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The Influence of Social Pressure

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Published: Mar 16, 2024

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Social Pressure: Understanding Its Impact and How to Combat It

Social pressure, a force many of us grapple with on a daily basis, often dictates our decisions and actions more than we’d like to admit. It’s that invisible hand gently nudging us towards conformity, urging us to fit neatly into society’s pre-approved molds. Whether it’s the compulsion to keep up with the latest fashion trends or the fear of voicing an unpopular opinion, social pressure can be incredibly powerful.

I’ve spent a great deal of time studying this phenomenon. In my research, I’ve discovered that social pressure doesn’t just influence our choices; it shapes our very identities. From the careers we pursue to our political leanings – the impact is all-pervasive and far-reaching.

However, social pressure isn’t necessarily always negative. It also fosters cooperation and encourages societal norms that maintain order and harmony. Like most things in life, it’s about finding balance between conforming for collective benefit and preserving individual freedom.

Understanding Social Pressure: An Overview

Let’s dive right into the topic of social pressure. It’s an experience we’ve all faced at some point in our lives, isn’t it? The feeling of being pushed by peers or society to act or think in a certain way can be quite intense. But what exactly is social pressure?

Simply put, it’s that nudge from society to conform; the invisible hand guiding us towards ‘acceptable’ behaviors and away from those deemed ‘unpleasant’. These pressures can come from various sources – friends, family, colleagues, even strangers on the internet.

Now you might be asking yourself why does this matter? Well, when viewed through a magnifying glass, we’ll see that social pressure has direct implications on our mental health and decision-making processes. For instance:

• According to Psychology Today , about 70% of teens say they feel pressured into fitting in socially.
• A study published in Journal of Consumer Research found that people are more likely to make unhealthy food choices when they feel pressured by their peers.

But it’s not all doom and gloom! Sometimes these pressures can push us towards positive actions too. Like volunteering for a charity because your friends are doing it or opting for reusable bags over plastic ones due to societal expectations.

However, as with everything else moderation is key here. It becomes problematic when we start losing ourselves trying to fit into these often arbitrary societal molds. When we find ourselves changing solely based on what others might think – that’s when we need to take a step back and reassess.

So there you have it! A quick overview of social pressure – its sources and implications. In the following sections I’ll delve deeper into each aspect providing you with comprehensive insights on this fascinating subject. So stay tuned!

Impact of Social Pressure on Individual Behavior

Social pressure has a profound influence on our behavior. It’s an intriguing subject that reveals much about human nature and societal norms. Let’s delve into how this force molds individuals’ actions.

Firstly, I’d like to mention the concept of conformity—our tendency to align our behaviors and attitudes with those around us. This phenomenon is primarily driven by social pressure. One classic example is Solomon Asch’s experiments in the 1950s, where participants were more likely to agree with obviously incorrect answers just because others did so.

Secondly, we’ll consider peer pressure—a specific type of social pressure that particularly affects teenagers and young adults. Here are some statistics:

• About 55% of teenagers feel pressured by their friends to use drugs (Source: American Addiction Centers).
• Around 75% of girls aged 13-17 reported feeling significant peer pressure related to appearance (Source: National Report on Self Esteem).

These figures underscore how critical it becomes for young people to fit in and be accepted by peers, often leading them towards risky behaviors.

Thirdly, let’s look at workplace pressures—an adult form of social coercion often underestimated but equally impactful. A survey conducted by the American Psychological Association revealed:

• Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Americans report that work is a significant source of stress.
• For 41% of employed adults, job-related pressures come from social aspects such as fitting into a company culture or dealing with office politics.

Thus, it’s clear that throughout our lifespan—from adolescence through adulthood—social pressures wield substantial influence over individual behavior.

Finally, it’s worth noting that social pressure isn’t always negative. It can be a valuable tool for positive change as well. For instance, societal expectations and norms can encourage individuals to adopt healthier habits, like physical activity or balanced diets.

In summary, the impacts of social pressure on individual behavior are multifaceted and deeply ingrained in our lives. Whether it’s conformity experiments, peer pressures among teenagers, stressors within workplaces, or societal pushes towards healthy lifestyles—these forces shape our actions enormously.

