Introduction
Social influence theorists argue that people are likely to have their attitudes, beliefs, and subsequent behaviors influenced by the people around them, with proximity being a factor affecting the extent of influence. Social influence response phenomena include compliance, conformity, and obedience. The first perception impacts the determination of future decision-making processes of those they interact with (Spears, 2020). Social influence theory is derived as an aspect of interpersonal communication occurring in different forms. The behavioral tendency in response to social influence may be temporary or permanent depending on situational triggers and implications of behavior change (Lim, 2022). These forms are conformity, obedience, internalization, compliance, and identification.
My Social Situation
Various social situations call for different influences, and my day-to-day interactions have been essential in showing other applications of these influences. A significant time when I was affected by a social influence was when I joined this institution of higher learning and was faced with the choice to abide by the institution’s rules and regulations. I also needed to conform to my peers’ behaviors as I needed friends. The rules governing student conduct and desire to fit among peers in this school were essential aspects that determined the social influence I adopted which was obedience and conformity. The realization that the rules were from the school authorities meant no room for negotiation. I later appreciated the social influence since I developed positive behaviors such as responsibility and keeping time.
Obedience as the Most Authentic Response to My Social Situation
Conformity, compliance, obedience, internalization, and identification are the different responses to social influence. Factors that differentiate the responses to influence are the effect of the influence, the power of the influencer, and the significance of the response (Lim, 2022). The large number of students who also abide by the same pre-determined rules and regulations constituted a significant margin of my peer group, making it easy for me to confirm as a way of not standing out among my generation. My responses to social influence were obedience to abide by the constituted rules and conformity to fit in among peers. However, obedience was the most authentic response since the institutions’ regulations dictated conduct. Obedience is a normative social influence where one is inclined to adjust their behaviors to comply with the orders and principles of an authority figure. I had to abide by rules governing students’ conduct since behaving otherwise would result in disciplinary action. I also had to obey the social norms I found in the institution by changing my behavior like the rest of the students.
Conclusion
The different social influence systems have the importance of the anticipated effect, the power of the influencing agent, and the significance of the induced response (Spears, 2020). These determinants affect the influence that one adopts according to different circumstances. In my situation, the anticipated effects of disobedience and non-compliance were punishment and social isolation, respectively hence changing my conduct. Institutional rules and peer students were the influencing agents who determined my behavior change. Both influential agents were powerful since I was new to the institution, and they dominated my new environment.
The induced response had positive significance since I gained new values such as keeping time. When the anticipated effect is deemed essential, an individual may be more inclined to benefit from the expected outcome. Influencing agents such as authoritative figures and influential individuals may also influence decision-making by people and groups. If a response toward change is deemed significant, people and groups will be inclined to change behavioral patterns. Determinants of social behavior shape the social context for individuals to change behavior and adjust their preferences.
References
Spears, R. (2020). Social influence and group identity. Annual Review of Psychology, 72(1).
Lim, W. M. (2022). Toward a theory of social influence in the new normal. Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 46(1), 1-8.