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Can the concept of social influence explain why some people conform to society's norms while others resist?

Gustavo Noller

Hey!

Yes, the concept of social influence can indeed explain why some people conform to society’s norms while others resist. In fact, social influence is a powerful factor that shapes our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors as members of society.

Let's first define social influence. It refers to the ways in which other people influence our thoughts, feelings, and actions. There are three main types of social influence: conformity, compliance, and obedience. Each of these types operates in different ways and can have different effects on our behavior.

Conformity is the most common type of social influence. It refers to the tendency to adjust our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors to match those of the people around us. Conformity can be explicit or implicit. Explicit conformity occurs when we actively seek out social norms and conform to them. For example, we may choose to dress in a certain way to fit in with our peers at school or work. Implicit conformity, on the other hand, occurs when we unconsciously adopt the behaviors and attitudes of those around us. For example, we may start using certain slang words or adopting certain social norms without even realizing it.

Compliance is another form of social influence. It refers to the tendency to comply with requests or demands from other people. Compliance can be based on a desire to be liked or accepted by others, or it may be a response to a perceived authority figure or social pressure. For example, we may comply with a request from a friend to attend a particular event because we want to maintain our social connection with them.

Obedience is the highest level of social influence. It refers to the tendency to obey the instructions or orders of an authority figure. Obedience can be based on a desire for rewards or fear of punishment. For example, we may obey a traffic officer telling us to stop our car at an intersection even if we don't agree with the justification behind it.

So, to answer your question, the concept of social influence can explain why some people conform to society's norms while others resist. Conformity, compliance, and obedience are all forms of social influence that can dictate our behavior. However, each of us differs in the weight we give to each type of social influence. Depending on our personality, social context, and individual circumstances, we may be more or less likely to conform, comply, or obey. Additionally, our degree of resistance to social norms can differ depending on the situation. For example, we may resist a particular norm in one context (such as sexual orientation) while conforming to another norm in a different context (such as wearing certain clothes in a professional setting).

In summary, social influence is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that helps explain why some people conform to society's norms while others resist. Conformity, compliance, and obedience are all types of social influence that can influence our behavior, but our response to each type of influence can vary greatly depending on our personality, social context, and individual circumstances.