It is generally known that human beings are susceptible to social pressure and that they can take actions or make decisions (even clearly wrong ones) due to this influence. Starting in the fifties of the 20th century, social psychology has wondered about the reasons that can lead to people to behave in ways that are illogical or harmful to others when they are under pressure from the group.
This social pressure can also be enhanced by the existence of figures that are presented endowed with authority and charisma (such as leaders), or that are excessively adapted to their status and the roles that are derived from it. derive. In this Psychology-Online article we will deepen the subject to understand what is social pressure and how to overcome it.
Index
- what is peer pressure
- Causes of social pressure
- Effects of social pressure
- Consequences of social pressure
- How to overcome peer pressure
What is social pressure?
We can say that social pressure translates into a person's inability to maintain judgment, opinion and beliefs in the face of pressure from other people or group pressure. When this manifests itself not rarely, but continuously, and the person gives in and allows himself to be carried away every day by what others say, believe and do, he is clearly subject to social pressure.
Causes of social pressure.
The human being, as a social being by nature, from the earliest stages of childhood urgently needs to satisfy all relevance needs and, precisely because of this basic need for relevance, we can begin to give in to the social pressure exerted by the environment and the society in which we live.
Now, what causes peer pressure? in adolescents? At this vital stage, social pressure it gets more intense since, in young people, the need to belong and feel part of a group is taken to extremes and comes to directly influence the formation and development of personality. But it is precisely in adolescence where, by giving in to social pressure, the identity of the individual is decisively struck.
There are investigations that affirm to have found a direct correspondence between the beginning of the consumption of drugs and other bad habits and social pressure exerted by the group during this important phase of life. Throughout life, social pressure can continue to affect our daily actions and influence our decisions on a totally regular basis.
Social pressure has its origin in a series of causes that produce the need to be guided by another series of people, as well as to be socially accepted by them. Among the various factors, the following should undoubtedly be highlighted:
- Personal insecurity.
- Low self-esteem.
- Physical appearance deficiencies.
- Feeling of inferiority.
- Lack of personality and motivation.
- need for recognition.
- Difficulty relating.
- Feeling of social rejection.
- lack of affection
Effects of social pressure.
There are numerous studies and cases, in the field of social psychology, in which it is shown that a person can change opinion and even overcome their own limits and principles if the rest of the group to which they belong has a common or contrary idea. hers. This happens only by obeying social conformity, because of social pressure, for fear of being rejected and for feeling accepted.
Asch's experiment
Designed by Polish social psychologist Solomon Ash in 1956. According to the scholar's research, being a member of a group is a sufficient condition to modify one's own actions and even a person's visual judgments and perceptions. In the experiment, a subject is brought into a room with other people, actors who had previously been instructed on how to behave.
Asch shows a picture with three numbered lines and asks each person in the room to identify the longest line. The actors responded first, deliberately choosing the wrong line, making a blatant and obvious mistake.
The results showed that, on average, 32% of the test subjects gave clearly incorrect answers, demonstrating once again that people tend to adapt to the group despite the obvious evidence before their eyes.
To learn more about this experiment on social pressure, check out our article The Asch Experiment: Majority Influence and Conformity.
Milgram experiment
Obedience to authority is ingrained in all of us. This is demonstrated by an experiment carried out in 1961 by the psychologist Stanley Milgram who wanted to measure up to to what extent we are willing to obey the "bosses", even if their demands cause suffering to others persons.
A series of individuals were asked to play the part of the teachers and administer electric shocks to students who answered the questions incorrectly. The students were in another room, they responded badly on purpose and pretending to receive electric shocks, they begged for mercy.
Despite their complaints, most "teachers" continued to administer electric shocks whenever an authority figure asked them to do so. In the end, 65% of the subjects received lethal electric shocks. The results confirmed that normal people would even be willing to kill to obey a figure displaying authority.
in our post Stanley Milgram's obedience to authority experiment we tell you more about this test about social pressure.
Zimbardo's experiment
The Stanford Prison Experiment was an attempt to investigate the psychological effects of power perceived, focusing on the struggle between prisoners and jailers. It was conducted at Stanford University in 1971, by a research group led by psychology professor Philip Zimbardo and using university students as volunteers.
The experiment consisted of assigning the students who agreed to participate in it the roles of guards and prisoners in a simulated prison. Zimbardo demonstrated that the individuals of a united group tend to lose personal identity, conscience, sense of responsibility, feeding the appearance of antisocial impulses.
Within hours of starting the experiment, those assigned as guards began harassing the prisoners. These were mocked with insults and were continually subdued. In less than a week, some guards had turned sadistic and escalated their prisoner abuse as days passed.
None of the participants who became jailers showed sadistic personality signs before the start of the study. The results show that people adjust to the social roles they have to play, especially if the roles are as stereotyped as those of prison guards.
Consequences of social pressure.
How does social pressure affect? Through social pressure, it is possible to exert a certain influence on decision-making and on the behavior of people. And although there are sometimes positive and negative consequences, it is the negative effects of social pressure that begin and intercede more on the well-being of the individual. Among them we can underline the feelings of sadness, anxiety, guilt or disappointment in the person who gives in.
How to overcome social pressure.
What can we do in the face of all this? You have to work on it, because social pressure can be defeated. For this you have to seek the help of a professional, so that some objectives are set to be achieved: strengthen self-esteem, improve social skills and personal values, learn fundamental aspects such as, for example, positivity.
However, here are some of the strategies that can help prevent and combat peer pressure in the different contexts in which it can occur:
By the company and the management of the center
- Accompaniment.
- Promote teamwork.
- Promote the company.
- Promote dialogue and working relationships.
- Promote a good work environment.
- Facilitate the balance between work and private life of workers.
On the part of the individual
- Learn to say no.
- Avoid the negative thoughts.
- Promote proactivity.
- Strengthen your criteria.
- exceed the limiting convictions.
- Overcome fears and insecurities.
- Eliminate negativism and pessimism.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to What is social pressure and how to overcome it, we recommend that you enter our category of Social psychology.
Bibliography
- Moscovici, S., Mugni, G. and Perez, J. (1991). The unconscious social influence: studies in experimental social psychology. Publisher Anthropos.
- Ibáñez, T., Botella, M., Domènech, M., Lajeunesse, J., Martínez, L., Pallí, C., Pujal, M. and Tirado, F. J. (2004). Introduction to social psychology. Editorial Eureka.