The Role of Media in Amplifying Social Pressure

It’s undeniable that media plays a significant role in our lives today. I’ve noticed this particularly when it comes to the issue of social pressure. From advertisements promoting a certain lifestyle, to influencers endorsing products or behaviors, we’re constantly bombarded with messages about how we should look, act and feel. This barrage of information can amplify feelings of social pressure, leading to stress and anxiety.

Let me illustrate this with an example. According to a study conducted by the Royal Society for Public Health in the UK, Instagram was ranked as the worst social media platform for mental health among young people. The research found that the image-focused app was associated with high levels of anxiety, depression, bullying and FOMO – fear of missing out.

These statistics clearly indicate how powerful an influence media can have on us.

Another aspect worth considering is news media. It’s not uncommon for news outlets to sensationalize stories or present biased points of view. These skewed portrayals create an unrealistic picture of reality which can heighten feelings of social pressure. For instance, constant reports about violent crime may lead individuals to worry excessively about their safety despite actual crime rates being relatively low.

What makes matters worse is our current era – often dubbed as ‘the age of information’. With smartphones and internet access at our fingertips 24/7, we’re continuously exposed to these socially pressurizing influences from media. And escaping them isn’t easy.

To sum it up:

• Advertisements promote unattainable lifestyles
• Influencers endorse unrealistic body images
• News outlets broadcast skewed reality

I’m not suggesting that all forms of media are negative or harmful; however, it’s important that we acknowledge its power in amplifying social pressures. By doing so, we can work towards finding ways to mitigate its impact and promote a healthier interaction with media outlets.

Social Pressure in Adolescence: A Critical Phase

It’s no secret that adolescence is a challenging time. One of the most significant hurdles? You guessed it – social pressure. This phase plays a pivotal role in shaping our personalities, beliefs, and behaviors.

Let’s take a moment to really understand what we’re talking about here. Peer pressure during adolescence typically involves friends or classmates encouraging certain types of behavior, be it positive or negative. It might be as simple as nudging someone towards joining a sports team or as harmful as pushing them into substance abuse.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), adolescents are more likely to engage in risky behaviors if their friends do so too. Here’s how this looks statistically:

These numbers underscore just how influential social pressure can be during our formative years.

But let’s not forget – peer pressure isn’t always negative. In many cases, it can encourage healthy habits such as exercising regularly or achieving good grades. After all, it’s the desire for acceptance and belonging that often drives us toward these pressures.

In conclusion, navigating social pressures is an integral part of growing up. Understanding the impact they have on young people helps us create better support systems and healthier environments for our teens to thrive.

Case Studies: How Businesses Utilize Social Pressure for Marketing

When it comes to the use of social pressure in marketing, I’ve noticed that businesses have truly mastered this technique. Let’s dive into a few case studies to shed light on exactly how they’re doing it.

Firstly, let’s look at Amazon and their “Customers who bought this also bought…” feature. This approach taps into our instinct to follow the crowd—what psychologists call ‘social proof’. We’re more likely to buy something if we know others are doing the same.

Another great example is Apple’s product launch strategy. Have you ever noticed queues outside Apple stores every time they release a new iPhone? That’s no accident—it’s a well-crafted marketing tactic. They create hype around their products by making them seem scarce and high in demand, pushing customers to feel like they need to get their hands on one before it runs out.

Let me also highlight how clothing retailers use social pressure effectively through sales tactics such as limited-time offers or flash sales. Ever see those “Only 3 left in stock!” notifications? That’s scarcity principle at work again; creating a sense of urgency pushes us towards making impulsive buying decisions.

Here are some numbers that back up these strategies:

But remember folks, while these techniques can be highly effective, they also walk a fine line between ethical influence and manipulation. It’s important for businesses using these methods not only consider the impact on sales but also customer trust and brand reputation over the long term.

Strategies to Resist Unhealthy Social Pressures

Let’s face it, we’ve all been there. Caught in a situation where the pressure from those around us is pushing us towards a decision or action that doesn’t sit right. It’s an uncomfortable place to be, but there are strategies available to help resist these unhealthy social pressures.

