Through several of the concepts found within social psychology, there are explanations as to why I reacted and handled the situation of leaving Western Kentucky University the way that I did. However, for the purpose of this paper I will focus on the concepts of compliancy, affective forecasting, focalism, and immune neglect in order to explain my social situation.
The concept of compliancy closely resembles the concept of conformity in the sense that individuals’ behaviors are adapted though the norms of their surrounding group. However, in comparison to obedience, compliancy is less as intense as obedience in which commands are given to an individual to perform behaviors and conform to beliefs by an authority figure. Compliance is more of
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For example, our text gives us an example of a breakup and some people’s unwillingness to leave a relationship because they feel they will not be about to handle the emotions that follow. This concept completely connects to the mindset that I had in the decision to leave and pursue my own ambitions. Since I was unwilling to not go to Western in the first and then made the decision to leave once I was there my actions can be explained through the concept of affective forecasting because I was overestimated how I would be affected emotionally by my …show more content…
On the other hand, the concept of immune neglect explains the tendency for an individual to overestimate the timing of such positive effects following these types of situations (Social Psychology text, p. 225). This concept expresses how I was able to focus so much of my energy in completing cosmetology school and finding a job to please my father instead of facing the trauma that had come from the hurtful comments of my father. I felt that I would have immediate signs of happiness and satisfaction in my decision to pursue my own goals; however, as I discussed earlier, it wasn’t until two years later that I saw the positive effects of my
In fact, we are not so we use the “immune system” to comfort ourselves through self-deception. In order to keep in comfortable safety lines that boost our own confidence in learning, we try to gain control of the input and output of our thinking. However, by trying to maintain positivity, we may mask our inability to comprehend, thus deceiving ourselves by believing that everything is still in control. Consequently, we do not attempt to solve the problem. This method of self-consolation utilizes the “immune system” to explain the problem, “we may refer to the processes by which the psychological immune system does its job as ‘tactics’ or ‘strategies’, but these terms - with their inevitable connotation of planning and deliberation - should not cause us to think of people as manipulative schemers who are consciously trying to generate positive views of their own experience” (Gilbert 131). When things are out of control or the unexpected happens, we automatically explain or find excuses to interpret the situation. We look for excuses that lead to positive outcomes, no matter how unpleasant it really is. Because we subconsciously want to interpret that we are still in control, we find ways to manipulate the truth to qualify that truth. Once a “reasonable” explanation is conjured, we consciously believe it is the truth because we can decrease the negative impact of the event. Even though the truth has been made up, we
The most basic concept in social psychology is conformity. Conformity is the idea that behaviour or a belief is changed in order to follow, or conform, to what is considered the “norm.” One of the oldest experiments to support this notion was conducted in 1935 by Muzafer Sherif (Song, Ma, Wu, Li, 2012 p. 1366). There are two different types of
Compliance is “a form of social influence involving direct requests from one person to another”, whilst obedience is “a form of social influence in which one person simply orders one or more others to perform some actions” (Baron, R.A. & Branscombe, N.R., 2014, p. 255). These two terms are methods of social influence, particularly prominent in Milgram’s study on obedience. Milgram’s study is a psychological experiment focusing on whether or not people would obey authority figures, even when the instructions given were morally wrong. Back then the terms of the experiment were completely acceptable, but due to the strict controls of contemporary psychology today, this test would be impossible to repeat. The trial breaches many ethical factors as the participant (teacher) is essentially forced to administer electric shocks every time the learner makes a mistake.
This paper focuses on the Geraldine case (Dominguez, Tefera, Aronson, & NCTSN, 2012). Geraldine’s trauma occurred in the home when her father shot her mother. This paper will focus on my personal reactions to this case, how my reactions effect interactions with the people I am working with and finally self-care strategies. Personal reactions are the things that make us feel or act a certain way that others may or may not see, but we know that something has affected us these can be to good things and bad alike. I might react to winning the lottery by passing out, just the same I might get depressed if a close friend dies. These are reactions to the situations we are presented in life.
People have been changing their behavior or obeying someone else’s commands for years. This continues today in our everyday lives. Conformity and obedience seem similar but differ in several ways. Conformity is defined by psychologists as a change in behavior or belief to accord with others. Similar to this, is obedience. Obedience is defined acting in accordance with a direct order or command. Normally people conform to reap a reward or to avoid punishment. If we comply with a direct order or command it is considered obedience. Most of the time when people comply, it is to be accepted among others so they are not seen as outsiders. On the other hand, when we obey, we are obeying a command an authority figure gives. Conformity and obedience like this can be seen in groups such as cults.
