WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCE THE WAY WE ACT?
Social influence is divided into subcategories based on various elements such as environment, prior experiences, beliefs, and even obstacles. Human interaction is one of the key components that helps us understand the complexity and categorize these topics; however, because there are so many types of influence, I won’t be able to explore them all; instead, I will focus on three major studied types of social influence: obedience, persuasion, and identification. I’d also like to point out that social influence may have beneficial and harmful consequences for people and society (1). On the plus side, social influence may promote better collaboration and teamwork, as well as the adoption of desirable behaviours and beliefs. On the negative side, it may propagate unhealthy or hazardous behaviours and inhibit originality and critical thinking (1).
OBEDIENCE
Obedience is a type of social influence that might take the form of acts or directions from an authoritative individual (2). This impact is comparable to conformity, in which people follow a set of norms or ideas to “fit in” with a group of others (2). However, there are some contrasts between the two effects. While conformity is based on the desire to be socially acceptable, obedience is based on social power and “obeying” someone of higher status (2). For example, an employee following orders from a supervisor or management is an example of obedience that can be seen in the workplace.
Many factors influence how an individual obeys a “leader.” This can include personality characteristics such as conscientiousness and agreeableness, which have been linked to greater obedience to authority (2). Obedience can also stem from a fear of the repercussions of disobedience; for example, children frequently obey their parents and instructors out of dread of punishment or loss of privileges (2).
PERSUASION
Persuasion may be a strong force that influences people’s decisions and behaviours that are communicated through symbolic messages (which include words, pictures, and sounds) and can be communicated orally or nonverbally (3). There are six characteristics of persuasion that psychologists have identified: reciprocity, scarcity, authority, consistency, social proof, and liking (3). These concepts define what makes persuasive messaging effective and influential. So what do these traits mean? Persuasion uses tactics such as idolization, fear of loss, or the gain of a certain privilege to change individual thinking and human behaviour. In other words, this is a form of manipulation that is used in politics and the media.
IDENTIFICATION
Partial identification is similar to persuasion, using idolization as it’s main form of influence. This influence is based on the perception of a special quality of another person or an authoritative figure This can come from an individual having a perception of another person with greater knowledge or power (4). People also identify with individuals if they believe they have similar values or personality qualities. Through affiliation with a group (group norms), it aids in character development and the construction of the ego (4). Rather than considering someone as a competition, partial identification promotes the social lives of individuals who may identify with one another through this common bond (4).
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- https://www.byarcadia.org/post/social-psychology-101-the-mechanisms-of-social-
- https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-obedience-2795894#:~:text=Obedience%20is%20a%20form%20of,someone%20of%20authority%20or%20influence.
- https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-persuasion-2795892
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identification_(psychology)