One of the most effective strategies I’ve found is simply being aware. Recognizing when you’re experiencing social pressure is half the battle won. Once you notice what’s happening, it becomes easier to tackle head-on. This can involve understanding your own values and sticking by them, even if they differ from those around you.

Another helpful approach involves developing assertiveness skills. It’s important not only to know how to say ‘no’, but also how to communicate this effectively and confidently without feeling guilty or rude. A few ways you could do this include:

• Maintaining eye contact
• Keeping a calm and steady voice
• Using clear language

Practice makes perfect with assertiveness, so don’t worry if it feels awkward at first!

Building a strong support network can also be invaluable when dealing with social pressure. Having friends, family members or mentors who understand your values and respect your decisions creates a safety net for those times when outside influences become too much.

Finally, remember that it’s okay not to please everyone all of the time! It’s natural human instinct to want acceptance and approval from our peers, but compromising our own mental health or morals isn’t worth it in the long run.

As individuals we have every right to make choices that align with our beliefs and comfort levels – regardless of what others may think or expect from us.

Psychological Techniques for Coping with Social Pressure

Feeling the heat of social pressure? We all do at times. It’s a common part of being human, but that doesn’t mean we should let it control our lives. I’m here to share some psychological techniques that can help us navigate and cope with such pressures.

Firstly, let’s talk about mindfulness. This is a psychological process where one focuses on their own experiences in the present moment without judgment. By practicing mindfulness, we’re able to recognize and accept our feelings as they are instead of trying to change them or ignore them. In turn, this allows us to react more calmly and logically when faced with social pressure.

Next up is cognitive restructuring – quite a mouthful isn’t it? It’s essentially a method of changing negative thinking patterns into positive ones. When we’re under social pressure, it can be easy for our thoughts to spiral out of control. Cognitive restructuring helps us challenge these thoughts and replace them with healthier perspectives.

Thirdly on the list is assertiveness training. Often times when we’re feeling pressured by society or those around us, it’s because we struggle to communicate our needs effectively. Assertiveness training helps individuals express their feelings openly and honestly while respecting others’ rights as well – keeping the balance in check!

Let’s not forget about self-care practices too! These include anything from regular exercise to taking time each day for relaxation or hobbies you enjoy – all proven ways to reduce stress levels and increase resilience against social pressure.

Finally there’s seeking professional help if needed – sometimes these pressures become overwhelming even after trying various coping methods ourselves; in such cases don’t hesitate reaching out experts like psychologists or therapists who can provide further guidance suited specifically towards your situation.

So there you have it! A few strategies that could potentially empower you against the effects of social pressure – remember everyone’s journey is unique so what works for one person may not work for another. It’s all about finding what suits you best and giving it a shot!

Conclusion: Empowering Yourself Amidst Social Pressure

Navigating the treacherous waters of social pressure isn’t always an easy task. It’s a challenge that takes time, patience, and a lot of self-awareness. However, it’s crucial to understand that you have the power within you to overcome this hurdle.

Let’s think about some practical steps we can take:

• Self-affirmation: Constantly remind yourself of your worth and values. This doesn’t mean ignoring constructive criticism but being conscious not to let others’ opinions shatter your self-esteem.
• Surround yourself with positive influences: Try spending more time with those who uplift you rather than those who contribute to the negative pressure.
• Practice assertiveness: Learning to say ‘no’ is empowering. You don’t have to comply with everything just for the sake of fitting in.

Remember, it’s okay not to please everyone all the time. We’re all unique individuals with our own thoughts and feelings.

In my journey dealing with social pressure, I’ve learned one key thing: The only approval you really need is from yourself.

It might be tempting to compare ourselves with others due to the relentless onslaught of social media showing seemingly perfect lives. But remember – what’s shown on these platforms often isn’t real life.

I’ve seen friends get lost in this comparison trap, leading them down a path of self-doubt and anxiety. Don’t fall into this trap; instead, remember that it’s okay not to meet every societal expectation.

At its core, empowering yourself amidst social pressure means liberating yourself from external validation and focusing on internal peace and happiness instead.

It won’t happen overnight but taking small steps towards empowerment every day will eventually lead you there. Be patient with yourself in this process because personal growth isn’t linear – there’ll be ups and downs along the way.

