Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
The need for a positive relationship with the people around leads us to conformity. [4] This fact often leads to people exhibiting public compliance—but not necessarily private acceptance—of the group's social norms in order to be accepted by the group. [5] Social norms refers to the unwritten rules that govern social behavior. [6]
There are three processes of attitude change as defined by Harvard psychologist Herbert Kelman in a 1958 paper published in the Journal of Conflict Resolution. [1] The purpose of defining these processes was to help determine the effects of social influence: for example, to separate public conformity (behavior) from private acceptance (personal belief).
A power strategy that ultimately leads to private acceptance and long-lasting change (for example, information power) may be difficult to implement, and consume considerable time and energy. In the short term, complete reliance on information power might even be dangerous (for example, telling a small child not to run into the street unattended).
Compliance strategies exploit psychological processes in order to prompt a desired outcome; however, they do not necessarily lead to private acceptance by the targeted individual. [3] Meaning, an individual may comply with a request without truly believing the action(s) they are being asked to complete is acceptable.
Conformity is the tendency to change our perceptions, opinions, or behaviors in ways that are consistent with group norms. [16] Norms are implicit, specific rules shared by a group of individuals on how they should behave. [17] People may be susceptible to conform to group norms because they want to gain acceptance from their group. [17]
Uncertainty is a major factor that encourages the use of social proof. One study found that when evaluating a product, consumers were more likely to incorporate the opinions of others through the use of social proof when their own experiences with the product were ambiguous, leaving uncertainty as to the correct conclusion that they should make.
Get AOL Mail for FREE! Manage your email like never before with travel, photo & document views. Personalize your inbox with themes & tabs. You've Got Mail!
Marx claims that this power dynamic creates social order. James Coleman (sociologist) used both micro and macro conditions for his theory. [53] For Coleman, norms start out as goal oriented actions by actors on the micro level. [53] If the benefits do not outweigh the costs of the action for the actors, then a social norm would emerge. [53]