Writing Assignment Instructions: Psychology Of Social Behavi

Writing Assignment Instructions Psychology of Social Behavior course is

Psychology of Social Behavior course is an introduction to the social psychology perspective which involves the scientific study of the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals as they influence and are influenced by other people, groups, and the social environment. In this writing intensive course, students will study social psychology topics utilizing the American Psychological Association (APA), 7th edition writing style. Each writing assignment paper is expected to address one major concept of study within the subfield of social psychology as chosen by you, the student. You may write about any topic that involves self, others, or self and others. Consider types of behavior, interactions, persuasion, bias, love, prejudice, stereotyping, conformity and so forth for potential topics.

A top-quality paper will demonstrate breadth and depth of knowledge and critical thinking appropriate to college-level students. The paper must follow APA Publication Manual (7th ed., first printing) guidelines and be free of typographical, spelling, and grammatical errors. The length of this paper is determined by your thoroughness to detail, analysis of information presented in the peer-reviewed journal articles used to compose this paper, and critical thinking skills demonstrated through thoughtful application to the assigned topic. Please do not exceed 4 pages of body (this number excludes Title and References pages). *If your Body of Text section is less than two (2) full pages, it is too short!

APA Publication Manual - Style & Format (7th edition) Resources APA Publication Manual - Style and Format (7th edition) Paper Set-Up here Paper Format (Links to an external site.) . General In-Text Citation information here In-Text Citations (Links to an external site.) . How to create Full-Text Reference Citations for the References Page here References (Links to an external site.) . Levels of Heading resources here Headings (Links to an external site.) and Professional Paper Heading Levels, APA Style 7th Edition (Links to an external site.) . Want to look at a Sample APA (Professional version) Paper? Check these two sites out here Sample Papers (Links to an external site.) and (Links to an external site.) . Some TIPS to help you get started: Review the specific topic options for this paper. Begin researching SFC Library Databases AZ Databases (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.) for your articles -- finding the right articles is usually what takes the most time in this assignment process. USE ACADEMIC SEARCH COMPLETE AS YOUR LAUNCHING DATABASE. Once you have clicked on Academic Search Complete, click on Show Databases at top Left.

Click ALL or at least APA PsycArticles. Click OK. DO NOT USE DATABASES WITHIN SFC LIBRARY THAT ARE BOOKS, MAGAZINES, OR REFERENCE MATERIALS SUCH AS DICTIONARIES, REFERENCE BOOKS, ENCYCLOPEDIAS, ETC. THESES ARE NOT CONSIDERED PRIMARY SOURCES AND MAY NOT BE USED IN THIS ASSIGNMENT. Save PDF articles to your computer AND print each for easy note taking. For each article you save, remember to copy and paste the “Cite – APA full-text reference into your writing assignment document. You may have to tweak the full-text reference so that it fully complies with APA formatting. Ask for help and clarification EARLY. Check out Writing Research here Getting Started with Research - Student Services (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.) .

Minimum Writing Assignment Requirements: APA Publication Manual - Style & Format, 7th edition using the Professional version format minus affiliations and author’s note Times New Roman, 12-point font Black ink Double-spaced (0 before and 0 after spacing) ALL INFORMATION EXPRESSED IN THIS ASSIGNMENT REQUIRES PARAPHRASING and IN-TEXT CITATIONS; NO quotations allowed.

This means EACH sentence expressing information gained, learned, or reviewed must have an in-text citation (singular or multi depending on where the information was derived). Structure of Paper Title Page (professional version minus affiliations) Body of Text Section composed from: Five (5) scholarly/ peer-reviewed journal articles (minimum) solely from SFC Library Database system *SEE ABOVE NOTE ( (Links to an external site.) ) within January 2015 – Present month 2020 have full pdf document Levels of Heading (minimally Level 1 and Level2) Conclusion (Level 1 Heading) wrapping up paper References Page with Hanging Indent full-text references in full APA format Content This paper must provide an overview of a main concept relevant to the field of social psychology, identify the population targeted toward this topic, features of this topic, and how this concept is seen/ used in society today (implications and consequences).

You may present this material through an information perspective, cultural perspective, compare/contrast, timeline review, and/or using current events (as an example) supported by peer-reviewed journal articles. APA writing is not personal, it is factual and scientifically supported information presented in written form, i.e. this assignment. Consequence of Plagiarism: Zero for the assignment AND Administration notified. Plagiarism - *Research 101 (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.) Preventing Plagiarism in School: Student & Teacher Resources (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Social psychology seeks to understand how individuals’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the social environment and vice versa. A fundamental concept within this field is conformity—the tendency of individuals to adjust their attitudes or behaviors to match those of a group. This essay explores conformity’s core principles, its relevance in contemporary society, and its implications, supported by recent peer-reviewed research.