In conclusion – yes, social pressures are real and they can be daunting. But remember, you have the power to rise above them. It takes courage to stand up against the tide, but believe me when I say – it’s worth it. Start empowering yourself today and see the difference it makes in your life.

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Social pressure Essay Example

To begin with, an individual's personality can be identified through their traits, which are relatively characteristic that impact how human beings behave in several situations. To explain the consistencies in behavior, personality traits such as honesty, helpfulness, conscientiousness, and friendliness are significant. On the other hand, social pressure is the pressure an individual receives from external sources like a peer, socioeconomic pressure, and even academic pressure. However, this pressure does not imply that it is the actual trait or behavior of an individual. Most people give in to pressure not because that is normal behavior but because they want to fit in a certain class to be liked by their friends, or sometimes they might be worried that others might make fun of them. In addition, some people fall in because they are curious and desire to find out what is going on. An individual's personality is a combination of patterns and traits that impact thoughts, behavior, emotions, and motivation. It is the one that determines how people think, behave and feel, and hence it is what makes people unique. Thus, as compared to social pressure, social personality has more power to influence human behavior. 

Most activities people engage in do not require pressure from society but the decision of an individual. There is a question needed to be asked: Is the individual able to handle what he or she wants to start? For instance, in entrepreneurship, or generally when one starts a new firm, they must consider their personalities and the qualities they possess whether they will make the venture a success. Such businesses need innovativeness, and no matter what influence the people receive from the society to start a certain business, if they are not innovative on how they will keep the firm in operations, it will eventually collapse. Thus, an individual's personality is more powerful than the pressure from society (Miranda et al., 2019). 

Normally, a layman uses the word personality in describing the behavior of a person. People can determine the behavior of an individual from how he or she relates to people. They can be described as having an honest personality, pleasant personality, or being sociable and all these personalities are actually a definition of their behavior. People's effect on others is their personality and what describes their behavior (Littunen, 2000). 

For entrepreneurs, they need some personality characteristics, and these traits are the ones that determine their performance. The traits are also within the entrepreneurs since other people do not influence them. These traits include a need for achievement, personal responsibility, and a risk-taking trait where risk-tolerant people are more likely to start a business than risk-averse people. Being a risk-taker is not an aspect that social pressures can influence; rather, it is a personality that one must have hence defining their behavior. Other traits of social personality include innovativeness, locus of control, self-efficacy, and autonomy. In locus of control can be an internal locus whereby it is believed an individual controls their own destiny while in an external locus, the destiny is controlled by other people or from the outside pressure (Frese & Rauch). 

People who influence whatever they do tend to reach success more than those that other people influence. The fact that the people who have their own influence succeed more than those controlled by others is a clear indication that social personality is more powerful than social pressure when determining behavior.

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The Astonishing Power of Social Pressure

A new study shows that others can influence us more than we ever imagined..

Posted April 14, 2014 | Reviewed by Matt Huston

You and your relationships are bound together, each shaping the other in an interactive and undetermined manner. When your relationships are mutually enhancing, happiness abounds. When the relationships are one-sided, with an uneven distribution of power, or when people psychologically maim and harm one another, that’s where you find despondency.

The paradox is that while your personal self is born in social interactions, the outcome of ethical relationships is the development of a self that is more than the sum of those interactions—what some refer to as the "real" you, your inner or private self. This part that you most identify as your core is strongest when your relationships have been at their best.

Humans cannot exist without families, whatever the form—from extended to nuclear, from polygamous to monogamous—but at the same time families often maim, harm, hurt and damage. Because of the close contact, the unspoken bonds, and the intuiting of others’ feelings, the family is often a place where individual differences are least tolerated

Why Peer Pressure Works

Group pressure is enormously effective in producing social conformity, and nowhere is the pressure to conform stronger than in small, close-knit groups like those just described. And just how powerful group pressure can be has been demonstrated experimentally. Psychologist Solomon Asch conducted one of the earliest and most famous studies on this issue: He showed subjects two cards. On the first was one line. On the second were three lines, one of them the same length as the line on the first card.

