How Can We Understand Issues Based On Theories And Concepts

How Can We Understand The Issues Based On Theories And Concepts

This assignment explores how social psychology theories and concepts can be applied to understand issues surrounding migrant policies, specifically referencing the article “They’re playing with our lives’ say the first migrants returned under New Mexico policy” by S. Kinosian (2019). The focus is on examining social interactions, cultural influences, social influence processes, and conformity behaviors that shape individuals’ actions within societal and policy contexts. By analyzing these social psychological principles, we gain insight into how migrant populations experience and respond to restrictive policies, and how societal norms influence their behavior and perception.

Paper For Above instruction

Social psychology offers vital insights into understanding individual and group behaviors, especially in complex societal issues such as immigration and migrant treatment policies. When analyzing how people react under government policies like those in New Mexico, it’s essential to understand the fundamental concepts of social interactions, cultural norms, social influence, and conformity, as these processes significantly shape individual responses and societal dynamics.

Social Interactions and Cultural Influences

Social interactions directly influence individual behaviors, perceptions, and attitudes, particularly in contexts where perceptions of threat or acceptance are high. Greenfield (2000) emphasizes that culture profoundly influences social interactions and shapes how individuals respond to external stimuli, including policies affecting migrants. Cultures that prioritize collectivism promote interdependence and group cohesion, which can either facilitate community support or generate resistance when policies threaten traditional group values. Conversely, individualistic cultures emphasize independence and self-enhancement, often leading individuals to prioritize personal freedoms over collective norms, potentially fostering resistance to policies seen as restrictive or unjust.

Greenfield highlights that collectivism fosters integration and cooperation but may also impose pressures to conform to group norms, which can lead to social cohesion or conflict depending on the social context. Migrants in collectivist societies might experience social pressure to conform to community expectations, potentially influencing their response to government policies, either aligning with or resisting these norms depending on their personal beliefs and cultural values. Understanding these cultural orientations is crucial in interpreting the social behavior of migrants under restrictive policies, as their responses are embedded within culturally shaped social interactions.

Normative and Informational Social Influence

Social influence mechanisms play a pivotal role in shaping behaviors within societal groups. Normative social influence involves conforming to gain acceptance or avoid rejection. Individuals often adapt their behaviors to fit societal norms, especially when the desire for social approval outweighs personal beliefs (Stangor, 2012). In the context of migrant policies, individuals may conform publicly to societal expectations that either support or oppose migrants, depending on prevailing norms within their community. For example, migrants might publicly endorse restrictive policies to avoid social sanctions or rejection.

Informational social influence operates when individuals accept information from others as evidence about reality, leading to private acceptance—genuine internalization of beliefs and behaviors (Stangor, 2012). For migrants facing policies that threaten their safety or well-being, trusting authoritative sources or community leaders might lead to lasting changes in their perceptions and attitudes. This private acceptance can result in enduring behavioral modifications if they believe that conforming aligns with the truth or best course of action, often driven by a desire for safety or social cohesion.

Moreover, public conformity—copying others due to fear of ridicule or rejection—can exacerbate collective behaviors that support restrictive policies. In these situations, both normative and informational influences intertwine; individuals conform publicly to avoid social sanctions and internally adopt beliefs that support or oppose migration policies based on trusted information sources. Recognizing these influences helps explain how societal pressures can sustain or challenge migration policies and shape individual and collective responses.

In conclusion, applying social psychology theories such as cultural influences, normative and informational social influence provides a comprehensive lens to understand the complex issues surrounding migrant policies. These theories interpret the behaviors of migrants and the wider community in terms of social interactions, cultural norms, and influence processes, revealing the deep-rooted psychological mechanisms at play in societal reactions to migration policies. Understanding these processes is critical for designing equitable policies and promoting social cohesion amidst societal divisions.

References

• Greenfield, P. (2000). Three approaches to the psychology of culture: Where do we go from here? Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 3(3), 151-170. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1467-839X.2000.00087.x
• Stangor, C. D. (2012). Principles of Social Psychology: 1st International Edition. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0. Retrieved from https://open.oregonstate.education/principlesofsocialpsychology/
• Kinosian, S. (2019). They’re playing with our lives’ say the first migrants returned under New Mexico policy. PRI’s the World. Retrieved from https://www.pri.org/stories/2019-01-11/theyre-playing-our-lives-say-first-migrants-returned-under-new-mexico-policy