This chapter expounds and gives more insight into social influences. Social influences are both used for entertainment and can be used to explain certain scenarios or conditions that make people act in a certain way. Additionally, the three forms of influence; conformity, compliance, and obedience are discussed.
The social influence effect varies on individuals. Individuals may decide to obey or resist commands, conform to a certain group norms or may maintain their own independence and can comply with a request or be assertive. Social influences are automatic as evidenced by studies that indicate infants learn by imitating what their mothers do. For instance, opening their mouths (Kassin, Fein, and Markus 253). The reason behind why people may imitate others non-consciously is attributed to the need of people to want to interact with others smoothly. Additionally, people may imitate others non-consciously when they feel highly motivated to affiliate (Kassin, Fein, and Markus 253).
Conformity
Conformity refers to the inclination of individuals to change their behaviors and opinions to be in harmony with certain group norms (Kassin, Fein, and Markus 253). Conformity is normally widespread where social norms are observed. For example, weddings have a certain dress code that people tend to wear.
According to Kassin, Fein, and Markus (257), individuals tend to conform for several reasons. One of the reasons is to have the capability to make the correct decisions. This is referred to as informative influence (Kassin, Fein, and Markus 257). This is based on the theory that since this group of people tend to agree on a certain issue then it must me right. The second reason is that individuals will tend to conform because they fear the repercussions that they may face for not conforming. This is referred to as normative influence (Kassin, Fein, and Markus 257). These two types of influences create two types of conformity: public and private conformity. Public conformity refers to the superficial change in behavior but deep down the individual does not agree. Private conformity refers to the complete change in behavior and perception about something.
Compliance
This type of social influence develops when individual make direct requests to one another (Kassin, Fein, and Markus 268). This can take the variety of questions such as asking for a favor. Concepts such mindlessness and norm of reciprocity aid in making individuals comply. On mindlessness, individuals fail to take the time to consider through most of the questions that are asked as a request. The norm of reciprocity tends to control how individuals treat each other. It controls the predictability and fairness of social interaction (Kassin, Fein, and Markus 269). Some of the strategies discussed that tend to make individuals to comply with requests include the foot in the door method, low balling, door in the face technique and that is not all folks technique.
Obedience
This social influence is mainly exercised by an individual in a position of social authority. The magnitude of this social influence is illustrated best using Milgram’s experiment. Defiance occurs when people resist being influenced by authority.
The social influences can be understood based on the social impact theory, which predicts that the extent of social influence is determined by the immediacy, strength and the sources present to exert pressure on a target individual.
Chapter 8: Group Processes
Social influence is greatly manifested in groups. This chapter provides a discussion on the various reasons why people join groups. Additionally, the differences that exist between group performance and individual performance are discussed.
Fundamentals of Groups
A group is defined on the degree of direct interactions between individuals over a period, shared goals and on social category such as gender and race. Little interaction among individuals does not qualify as a group. This collection of individuals is referred to as collectives. For instance, working out in a gym. Reasons for joining groups by most individuals may include interacting with other individuals and obtain a social status through affiliation.
Socialization and Group Development
The socialization of a new member in a group will depend on the level of interaction and relationship established between the new individual the members. Poor socialization may lead to reducing the potential contributions of a new member and this creates instability in the group.
Group development processes include forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning. In the forming step, the members try to familiarize themselves in the group. In the storming step, members will tend to influence the group to suit their needs. In the norming step, any conflicts that emerged during storming are settled. In the performing step, members try to maximize group performance by doing tasks. In the final step of adjourning, members disengage the group by reducing activities within the group.
Important features in a group
These include people roles, group norms, and cohesiveness. Roles relate to the expected behaviors of the individuals within the group. Norms relate to written rules of conduct of behavior in the group. Cohesiveness relates to the forces that draw the group members closer (Kassin, Fein, and Markus 299).
Culture and Cohesiveness
Under this sub topic, behaviors affecting group cohesiveness are discussed. These may include neglecting of duties by some of the members, doing less workload and attending meeting late.
Effects of Presence of others on Individuals
These effects include
- Social facilitation: social facilitation tends to generate physiological arousal, which has an effect of energizing their behavior. The arousal then tends to enhance the ability of the individual to perform a dominant response, and the quality of performance of this response will vary depending on the task being done.
- Social loafing: this is the tendency of groups to produce a reduction of an individual’s output. However, social loafing will less likely occur when the task being performed is significant, the group is small, when individuals believe that their efforts are essential for a successful outcome and when the group is cohesive.
- Deindividuation refers to the loss of the personality of an individual. This increases the likelihood of deviant behavior occurring, which depends on accountability cues and attentional cues.
Group Performance: Problems and Solutions
Process Loss and Types of Group Tasks
Performance of a group is influenced by the task type being performed. This can be additive, conjunctive, or disjunctive. Process loss is enhanced through social loafing, disregard of expertise of a certain group member and poor coordination.
Brainstorming
People working alone tend to have an increase in creativity than when interacting face to face. Brainstorming is enhanced using computer based technology.
Group Polarization
Group members with similar opinion have a higher chance of making their opinions extreme. Thus, polarization is increased when the numbers of likeminded individuals have similar opinions in one group.
Groupthink
This is the unnecessary tendency to seek approval or agreement from the group members. Groupthink has the effect of enhancing poor decision making.
Conflict: Cooperation and Competition within and between groups
Conflict escalation and Reduction
Conflict is bound to go up based escalation of commitment and conflict spirals. Additionally, premature use of punishment has the tendency to encourage retaliation and increase conflict.
Negotiation
Communication and understanding of the other individual’s viewpoint is essential in ensuring negotiations are successful.
Work Cited
Kassin, Saul M., Steven Fein, and Hazel Markus. Social psychology. 8th ed. Belmont, CA:
Cengage Wadsworth, 2011. Print.
