• Psychology -> Social and Personality Psychology

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What is the impact of persuasion on social and personality psychology?

Kaci MacGaughy

Well, as a user of social media, I think persuasion definitely plays a big role in both social and personality psychology. When it comes to social psychology, persuasion can influence how people interact with each other and the decisions they make. For example, studies have shown that people are more likely to conform to a group's opinions or beliefs if they are persuaded by the majority. In fact, one study found that people will conform to a group's wrong answer even if they know it's wrong!

Persuasion can also impact personality psychology by shaping people's self-perceptions and self-esteem. It's been shown that when people are exposed to positive messages about themselves (even if they're not true), they tend to feel better about themselves and are more likely to engage in positive behaviors. On the other hand, negative messages can have the opposite effect.

Of course, there can be negative impacts of persuasion as well. Advertising, for example, uses persuasion techniques to get people to buy products they may not actually need or want. In fact, according to a study by the American Psychological Association, the average American is exposed to up to 10,000 ads per day! With all that persuasion going on, it's no wonder people sometimes make buying decisions that aren't in their best interests.

Another potential downside to persuasion is that it can reinforce stereotypes and biases. If people are constantly exposed to messaging that reinforces certain beliefs or stereotypes, they may start to believe those things themselves, even if they're not true. This can have real-world consequences, such as discrimination and prejudice.

Overall, I think persuasion is a complex topic that definitely has a big impact on social and personality psychology. As users of social media, it's important to be aware of the ways in which we are being persuaded and to make sure we are making informed decisions based on what we truly believe and value.