What Is Social Influence?

Social influence affects many facets of our lives: from what we wear to the ideas we believe in, it impacts the way we live and how we engage with the world. We unpack the concept of social influence, how it functions and its relationship to human behavior.

What Is Social Influence?

Social influence is defined as when a person or group affects the behavior, opinion, or decision of others. How does this happen, you may ask — through mere suggestions, cultural norms or social cues. And sometimes it is conscious, like when we ask for an opinion or advice, but other times it just kind of slips in sneakily.

Everyday we have social influence taken place in our daily lives with friends, family, colleagues and even random people. For good or ill, it can help us to take wise decisions as well as very regrettable choices.

Types of Social Influence

Different types of social influence act in different manners. For instance, the most common types are:

1. Conformity

Apath achieves it by making us conform and to change the way we act like those around. For example, if everyone in a group is wearing formal clothes we might have the feel pressure to dress like them as well even though it was something that we normally never do. We comply, because we want to belong and be welcomed.

e.g. You move to a new school and everyone goes to the cafeteria for lunch. You sit with them although you’re single at having lunch

2. Compliance

Compliance means that we accept the request of another person, even if it goes against our wishes. It can be as simple or complex as it wants to be. Eg You know you could do a favour for a friend, even if its inconvenient for you because they asked kindly.

An example: a store clerk asking you if you want to donate $$ when you check out. You hadn’t intended to, but they ask so you say ok.

3. Obedience

Obedience means the willingness to follow big brother when they tell us what to do. We may do so as a result of respect for them or their position, fear of consequences, or we think they should know better. Most of the time, obedience is observed in workplaces or any matters and places with laws.

Illustration: your boss instructs you to get a report completed by the end of the day and therefore stay late at work if need be.

4. Persuasion

Persuasion requires reason, argument, or entreaty to cause someone else to adopt a belief or alter their actions. This is a common form of social influence which we have all come across in marketing and politics, trying to manipulate attitudes.

E.g. an ad convinces someone to buy a phone that has a better camera

Why Do We Fall Flat to Social Influence?

We are social beings by nature. We depend upon one another for support, collaboration and interpretation of reality. Social Influence relies on this fundamental drive to be part of the group, to join in and understand WHY.

Why Do We Yield To Social Influence?

Desire to Belong: Humans are social creatures and we constantly modify our behavior so that it conforms with others in the group. It is part of human nature to want to belong.

Preventing Conflict: Occasionally, we might not like conflict to ensure a disagreement or even an uncomfortable circumstance. Sometimes it is easier to just go with everyone rather than stick out or cause dissent.

Authority & Respect: Humans eat what they are fed, we respect authority, teachers, bosses and cops, believing they have knowledge or power.

3- Not knowing what to do: Often when we are stuck if we ask someone else they give us their take. This is especially the case in new or unfamiliar scenarios.

Effects of Social Identity

Social influence is powerful and it can be a good or a not-so-good thing. It may lead to healthy behavior, such as respect for the law and maintenance of a proper diet However, it can also have negative effects like peer pressure or decision-making against the values we hold.

Social Support: Social influence is also terrific for pushing us to make better decisions. Seeing something we like or enjoy can make us want it too, for instance when we see our friends going out on morning runs, it might motivate us to also take pleasure in exercise.

Negative influence: In contrast, social influencing can lead to wrong influential acts as well, especially at young age which calls for such things as peer pressure. They may imitate risky behaviors such as smoking or speeding simply because they see so many other people doing it.

Handling Social Influence

If you are encouraged by social influence, you will surely make wise decisions. Tips for navigating social influence in your life

Know what you stand for — understanding your own values and beliefs will help with that. Decide accordingly to what really matters to you.

Question it: Before you follow the crowd just pause for second and ask yourself if it is actually beneficial for you or not. Do you take decisions on your own or is it simply what others are doing.

Boundaries: You are allowed to say no when someone is trying to sway you a way you aren’t comfortable with. Another way you can remind yourself who you really are is to set solid boundaries.

Final Thoughts

We are inherently social creatures, and social influence is a fundamental part of our human existence. It changes the way we act, the way we feel and how we see the world. Knowing the various forms of social influence and how to cope with them can ensure that decisions made are yours. Being aware of social influence is helpful for making day-to-day decisions, whether you are deciding what to wear or how to react in a difficult situation.