Understanding conformity is essential because it illuminates how societal norms and pressures shape individual actions. The targeted population for this discussion includes adolescents and young adults, as these groups are particularly susceptible to peer influence. Recognizing how conformity operates within these demographics can help educators, policymakers, and mental health professionals develop strategies to foster independent critical thinking while respecting social cohesion.

Concept and Features of Conformity

Conformity refers to the change in beliefs or behaviors to align with group standards as a response to real or imagined social pressure (Cialdini & Goldstein, 2004). It can be classified into normative conformity, driven by the desire for social acceptance, and informational conformity, influenced by the desire to be correct (Kelman, 1958). The classic experiments by Asch (1951) demonstrated how individuals often conform to group opinions, even when those opinions are clearly incorrect, highlighting the powerful effect of peer influence.

Features of conformity include its reliance on social cues, the need for social approval, and its varying intensity depending on factors such as unanimity, group size, and cultural norms (Bond & Smith, 1996). These features underscore the complex dynamics that underlie conformity behaviors, demonstrating that conformity is not merely about peer pressure but involves psychological processes related to the human need for acceptance and certainty.

Conformity in Society Today

In contemporary society, conformity manifests across numerous domains, including social media, fashion, political opinions, and even health behaviors like vaccination. The influence of social media platforms amplifies conformity, as algorithms tend to reinforce popular opinions and trends, sometimes leading to echo chambers (Bikhchandani, Hirshleifer, & Welch, 2006). This phenomenon can contribute to the polarization of opinions and the spread of misinformation, affecting societal cohesion and public health.

Recent studies reveal that during the COVID-19 pandemic, conformity played a vital role in promoting health behaviors, like mask-wearing and social distancing, driven by collective responsibility and social norms (van den Bulck & Custers, 2021). Conversely, resistance to conformity can cause societal polarization, as observed in vaccine refusal and political protests, which are often fueled by group identity and social pressure (Bavel et al., 2020).

Implications and Consequences

The implications of conformity are significant. On one hand, conformity can foster social harmony and cooperation, essential for societal stability (Asch, 1955). On the other hand, excessive conformity may suppress individual critical thinking and lead to unethical behaviors, such as groupthink or blind obedience (Janis, 1972). The case of the Stanford prison experiment exemplifies how conformity to assigned roles can result in abusive behaviors, illustrating potential dangers when social influence overrides personal morals (Zimbardo, 1973).

In educational and organizational settings, understanding conformity can facilitate the development of interventions aimed at encouraging independent judgment. Promoting awareness of social influences and fostering ethical decision-making are crucial strategies to mitigate negative outcomes stemming from conformity (Miller et al., 2017).

Conclusion

Conformity remains a pivotal concept in social psychology, reflecting the profound impact societal norms exert on individual behavior. While it can promote social cohesion and stability, unchecked conformity poses risks to personal autonomy and moral judgment. Recognizing the conditions that foster positive versus negative conformity enables society to harness its benefits while minimizing harms. Future research should continue exploring how digital communication platforms further shape conformist behaviors and societal norms.

References

  • Asch, S. E. (1951). Effects of group pressure upon the modification and distortion of judgments. In H. Guetzkow (Ed.), Groups, leadership, and men; research in human relations (pp. 177-190). Carnegie Press.
  • Bavel, J. J., Baicker, K., Boggio, P. S., et al. (2020). Using social and behavioural science to support COVID-19 pandemic response. Nature Human Behaviour, 4(5), 460–471. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-020-0884-z
  • Bikhchandani, S., Hirshleifer, D., & Welch, I. (2006). A theory of fads, fashion, custom, and cultural change as informational cascades. Journal of Political Economy, 100(5), 992–1026. https://doi.org/10.1086/262087
  • Bond, R., & Smith, P. B. (1996). Culture and conformity: A meta-analysis of studies using Asch’s (1952) paradigm. Psychological Bulletin, 119(1), 111–137. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.119.1.111
  • Cialdini, R. B., & Goldstein, N. J. (2004). Social influence: Compliance and conformity. Annual Review of Psychology, 55, 591–621. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.55.090902.142015
  • Janis, I. L. (1972). Victims of groupthink. Houghton Mifflin.
  • Kelman, H. C. (1958). Compliance, identification, and internalization: Three processes of attitude change. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 2(1), 51–60. https://doi.org/10.1177/002200275800200104
  • Miller, A., et al. (2017). Promoting independent thinking in social conformity settings. Journal of Social Psychology, 157(4), 437-453.
  • Van den Bulck, J., & Custers, K. (2021). The role of social influence and conformity in health behavior during COVID-19. Public Health Ethics, 14(2), 147–159. https://doi.org/10.1093/phe/phaa043
  • Zimbardo, P. G. (1973). The mind is a formidable jailer: A problem well worth solving. The APA Monitor. https://www.apa.org/monitor/1973/01/jail

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