Group_Behavior_Rough_Draft

Group Behavior “Social psychology is a science that studies the influences of our situations, with special attention to how we view and affect one another. More precisely, it is the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another (Myers2010)”. “Social psychologists study attitudes and beliefs, conformity and independence, love and hate (Myers2010)”. Principles of persuasion influence group behavior. A social psychology experiment which I believe is a good example of how a person can influence the behavior of another person is Stanley Milgram's "pseudo" experiment. The "pseudo" experiment tested for obedience to authority. What shocked me was the way the "teachers" continued to inflict pain on the "learners" just to comply with the person conducting the experiment, the authoritative figure. I believe that the results would be similar if the experiment was to be re-created here, in U.S., in our current time; because no matter what the test subjects’ personality is he/she will be obedient to the authoritative figure. The implications Milgrams' 1960s work and Brown's "pseudo" re-creation in 2007 have on our understating of the human condition are that we all are influenced by the authoritative figure. If the conductor was not to be in the same room as the "teacher", the "teacher" would have stopped the experiment earlier and many wouldn’t have done through giving the "learners" the highest volts available. Though it is said that those that went through the whole thing are good and compliant people but then again if the authoritative figure wasn’t to be present I am positive that they wouldn’t have went through with it. Evaluating this experiment helped me to better understand the concepts discussed in this course: self-efficacy, self-perception, and persuasion. The self-perception of a person in relation to outside forces has a major role in the choices the person will make, in what the person believes. What people think of a person impacts the behavior of that person and the way they see themselves. There are some particular parts of social behavior that have a major role in the way people will act and how they will view themselves. The way people behave in public is goal-oriented. The interactions of people serve as a goal or a need to fulfill a purpose. There are a few common goals or needs that people have such as the need for relationships, the need to understand themselves and others, the desire to gain something, and to attract others. The interaction between a certain person and the circumstances in which one finds oneself determine the outcome. Often, people have a different behavior in different circumstances. The circumstance has a major role and influences the behavior of people in a strong way. Humans spend a huge amount of their time considering the social circumstances. The social interaction of humans help form their self-concept and perception. The influence of perception one has of another people is explained by the theory of correspondent inferences. This happens when we conclude that the behaviors and actions of others correspond to the intentions and personalities they have. Behavior can be informative and misleading in some circumstances. I find that family has a major role in the way humans behave in society. As, people grow they learn from their families things that many benefit the society and things that may do the opposite. Families, and most of all the parents, have a huge amount of wisdom about life, of course that is because they have already been a child and now are adults hence they have experienced many thing in life. Parents teach their children what they have learned, and parents show how to behave, feel about oneself, and to think about society. “Probably the strongest influence in our lives is the family we grew up in. Our birth order, the personality's of our parent(s), the way we were treated by our siblings, the socioeconomic status of the family, their education, the place we lived — all of these shaped us at the time when we were most vulnerable to being shaped. Besides these tacit influences, our parents taught us all the basics of "proper" behavior. When we were small children, we jolly well did whatever impulse entered our heads. We did not know that it was socially unacceptable to eat with our fingers, to play with the vase on the coffee table, to hit our brother, to break our toys. These and a million other rules were drummed into our heads by our parents. Some of this is OK, some not so OK. Either way, it is often difficult to change things inculcated at such an early age.” Friends have a major role in the life of young people because they influence them with the advice they give and because they try to guide them to get through with the circumstances of live. It isn't important what type of friend's young people have they still have a huge influence on them either good or bad. Culture and gender majorly influence humans. Behavior is socially programmed and the diversity of languages, customs, and expressive behaviors confirm this. There are social expectations in every culture. "We often view these social expectations, or norms, as a negative force that imprisons people in a blind effort to perpetuate tradition." (Meyers 2010) Dr. Ralph H. Hines says, "It is the norms which give regularity and meaningfulness to behavior and make predictable interaction between members of a group. The absence of these norms would mean chaos and confusion in the normal functioning of the individual with his culture, his sub-cultures and other individuals." (Gabler 2010) I feel the difference in social expectations or norms is the most difficult part of dealing with people from different cultures. According to the text book, “norms are standards for accepted and expected behavior. Norms prescribe “proper” behavior (Myers2010)”. “Cultures vary in their norms for expressiveness, punctuality, rule-breaking, and personal space (Myers2010)”. The norm on personal space in Russia and in America is different. “Personal space is a sort of portable bubble or buffer zone that we like to maintain between ourselves and others. As the situation changes, the bubble varies in size. With strangers, most Americans maintain a fairly large personal space, keeping 4 feet or more between us. On uncrowned buses, or in rest- rooms or libraries, we protect our space and respect others’ space. We let friends come closer, often within 2 or 3 feet (Myers2010)”. On the other hand, Russian female friends can hold hands or interlock arms while walking. Paying attention to cultural norms can help people from a different culture to assimilate. The most significant benefits of interacting with people of different cultures is becoming aware of the norms of your own culture and also becoming aware of the other cultures’ norms to know how to act when socializing with people of a different culture. According to the text book, “there is no better way to learn the norms of our culture than to visit another culture and see that its members do things that way, whereas we do them this way (Myers2010)”. “Norms grease the social machinery. In unfamiliar situations, when the norms may be unclear, we monitor others’ behavior and adjust our own accordingly (Myers2010)”. “In most sets women poses lower levels of status and power then men do.” In conclusion, group behavior is influenced by society. Family, friends, and circumstances have a major role in influencing people. References Lindon J. Eaves et. al. (2008). Social and genetic influences on adolescent religious attitudes and practices. Social Forces 86(4), 1621-1646. Retrieved January 21, 2011, from Project MUSE database. Melissa Gabler. (2010). Norms, institutions and social learning: An explanation for weak policy integration in the wto's committee on trade and environment. Global Environmental Politics 10(2), 80-117. Retrieved May 8, 2011, from Project MUSE database. Myers, David G. (2010).  Social Psychology (10th ed.).  Boston:  McGraw-Hill Murray Webster Jr. & Lisa Slattery Rashotte. (2010). Behavior, expectations and status. Social Forces 88(3), 1021-1049. Retrieved May 13, 2011, from Project MUSE database. Terry W. Sterry et. al. (2010). Temperament and peer acceptance: The mediating role of social behavior. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly 56(2), 189-219. Retrieved May 8, 2011, from Project MUSE database.