Kowalski and Westen, (2011) “social influence refers to the
influence of the presence of other people on thought, feeling, and behavior.” (p.
686). Social influence, regardless from another individual or group of
individuals may affect the behavior of individuals but can influence some
individuals more than others. Individuals act and behave in particular
ways at certain times and in certain places. Whether an individual behaves differently
at work and at home, or one behaves like friends, social influences may alter
and shape thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (Loop, 2013). In certain social
situations individual’s behaviors will change because of obedience and
conformity.
Obedience
Kowalski and
Westen, (2011) “obedience is a social influence process whereby individuals
follow the dictates of an authority” (p. 694). When obedience occurs
individuals act in response to the direct order given by another individual,
such as an authority figure. Therefore, this is obedience to authority. In
order for an individual to obey authority, the individual has to accept the legitimacy
of the command given (McLeod, 2007). The assumption is that without a direct
order an individual may not act or behave in such a way. McLeod, (2007) “obedience
is a desirable and necessary phenomenon and without obedience to authority
individuals and society may not function” (p. 1).
Cardwell (2005), “Stanley Milgram’s study of obedience remains one
of the most iconic experiments in social psychology” (p. 1). Milgram's
experiments demonstrated the power of obedience, and demonstrated that
individuals have a tendency of following direct orders of an authority figures (McLeod,
2007). Milgram’s experiment also demonstrated that individuals upon direct
orders would give helpless individuals electric shocks without questioning the
authority figure in command. Milgram's experiments did not exactly prove that
authority is always obeyed because the experiments seemed biased. However, the experiments
did show the tendency of obedience to authority, regardless if biased or not. Obedience
takes on two forms, such as constructive and destructive obedience.
Constructive Obedience
Constructive
obedience is a form of obedience, beneficial to an individual and to society. Constructive
obedience holds survival value. Therefore, this form of obedience adds to the physical
and mental well-being of individuals and society. Individuals contribute to
themselves and to society and society benefits when individuals obey their
doctors, health, and safety personal in reference to their behaviors in certain
environments.
Destructive Obedience
Destructive obedience is a form of obedience, harmful to
individuals and to society. Examples of destructive obedience are the Holocaust
murders of Jewish people by the German Nazis, The My Lai massacre during the
Viet Nam war, the people's temple mass suicide, and the murders of one million
Armenians in Turkey during the early 1900s (McLeod, 2007). Acts of destructive
obedience justifications occur from higher goals, such as racial purity. As a
result of destructive obedience individuals endanger themselves are a danger to
society, and society suffers.
Conformity
Kowalski and
Westen, (2011) “conformity is the process by which people change their
attitudes or behavior to accommodate the standards of peers or groups” (p.
694). When an individual changes it is of a response to group pressure imagined
or not (McLeod, 2007). The group pressure imagined or not involves the physical
presence of others and the pressure of social norms and expectations (McLeod, 2007).
When an individual yields to group pressures (conformity) adverse behaviors may
follow, such as teasing, bullying, and criticism of others. Persuasion of other
individuals also occurs. Conformity occurs when an individual conforms to a position
or belief of the majority. Conformity occurs because of either a desire to fit
in, or need for acceptance, or the desire to be correct, or to conform to a
social role (McLeod, 2007). Crowne and Marlowe (1964), “individuals with low
self-esteem and those who are especially motivated by a need for social
approval are more likely to conform” (as cited in Kowalski & Westen, 2011, p.
685).
Solomon Asch performed one of the more powerful conformity
experiments that demonstrated the power of situations in influencing attitudes
and behaviors (Kowalski & Westen, 2011). Asch gathered seven to nine groups
of college students to participate in an experiment on visual judgment (Kowalski
& Westen, 2011). Only one of the college students was an unknowing
participant who conformed to group pressure and agreed with the other
participants who knowing answered falsely to a particular question. This
demonstrated how group pressure can force some individuals to conform. Leon
Mann stated that the essence of conformity is yielding to group pressure (McLeod,
2007). Mann identified three types of conformity, which are normative,
informational, and ingratiational.
Normative Conformity
Normative
conformity occurs when an individual yields to group pressure to fit into a
certain group because of the fear of rejection by that certain group. McLeod (2007),
“this type of conformity usually involves compliance – where a person publicly
accepts the views of a group but privately rejects them” (p. 1).
Informational Conformity
Informational
conformity occurs when an individual lacks the knowledge of guidance and looks
to the group for it or when an individual is in an ambiguous circumstance and
socially compares his or her own behavior with the behavior of a group (McLeod,
2007). McLeod (2007), “this type of conformity usually involves internalization
– where a person accepts the views of the groups and adopts them as an
individual” (p. 1).
Ingratiational Conformity
Ingratiational conformity occur when an individual conforms to
impress or gain favor or acceptance from other individuals (McLeod, 2007). This
type of conformity is similar to normative influence, although motivated by a
need of social rewards instead of a threat of rejection (McLeod, 2007). Group
pressure is not a contributing factor in conforming.
Precursors and Consequences of Obedience
and Conformity
The
precursors of obedience whether constructive or destructive obedience are that
an individual may change his or her own thoughts and behaviors and looks toward
an authority figure to determine acceptable thoughts and behaviors. The
consequence is developing co-dependence problems. Destructive obedience also
endangers an individual and society. The precursors of conformity are that an
individual loses his or her sense of self in relations to his or her own
thoughts and behaviors and looks to the group that the individual conforms to
for acceptable thoughts and behaviors. The consequence is developing co-dependence
problems.
Associated Phenomenon
Social
facilitation may occur in obedience when an individual does not want to disobey
authority and have thoughts or behavior adversely to the thoughts and behaviors
directed by the authority. Social facilitation occurs in conformity when an
individual changes because it is of a response to group pressure imagined or
not (McLeod, 2007). Social loafing occurs in conformity when individuals exert
less effort in achieving goals when working as a group instead of as an
individual. Groupthink occurs in obedience and conformity when individuals of a
group do not express their concerns about the dynamics, decisions, or direction
of the group, which occurs because of the desire to maintain obedience or conformity.
Therapeutic Intervention
Therapeutic intervention is useful in obedience and conformity.
When an individual is more concerned about the acceptable thoughts and behaviors
of an authority or group one may endanger him or herself and society by
becoming less concerned about how the thoughts and behaviors affect him or herself
and affect society. Self esteem problems can occur because of this as well. Obedience
and conformity influences are beneficial and positively affect an individual
and society as well. Only in some instances are therapeutic interventions
needed.
Conclusion
Kowalski and
Westen, (2011) “in truth, however, we are all victims of social influence on a
daily basis” (p. 692).
Loop, E. (2013). eHow. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/info_8510709_social-influences-human-behavior.html
McLeod, S. (2007). SimplyPsychology. Retrieved from
http://www.simplypsychology.org/obedience.html
Cardwell, M. (2005). Obedience and the Real World.
Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/obedience%20in%20the%20real%20world.pdf
McLeod, S. (2007). SimplyPsychology. Retrieved from
http://www.simplypsychology.org/conformity.html
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