Social Influence On Social Psychology - 1870 Words

Social influence is a big matter in social psychology which is referred to the ways in which different people’s thoughts, actions and feelings are subjective by social groups. On a daily basis we are deluged by numerous efforts by others to influence us, and that’s why, the study of social influence has long been a dominant matter of analysis for social psychologists and researchers in many other social sciences (e.g. marketing and political science). Social Psychologists focus on the situation. They study the social influences that describe why the same person will act inversely in different situations. Theorists have typically distinguished between three types of social influence which are compliance, conformity, and obedience. Compliance is often referred to as an active form of social influence in that it is usually intentionally initiated by a person where they may choose to comply or not to comply. Yet, the thoughts of social reward and punishment may lead them to compliance when they really do not want too. During the 1970s, psychologist Philip Zimbardo conducted an experiment in which participants played the roles of guards and prisoners in a mock-prison set up in the basement of the psychology department at Stanford University. Originally slated to last two weeks, the experiment had to be terminated after just six days after the guards began displaying abusive behaviour and the prisoners became anxious and highly stressed. The experiment demonstrated how peopleShow MoreRelatedSocial Psychology And Social Influence1600 Words   |  7 PagesIn social psychology, social influence is a process where someone’s beliefs, thoughts and behaviour change by being exposed to beliefs, thoughts and opinion s of others. It manifests in several forms, such as obedience, compliance and conformity. All these types of social influence have been studied by numerous researchers who investigated the reasons why people conform to social norms and obey to authorities, such as Milgram’s classic studies on obedience. His experiments support the popular ideaRead MoreSocial Psychology: Social Influence768 Words   |  3 PagesIntroduction Social influence is a major topic in social psychology and looks at how individual thoughts, actions, reactions and feelings are influenced by other people or social groups. â€Å"Social influence can be seen in our conformity, our obedience to authority, and our group behavior† (Psychology 579). Social influence may also be represented by peer pressure, persuasion, marketing and sales. Purpose of the Study The purpose of this study is to determine how effective social influence is on a groupRead MoreSocial Psychology: The Study of Influences Essay1420 Words   |  6 Pagesthat has been explored. Psychology, or the study of â€Å"why†, has been attempting to answer such questions for centuries. Although there are many answers (reflected in the number of schools of psychology), Social psychology attempts to explain the environmental factors that lead to a person behavior. By definition, Social Psychology is â€Å"the study of the manner in which the personality, attitudes, motivations, and behavior of the individual influence and are influenced by social groups† (Merriam-WebsterRead MoreFritz Heiders Influence Of Social Psychology884 Words   |  4 PagesAt the beginning of the 1900s, Social Psychology was in its infancy as psychologists studied individuals and how they thought, felt, and behaved in their social environment. Scientific methods were developed to describe, capture, and measure social relationships and their influence. Fritz Heider was such a psychologists and his work still influences social psychology and its research today. Judgement of conduct, a current study by Dr. Wong Yee Cheung, is influenced by the work of Heider. The workRead MoreKurt Lewin s Influence On Social Psychology Essay1209 Words   |  5 Pagespsychologist who had the biggest impact on social psychology would be Kurt Lewin. Commonly known as the father of social psychology, Lewin put in countless hours of hard work and research in the study of the individual behavior among social situations. By working with other renowned psychologists, creating theories of his own, and leaving a mark on the world that still thrives today, Kurt Lewin is greatly responsible for the many of the advancements of psychology throughout history. Born in a smallRead MoreUnderstanding Social Psychology And How Relationships With Others Can Influence An Individual s Thoughts And Behaviors966 Words   |  4 PagesWhen studying social psychology, it is essential for one to understand social groups, how they work, and how relationships with others can influence an individual’s thoughts and behaviors. For this reason, a full understanding of cooperation is necessary for social psychologists. Defining Cooperation Cooperation has several components, and therefore must be broken down when being defined. Most importantly, it involves multiple people in any sort of beneficial relationship; that is, the outcomeRead MoreHow do others influence our behaviour? Discuss with reference to social psychology theory and research.1989 Words   |  8 Pagescount: 1,633 How do others influence our behaviour? Discuss with reference to social psychology theory and research. Social influence has many different definitions in psychology, it is mainly used to summarise the field of social psychology. Mainly looking at â€Å"how thoughts, feelings and behaviour of individuals are influenced by actual, imagined or implied presence of others† (McGrath, 1970.) Our social life is mainly distinguished by our social influences; influences we are both consciously andRead MoreSocial Psychology Definition Paper1122 Words   |  5 PagesSocial Psychology Definition Paper Sinthia Brye PSY/ 400 August 30, 2010 Joyce Willis Social Psychology Introduction Social psychology it observes as the influence of our situations with special attention on how we view and affect one another. Social psychology perceives the way we think, influence people, and relates to others. Social psychology lies at psychology’s boundary with sociology, which sociology is the study of people in groups and societies? Social psychology isRead MoreThe Study of Human Behavior in Given Situations1613 Words   |  7 PagesPsychology is a social science study that covers diverse subject topics and carries out different forms of research in order to understand the development and function of human beings. It is a scientific study that focuses on peoples mind and its functions especially those affecting behavior in a particular context. Psychology is divided into different branches, and each branch addresses its own form of content in relation to mental processes and behavior. Social psychology is one of the psychologyRead More Social Psychology Essay1687 Words   |  7 Pagesorigins of modern social psychology. It is therefore important to consider that social psychology cannot be traced back to one single source of origin (Burr, 2003). Hence, this is the reason why there are debates of what social psychology is. Allport (1985) describe d social psychology as the study an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours which are influenced by the actual, imagines, or implied presence of others. As seen from this definition there is a direct link between social science and the