“You ruin your life by desensitizing yourself” (Sparacino, n.d.). This quote by Bianca Sparacino (n.d.) points out the gravity of the impact desensitization can have on someone. When the word “desensitization” comes up, people tend to think of an emotionally insensitive or callous human. Although this is true, desensitization involves much more than most realize. Whatever leads someone to the point of desensitization takes hold of their emotions, actions, and mind. The term “desensitization” can be defined as overstimulation to the point of indifference, a lack of empathy, and a conditioned response.
Conformity and Obedience in Society The desire to be accepted and belong to a group is an undeniable human need. But how does this need affect an individual? Social psychologists have conducted numerous experiments and concluded that, through various forms of social influence, groups can change their members’ thoughts, feelings, and behavior. In her essay “Group Minds,” Doris Lessing discusses our paradoxical ability to call ourselves individuals and our inability to realize that groups define and influence us.
B. & Goldstein, N. J., 2004) while one might privately disagree on it (Myers, 2012). Conformity refers to “the act of changing one’s behavior to match the responses of others” (Cialdini, R. B. & Goldstein, N. J., 2004, p. 606), as a result of group pressure either in a real or imagined situation (Myers, 2012).
Elliot Aronson (2012) provides a definition of conformity, two social psychological processes that underlie a conformity and cited examples of reasons why people conform in the book, The Social Animal. Aronson (2012) defines a conformity as “a change in a person’s behavior or opinion as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people” (p.19). In accordance with Aronson’s (2012) definition of conformity, people do conform owing to the social influence, which are two main social psychological processes: belonging and getting information.
Our society is influenced by social norms that guides our everyday behavior. One of the chapters of our social psychology textbook discussed a great deal about conformity. However, what is considered to be appropriate behavior is subject to change depending on the situation; this is what we call “conformity.” Conformity being defined as a change in behavior as a result of the real or imagined influence of other people. Conforming to something or an idea means that you need some sort of compliance. Compliance is a type of social influence where an individual does what someone else wants them to do; following a request or suggestion. This is similar to obedience, but there is no direct order. There are many techniques of compliance that a person
From these two studies, it is evident that the majority of people view themselves as nonconformists. This presents an interesting thought. In both of these studies, each participant functioned as an individual. These situations, although portraying how an individual believes they would operate, ultimately lack in social pressure. Consequently, the participants in these studies would intrinsically exhibit lower levels of conformity.
To come to understand why people act with deviant behavior, we must comprehend how society brings about the acceptance of basic norms. The “techniques and strategies for preventing deviant human behavior in a society” are called social control (Schaefer, 2009). As we respect and acknowledge these social norms we expect others to do so as well. Therefore, according to our behavior sanctions are carried out whether they are positive or negative. Conformity, which refers to “going along with peers, people of our own status who have no special right to direct our behavior” (Schaefer, 2009), is one way social control occurs in a group level which influence the way we act. On the other hand, obedience is the compliance with a higher authority, resulting in social control at a societal level. The sanctions used to promote these factors can be informal and formal social control. Informal social control can be very casual in enforcing social norms by using body language or other forms of discipline, however formal social control is carried out by authorized agents when desired behavior is not obtained by informal sancti...
Conformity, compliance and obedience are behavioural consequences of social influence (real or imagined social pressure) that occur in the presence of a group or other individuals (Elsenbroich & Xenitidou, 2012). Often these concepts are misinterpreted as being the same or even synonymous and while they do have similarities they are also very dissimilar. In social psychology conformity, compliance and obedience are distinct concepts that coincide due to their effect on behaviour in the presence of others. Pascual, Line Felonneau, Guéguen & Lafaille (2013) define conformity as an altering of behaviour and beliefs in an individual in order to reflect the behaviour and beliefs of the group that holds influence, though Myers (2014) emphasises that
Conformity is defined as the compliance with social standards and laws in a particular culture, environment, society and time. If this occurs the individual changes their attitudes, beliefs or actions to align more holistically with those in the surrounding groups and environment, as a result of real or perceived group pressure. This is ultimately a direct result of the power which a group has over the individual. There are two types of conformity, normative conformity, and informational conformity. Normative conformity is motivated by the desire to be liked and accepted in society. This is most widely known as peer pressure. For example, a student begins smoking because their peers are smoking,
“Conformity is the act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to what individuals perceive as normal of their society or social group. This influence occurs in small groups and society as a whole, and may result from subtle unconscious influences, or direct and overt social pressure. Conformity can occur in the presence of others or when an individual is alone” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conformity)