Social influence refers to the ways in which people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the presence or actions of others. Social influence can be direct, when someone explicitly tells you what to do or think, or it can be indirect, when you observe the behavior of others and adopt similar behaviors or attitudes.
There are several types of social influence, including normative influence, which occurs when people conform to the expectations or norms of a group in order to fit in or be liked; informational influence, which occurs when people rely on the knowledge or expertise of others to make decisions or solve problems; and minority influence, which occurs when a small group of people successfully persuade the majority to change their beliefs or behaviors.
One example of social influence in India is the pressure to conform to traditional gender roles. In many parts of India, there are strong societal expectations about how men and women should behave and what kinds of jobs they should have. These expectations can influence people's choices and behaviors, even if they personally disagree with these expectations. For example, a woman who wants to become a doctor might feel pressure from her family and community to marry and have children instead, because this is considered a more traditional and acceptable role for a woman. Similarly, a man who wants to be a stay-at-home parent might feel pressure from his peers and society to pursue a more traditional male role, such as becoming a businessman or engineer.
Regenerate response