Social influence

Social Influence

Social influence (/ˈsoʊʃəl ˈɪnfluːəns/) is a broad term in psychology and sociology that refers to the way individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are shaped by others. The term is derived from the Latin words "socius" meaning companion and "influere" meaning to flow into, indicating the process by which societal norms and expectations flow into individual behavior.

Types of Social Influence

There are three main types of social influence:

1. Conformity (/kənˈfɔːrmɪti/): This is the act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms. The power of conformity stems from our innate desire to fit in and be accepted by others.

1. Compliance (/kəmˈplaɪəns/): This refers to the act of responding favorably to a request by others. It is often driven by the desire to gain rewards or avoid punishment.

1. Obedience (/oʊˈbiːdiəns/): This is a form of social influence where an individual acts in response to a direct order from another individual, usually an authority figure.

Factors Influencing Social Influence

Several factors can influence the degree to which social influence occurs. These include the authority of the influencer, the unanimity of the group, and the individuality of the person being influenced.

Related Terms

• Group dynamics (/ɡruːp daɪˈnæmɪks/): This is the study of groups and its impact on behavior. It is closely related to social influence as it explores how groups can change individuals' attitudes and behaviors.

• Peer pressure (/pɪər ˈprɛʃər/): This is a form of social influence where individuals are influenced to follow the behaviors, values, and beliefs of their peers.

• Social proof (/ˈsoʊʃəl pruːf/): This is a psychological phenomenon where people assume the actions of others in an attempt to reflect correct behavior in a given situation.

This WikiMD.org article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.