Social Sciences - Psychology



Social Sciences - Psychology

Introduction

The present study is about the social influence theory and the social identity theory. The social influence theory is defined as the social psychology and individual thought of the person which is changed through the influence of the social groups. There are different types of influences occurred in the theory of the social influence. These include peer pressure, leadership, persuasion, conformity and obedience. Social influence is the social psychological theory use for evaluating the change in the attitude and behaviour of person because of the influence of the other person attitude and behaviour. There are three types of social influence exist in the psychological theory. These include compliance, identification and the internalization (Wood et. al, 2001, Pp. 32). The social identity theory is defined as the self concept of an individual which is derived from membership in the social group. This theory was formulated in the 1970's and helped in introducing the concept of the intergroup behaviour. This theory is best described as the theory which helps in predicting the behaviour and attitude of the person based on the status differences which move the person from one group to other. This theory also helps in social categorization of the person (Ashforth and Mael, 1989, 20-39).

The present study is about the social influence theory and the social identity theory, analyze of the case study of the British Royal Marines and Babooning and Hazing, discuss why members go to such lengths to mark the entry of a new comer and the real life case study related to the social influence theory and the social identity theory. The study also includes the reason why newcomers humiliated and sometimes even being abused in the social group.

Discussion

Social Influence Theory

Social influence theory is defined as the emotional and behavioural affection of one person from other. The social influence theory occurs in many forms in the person's attitude and behaviour. Changes in the behaviour of the person is occur because of the peer pressure, leadership, obedience, social groups and persuasion by the group of people or individual person. Herbert Kelman, the Harvard psychologist, defined the three ways used by the person in the social group. First is the compliance, which includes when one person agree with the other person's opinion but keep his own opinion privately. While second is the identification, which includes when one person agree with the other person because of the influence of the other person behaviour and attitude. Third is the internalization which includes when one person agree with the other person completely (Wood et. al, 2001, Pp. 32).

Social Identity Theory

Social identity theory was developed by the Henri Tajfel and the John Turner in the era of 1980s. The concept of the social identity theory explained the behaviour of the people in the intergroup. This theory is used to examine the categorisation of the people inside and outside the group which affect the perception, attitude and behaviour of the ...