Essay on Human Behaviour and Social Norms - 1593 Words

Running head: HUMAN BEHAVIOUR AND SOCIAL NORMS Do social norms influence human behaviour? Human behaviour is the response to given stimuli, which are socially and environmentally affected. This response is something that can easily be influenced and shaped through many personal, situational, social, biological, mental factors. In this essay the case of social norms influencing human behaviour will be analyzed using previous studies. Social norms are part of a larger influential scale generally named as social influence. Social influence is the exercise of power that an individual or a group can use on other individuals or society in order to alter their attitudes, behaviours and lead them to a desired†¦show more content†¦Group size is important because as Asch (1955) found, the larger the group, the bigger the phenomenon of conformity due to social norms. Group cohesiveness makes the group to have greater bonds due to similarity and ability to easily show empathy to each other (Christensen et al., 2004) and social support is noticed to groups with higher levels of cohesiveness and bonding. On the other hand, there are personal factors affecting the type of conformity such as self-awareness (ability to understand own self), self-presentation (try to present ideal self in order to conform), personal control (desire to feel that one has control, as a human right, over particular situations) and gender (gender differences- women are more likely to conform) (Franzoi, 2009). Based on all the previously referred material, conformity is totally driven by social norms, norms that are not written but sometimes are more powerful than law; the way that a person conforms to society affects the level and type of his compliance to society’s requests. For example, if a person has as personal characteristic not to like altering his self-image/ presentation based on society’s preferences due to his intense belief in independence, it is possible that this person will comply more difficult because of external motivation instead of internal. On the other hand, this means that if a person has an internal compliance only to smile to people who knows and not toShow MoreRelated Social Norms1709 Words   |  7 PagesDeviance is a title that insinuates the violation of social norms in society. This can be described as adjacent to criminal and improper behaviour imposed by the people who break the social norms of a society. Thus, becoming subjective to a label of deviant. Deviants often have punishment bestowed upon them by authoritive figures such as the enforcers of law. There are many universal types of deviance throughout societys over the world such as alcoholism, addiction, mental illness and homosexualityRead MoreNo Behaviour Is ‘Really’ Altruistic. Based on Theory and Research in Social Psychology, Critically Discuss This Contention.1260 Words   |  6 Pageshelping behaviour, and refers to an act that is motivated by the desire to benefit another rather than oneself (Batson Coke, 1981; Berkowitz, 1970, cited in Hogg Vaughan, 2005). The main issue with determining whether a helping act is truly altruistic is one of motivation; if we cannot determine whether an act stems from a desire to benefit others or some kind of ulterior motive, altruism is difficult to demonstrate (Rushton Sorrentino, 1981, cited in Hogg Vaughan, 2005). This essay will firstlyRead MoreEssay on Altruism1083 Words   |  5 PagesWhy do we show altruism? Social and evolutionary biologists, psychologists, economists and philosophers alike have made many attempts at providing an explanation for altruism. As a result, many opposing theories have developed over the years. In this essay, I will attempt to explain altruism as the presence of an altruistic gene which is selected for by natural selection in terms of kin selection. I will explore evidence supporting this theory, as well as evidence pointing to psychological explanationsRead MorePsychological Perspectives On Studying Juvenile Delinquency And Disorder Behavior1642 Words   |  7 PagesThis essay will compare and contrast some psychological and sociological approaches to studying juvenile delinquency and disorder behaviour. The question is what makes people behave disorderly. Youth disorderly behaviours are studied using different approaches including psychological and sociological approaches. Both psychological and sociological approaches to studying juvenile d elinquency are necessary. This essay starts with outlining and defining disorderly behaviour and juvenile delinquencyRead MoreSocial Control And Social Influence1728 Words   |  7 PagesSocial control is â€Å"the attempt of society to regulate the thinking and behaviour of people† (Macionis, 2004, p. 260). It is further understood as any action that ‘‘defines and responds to deviant behaviour’’ (Black, 1976). It is a term used to describe the methods or ways used to regulate individuals or groups of people behave or act to accept and conform to society through rules, laws and norms (Black, 1976). The concept of social control can be simply understood as perceived pressure that a personRead MoreThe Psychological Influences On Health And Wellbeing Of Exercise1521 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Throughout this essay, I will be discussing the psychological influences and the social factors related to health and wellbeing of exercise. The Health Belief Model of behaviour has rival influences that are balanced and decided upon the individual themselves (Ajzen 1985, 1991 ; Ajzen and Madden 1986). Therefore an individual’s perception about their weight and the stress that comes with it shows that they are unhealthy and this can prevent them to be motivated and exercise daily. ThereRead MoreDetemination of Behavior Essay738 Words   |  3 Pages This essay aims to look into the evidence regarding the above statement and to come to a conclusion whether culture really does determine our behaviour. Before we can fully understand the statement we must understand what some of the terms mean. Culture There is no one definition of the word culture. It has many meanings and values. It does not just mean the arts but it also means all learned behaviour. Sociologists define cultureRead MoreExplain the Importance of Socialisation as a Process Within Society.1012 Words   |  5 PagesExplain the importance of socialisation as a process within society. In this essay, i will examine the importance of socialisation as a process with in society. Socialisation is the process a human being will go through to make them who they are. They will learn about different types of cultures, norms and fashions, all of these they will take on throughout their life. Nature vs nurture has a great role in this, and, personally, I believe that nurture makes the largest amount of impact. SocialisationRead MoreCultural Studies: What is Subjectivity? Essays1126 Words   |  5 Pagesbecause people’s surroundings and influences change which leads to there opinions to change also. Richard Schechner states that performances are made of â€Å"twice-behaved behaviours† which means restored behaviours that become so natural to people that it is like a routine for them. Erving Goffman came up with the restored behaviours theory. Goffman defines performance as â€Å"all the activity of an individual which occurs during a period marked by his continuous presence before a particular set of observersRead MoreSociology Functionalism and Symbolic Interaction1494 Words   |  6 Pagessimilarities and differences of Functionalism and Symbolic Interaction. Sociologists analyse social phenomena at different levels and from different perspectives. From concrete interpretations to sweeping generalizations of society and social behaviour, sociologists study everything from specific events, the micro level of analysis of small social patterns, to the big picture, the macro level of analysis of large social patterns. Sociologists today employ three primary theoretical perspectives: the symbolic