Introduction
People’s behavior and opinions can be affected by other individuals, mainly if they belong to the same company. Group influence is a phenomenon that occurs when most persons in a group are constantly interacting to affect the attitudes and conduct of others in that team. Groups have many different forms, including family, friends, work, socializing, and more. Teams use their shared beliefs and experiences to strengthen the group, which can be positive or negative. It is important to review my experience and indicate how the group influence has impacted me.
Positive Effect
Individuals who work in social groups have a better chance of achieving improved results than if they operated separately. Accordingly, Triplett indicated that functioning in a group even causes a certain amount of competition, giving the example of bicycle riders (Myers & Twenge, 2019). In other words, they were faster and more efficient when they rode in a team than when they were alone. Subsequent experiments have proven that people in a group are faster at performing mental activities, such as mathematical assignments. It should be pointed out that my experience also supports this concept.
When I do my homework with friends, there is a discussion, and everyone wants to express the proper and best idea. Consequently, I work more quickly and intensively, which leads to positive results. At the time when I practiced this kind of homework, my grades improved, not only for the task I completed but also for my work in class. Robert Zajonc attributed this phenomenon to the fact that the excitement generated by competition stimulates brain performance (Myers & Twenge, 2019). Therefore, it is effective for me to work in a group to maintain an atmosphere of tension that enables me to reach my maximum potential and the class.
Negative Influence
A person can regulate and control his/her own behavior and actions due to his knowledge of himself and his moral, mental, and physical powers. This is where the significant role of consciousness is discovered because it has a considerable impact on the activity and life of each individual. Therefore, it is essential to determine how a group impacts people’s minds and desires. Some theories argue that a powerful collective effect has a negative impact on an individual’s self-awareness (Myers& Twenge, 2019). Thus, human beings who cannot assert their own judgment are subjected to the desires and authorities of the stronger team members. I have my own negative experience; a few months ago, my acquaintances organized a party, and I was invited. I knew a few of my friends there, and other people were strangers. It is worth noting that there were fifteen persons in the house and several of them, who have leadership abilities, started influencing the others. They suggested drinking more alcohol and setting the music louder, and the other people followed their lead.
On the other hand, I expressed my own views, saying that I would not drink anymore and that I could not make the music louder in order not to disturb the neighbors. Accordingly, I did not submit to the pressure and authority of the group but was capable of clearly expressing my vision of the situation. The other members of the party had a low self-awareness and were willing to the negative impact.
Conclusion
Hence, group influence is an interesting phenomenon because it can have both negative and positive effects. Group spirit and competition can encourage team members to join together to achieve a better result or strain their brains to express excellent ideas to others. Thus, it contributes to effectiveness in many areas, such as sports or learning. Although group effect has negative consequences for people easily influenced by others, they generally have low self-awareness. Unfortunately, problems and unpleasant situations often arise in such cases. Therefore, group impact is multi-faceted, from which only the positive aspects that will motivate to develop should be chosen.
Reference
Myers, D., & Twenge, J. (2019). Loose-leaf for social psychology. McGraw Hill Education.