Social Interaction Essay

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Social interactions can affect how an individual reacts, behaves, and feels. This means that social interactions can affect every aspect of individual’s life. When a social interaction changes how an individual behaves or feels, means that this interaction had an effect on that individual. Another way that social interactions effect individuals is through the idea of conformity and obedience. Both classical and contemporary research studies look at the affect social interactions have on an individual’s behavior. Another aspect of these concepts is the concept that societal influences can lead to deviance from dominant group norms.
According to Fiske (2010), conformity can be defined as the influence of the majority on individual behavior. This means that an “in-group” or crowd of people can cause another individual to act or behave according to the norm of their particular group. Conformity can be seen in many areas of life and social interactions. An example of professional conformity would be getting acclimated to a new set of rules or norms within the work place. An example of conformity would be the German populace who conformed to Hitler’s rules, during WWII. In this case some of the German people were with Hitler and others conformed so that they would be safe. In many cases conformity can mean going outside of what a person believes in order to conform to the new rules. Conformity can also be very negative in nature. An example of negative conformity could be described as a situation that includes a person being pressured into conformity to the norms of a certain group. This conformity can mean that an individual will have to change their behaviors and feelings in order to conform to a different set of rule...

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...e influences can be positive and help develop a more prosperous individual that will contribute to societal norms or the in group mentality. On the other had social influences can also be negative. In many cases how another group perceives an individual can determine if they will change or conform in a negative or positive way. Negative transformations can cause a person to be seen as societal deviant and therefore outside of society. Conformity and obedience should be seen as two separate ways for an individual to change and become acclimated to either the in group or out group of society. Both conformity and obedience can be negative or positive in nature and can be viewed as such. No matter the change that an individual will make to themselves it is important to remember that in many cases this is due societal norms and the influence that they have on them.

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