Topic 3 DQ 1 Week 4 By Midnight Eastern Time No Less Than 25
Topic 3 Dq 1 Week 4 By Midnight Eastern Time No Less Than 250 Word
Provide a real-life example of informational social influences impacting a person's decision or behavior. Provide a real-life example of normative social influences impacting a person's decision or behavior. Can the influence of conformity, compliance, or obedience be decreased? How would this impact the situations you identified? In -text citations and References Please.
Paper For Above instruction
Social influences significantly shape individual decision-making and behavior in various contexts. Two primary types of social influence are informational and normative influences, each impacting individuals differently based on the motivation to seek accuracy or social acceptance.
Informational Social Influence
Informational social influence occurs when individuals conform to others' behaviors or opinions because they believe those others possess more accurate or information-based guidance, especially under conditions of uncertainty. A common real-life example involves a person in a new city relying on online reviews when choosing a restaurant. Suppose an individual reads multiple reviews indicating that a particular restaurant offers excellent cuisine. Trusting the reviewers' expertise or knowledge, the individual may decide to dine there, believing it to be the best choice based on the collective information. This influence stems from the desire to make correct decisions when personal knowledge is limited (Cialdini & Goldstein, 2004).
Normative Social Influence
Normative social influence involves conforming to gain social acceptance, avoid rejection, or fit into a group. For instance, in a workplace setting, an employee might adopt the same attire as colleagues even if it is not their personal preference because they desire to be accepted and avoid standing out negatively. Such conformity is driven by the need for social approval rather than a belief that others hold superior information (Asch, 1951). An everyday example includes teenagers adopting certain slang or fashion styles prevalent among peers to be viewed favorably and be included socially.
Reducing Influence of Conformity, Compliance, or Obedience
The influence of conformity, compliance, or obedience can be mitigated through various strategies. Educational interventions that promote critical thinking and individual decision-making can reduce undue obedience or conformity (Aronson et al., 2019). For example, training individuals to question authority figures or group norms can decrease obedience in situations where unethical directives are issued. Encouraging a culture of dissent and providing anonymity can also diminish normative pressures, enabling individuals to express genuine opinions without fear of social repercussions. Such reductions in social influence may lead to more autonomous and ethically sound decisions, although they may also challenge group cohesion or authority structures.
Impacts of Decreased Social Influence
Lowering conformity or obedience can have profound behavioral effects. In ethical dilemmas, decreased obedience to authority might prevent atrocities like those seen in historical contexts such as the Milgram experiment (Milgram, 1963). Conversely, it might also cause social disintegration if individuals prioritize personal judgment over collective norms, potentially leading to chaos or conflict. Therefore, while reducing undue social influence fosters independent thinking and moral agency, it must be balanced to maintain social order and cooperation (Miller & Dollard, 1941).
Conclusion
In summary, informational and normative social influences profoundly impact individual decisions and behaviors. While reducing undue influence can promote autonomous and ethical choices, it must be carefully managed to preserve social stability. Recognizing the underlying motives behind conformity, compliance, and obedience helps in designing interventions that foster healthier social environments.
References
- Asch, S. E. (1951). Effects of group pressure upon the modification and distortion of judgments. Ootional Experimental Psychology, 1(2), 92–105.
- Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., Akert, R. M., & Sommers, S. R. (2019). Social Psychology (10th ed.). Pearson.
- Cialdini, R. B., & Goldstein, N. J. (2004). Social influence: Compliance and conformity. Annual Review of Psychology, 55, 591–621.
- Milgram, S. (1963). Behavioral study of obedience. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67(4), 371–378.
- Miller, J. G., & Dollard, J. (1941). Frustration and Aggression. Yale University Press.