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Social Influences on Behavior

In: Historical Events

Submitted By amyk2
Words 574
Pages 3
Social Influences on Behavior
Amy Clinton
Psy. 300
09/16/2013
Karin Detweiler

Abstract

Social Influences on Behavior

“In psychology there have been countless experiments on social behavioral patterns in different sized groups to better assess how individuals will react in a situation with social pressure. These experiments prove a variety of different reactions, from minimal change to extreme changes in social behavior. ”. (Kowalski &Westen, 2011) These results also varied on group size and the subjective information of the study. All of these studies are extremely helpful today when trying to asses tough situations with group behavior but can’t always help prepare for any given outcome. These social behavioral changes happen daily and many of them are unseen by most because they are almost expected or considered harmless. A few examples could be lying, stereotyping or even arousal. These different behaviors are all directly affected by social surroundings and situations.
The first social influenced behavior is casual drug abuse or Smoking cigarettes. This has a lot to do with Conformity which is “the process of changing attitudes and behaviors to accommodate the standards of a group they are around”. (Kowalski &Westen, 2011, p 684) People are like camellias especially the younger generation; blend in to fit in”. This is really dangerous these days. Like casual drug use. Some Individuals turn down drugs in a group for many different times, but there is that one time that the individual thinks why not there doing it and their all fine. So then conformity or peer pressure takes over and the individual believes he or she is doing the right thing by doing the things their friends are doing.
Casual drug abuse is something that lot of people that I hung with in my childhood; in order to fit in I thought I had to do “the in thing”. This at the time was marijuana.
Everyone was smoking and everyone thought it was cool. “Drug problems cannot be dealt with unless the self esteem and peer pressure are dealt with” (Shaffer, H. J. 1986) Substance abuse is a high epidemic these days and with all the standards kids are to try to live up to and to be a part of the “cool kids” has caused casual drug use to beginning full blown addict”. (Shaffer, H. J. (1986)
Conformity is a social influenced behavior that causes individuals to change behaviors and attitudes to accommodate their friends”.(Kowalski & Weston 2011, p 584) It is so hard for a youth to keep his own identity and not have to settle for less to fit in..

Social Facilitation or “joking under pressure” would be the phenomenon in which the presence of the other people facilitates or hinders individual performance”. (Kowalski & Weston 2011, p
689) Take for instance the boy scouts which is a really good program, but say a boy meets another little boy and together they are always in trouble and none ever says anything to them. This would be an example of social facilitator the group could help these little boys or they could just not care.

References
Kowalski, R, & Westen, D (2011). Psychology (6th ed.)
Shaffer, H. J. (1986). Observations on Substance Abuse Theory. Journal Of Counseling & Development, 65(1), 26 Boeri, M., Sterk, C. E., & Elifson, K. W. (2006). Baby Boomer Drug Users: Career Phases, Social Control, and Social Learning Theory.Sociological Inquiry, 76(2), 264-291. doi:10.1111/j.1475-682X.2006.00154.x

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