How does the group around us effect your behavior? And What are 5 ways people around us change our behavior whether we are paying attention or not?
Most of us change our behavior to reflect our surroundings. We act differently in church than we do at a party. We behave more formally and circumspectly in some settings. We usually mirror the actions of those around us. Can you think of some other ways those around us affect behaviors?
If you look at the way your behavior effects others, the same would be true about how others effect you.
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The group around us can have a significant influence on our behavior. This is because humans are social beings, and we often look to others for cues on how to act and behave. The effects of the group on our behavior are known as social influence.
Now, let's explore five ways people around us can change our behavior, even when we may not consciously be paying attention:
1. Conformity: Conformity refers to the tendency to adjust our behavior or beliefs to match those of the majority. When we are uncertain or feel the need for social approval, we may conform to the group's norms or expectations without even realizing it.
2. Peer pressure: Peer pressure is a specific form of social influence where we are urged or coerced by our peers to adopt certain behaviors, attitudes, or choices. Whether it's trying a new activity, engaging in risky behaviors, or conforming to social trends, the desire to be accepted by our peers can be a powerful force.
3. Social facilitation: The presence of others can enhance our performance on simple or well-practiced tasks. The arousal caused by the presence of others can lead to an increase in performance, commonly known as the "audience effect." On the other hand, complex or unfamiliar tasks may be negatively affected by the presence of others.
4. Social loafing: In some situations, when individuals are part of a group, they may exert less effort compared to when working alone. This phenomenon, known as social loafing, occurs when the responsibility of a task is shared among group members, leading to a diffusion of accountability and reduced effort on the part of individuals.
5. Obedience to authority: It is well-documented that people tend to comply with requests or instructions from figures of authority, even when those requests may be morally questionable. This obedience to authority can shape our behavior, often without us being consciously aware of the impact.
Understanding these various ways in which people around us can influence our behavior can help us become more aware of the power of social influence and make more conscious choices about our actions and decisions.