concept of morality acquires its shape due to the fact that, people ascribe to different moral postulations (Philips, 2010, pp. 51-54). Groups dictate the manner and the direction in which people have to think and apply their rationally on things.
Prisons are examples of places that express the impacts of groups on how people behave. In these regards, prison is a place that is characterized by people who are thought to have engaged in criminal activities. In most of these cases, the criminal activities are diverse and different in nature. However, this environment changes the manner in which those that have ever been to prison perceive life to be. In this context, they acquire characteristics that I can squarely term as jailbird characteristics. According to psychologists, most prisoners after one month of imprisonment exist in a way that dictates that they have diversified and adapted to the life manifested in prisons. Due to the interactions of these individuals that have been termed as socially destabilized and disregarded in society, the group instance that arises amongst them is a key representative of influence of groups.
Delinquency refers to a phenomenon that is characterized by children and minors at large engaging in crimes (Johns, 2012, pp. 10-30). According to Sigmund Freud in his theories, it follows that, teenagers and young people in general engage in crimes for varying reasons. To some, it is an opportunity that makes them feel accepted and relevant to the clique of friend. It is also true to add that, children area always at an age that tends to borrow a lot from the environment in whatever that they engage in. In this regard, it follows that, children at the ages of three to seven, they largely depend on what is fed into them. As a matter of fact, children depend on their surroundings that are manifested by groups. When it comes to high school students peer pressure is the most manifested instance that determines the manner and ways that people behave. Most high school boys and girls engage in these socially unacceptable instances due to instances that center point on their peer groups. When students report in high school, it follows that they are all innocent and most of them is focused towards attaining their goals of becoming doctors, lawyers and teachers. However, in the course of the events that follow familiarization and formation of groups, it is obvious that high schools in not all are characterized by groups that purpose to ensure that, what they push for is granted or achieved. As a consequence, the groups lead to the formation of a clique of students oriented at performing different roles.
In as far as learning institutions are concerned, research dictates that, high schools and institutions of higher learning are characterized by events that are oriented towards fulfilling and satisfying group endeavors (Kevin, 2011, pp. 12-15).
On the other hand, terror groups operate long parameters that for an analyzing in the roles that groups play in as far as societal matters are concerned. In these regards, I will take the Al Shabaab Terror group. It is a group that came into pace some six years ago. It is believed that the group operates under instances that are protected by the events that were under the application of the former Al Qaida terror group. It is also believed that Osama Bin Laden, having been a member of the Al Qaida group, he influence other younger and upcoming members of the group in the ways of the group objectives. Because the proponents of Al Shabaab were off springs of Al Qaida, their actions in the previous years are directly inclined to the activities that were manifested by Al Qaida in their mission. It is reported that, everyone who ascribes to the sects has to live by the objects and objectives of the team.
In summation, from the above well deliberated upon issues, it is realistically correct to state that, groups have a direct impact on how the course of our daily lives will look like. Groups determine whether the society advances or not. In this regard, groups are manifested in almost all spheres that center stage humanity.
References
Adams, P. (2011). Grouped: How small groups of friends are the key to influence on the social web. Chicago: New Riders.
Johns, E. (2012). Teenage Delinquency. Minors Advocation Journal, 10-30.
Kevin , H. (2011). The History of Terrorism, Al Quida. Toronto: Adventure Series Publishers.
Larsen, G. (2009). Being Human: Relationships and You: A Social Psychological Analysis. Mississipi: Rozenberg Publishers.
Paulus, P. (2009). Psychology of group influenc. New York: L. Erlbaum Publishers.
Philips, D. (2010). Adolescence: Development During a Global Era. New York Publishers, 51-54.
Porter, L. (2009). Organizational Influence Processes. Chicago: M.E. Sharpe Publishers.
Woods, D. (2010). The Family and Individual Development. Psychology Press: Washington.