The subjects would be asked which of the three lines matched the line on the first card. But there was an added wrinkle: Before the experiment began, Asch had arranged for seven confederates to give their answers before the other subjects did. Further, he instructed the confederates to sometimes give the wrong answers. In the end, despite the seeming simplicity of the task, three out of four subjects actually agreed with an incorrect answer given by the confederates at least once—one in four subjects agreed with the wrong answer 50 percent of the time.

A half-century later, in 2005, psychiatrist and neuroscientist Gregory Berns updated Asch's study—and found almost identical results. Berns asked a group of subjects to look at objects, then decide whether they were the same or different. One by one, the participants were hooked up to a brain scanner, allowing researchers to see which part of the brain responded to the task. But unbeknownst to the 32 volunteers in the study, four other people—whom they met in the waiting room—had been prompted by Berns to give fake answers to some of the questions.

In the waiting room, each subject, and the confederates, chatted, played a practice round, and took pictures of one another, all as a way of forming a group bond. Then the subject went into the MRI room. The subjects were told that, first, the others would discuss their observations as a group, then decide if the objects were the same or different. The subject was shown the group's answer, and then the object. Sometimes the group unanimously gave an incorrect response; other times, a unanimously correct one. A few mixed answers were also included.

On average, subjects went along with incorrect answers more than 40 percent of the time.

The MRI imaging showed that subjects who gave in to group pressure had marked activity in the part of the brain devoted to spatial perception; those who didn’t showed activity in a part of the brain related to emotional salience. From this, Berns concluded that group pressure actually causes people to change their perception of reality, whereas those who resist group pressure experience emotional discomfort.

The implications of these studies are astonishing: Social pressure may cause people to change their picture of reality, and those who resist it can be emotionally upset. Fitting in feels good , even at the expense of your otherwise good sense(s)—and we may pay an emotional price for the courage of our convictions.

Arthur Dobrin, DSW, is Professor Emeritus of University Studies, Hofstra University and Leader Emeritus, Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island. He is the author of more than 25 books, including The Lost Art of Happiness and Teaching Right from Wrong .

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Impacts Of Social Pressure

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For better or worse, our choices as human beings tend to be impacted by messages from society, culture, family, and friends. These messages, sometimes known as social pressure , or “peer pressure,” can push us to behave in certain ways or make specific decisions. 

Although social pressure can be an important factor in our lives, it’s not the only thing that influences our decisions. We still have the ability to make up our own minds about things, and we can still decide for ourselves whether to conform to what others are demanding or choose our own paths. If you find it challenging to resist social pressure and make independent decisions, you may benefit from online therapy.

Defining social pressure

Social pressure is the influence that people feel from others in their social circle or society at large to act, think, or behave in a certain way. It can encourage positive actions, like being kind or working hard, but it can also push individuals towards negative behaviors, such as conforming to harmful norms or engaging in risky activities just to fit in. Essentially, it's the push and pull we all experience from the people and culture around us, shaping our actions and decisions, sometimes even without us realizing it.

The desire to fit in

Social pressure encourages people to try to fit in with those around them. Sometimes fitting in may come naturally, but in other cases, a person may feel the need to change their views, choices, and outlooks to avoid being the odd one out. This innate inclination towards social conformity isn't just about immediate social comfort; it's deeply rooted in our evolutionary past . 

As a species, human beings depend on one another—while other organisms may thrive in solitude, we survive best when living in a community. Consequently, we have evolved to seek conformity as a means to ensure social harmony and mutual survival. Adapting to shared norms and values helps us integrate into our social groups, making us more likely to receive support and cooperation from others. 

In essence, our survival and success as a species have been significantly influenced by our ability to conform to the collective expectations of our communities. Part of this evolutionary process may have resulted in our brains being hard-wired to respond to social pressure—one study, for instance, found that social pressure and the responses it elicits seem to have measurable effects on the brain . 

Humans also tend to look at the groups we’re in for guidance about what to do and how to behave. In psychology, this is known as the “principle of social proof.” Social proof, which can also encompass things like popularity, can be thought of as subtle social pressure. When we make decisions based on social proof, we may assume that an activity or item must be good because a lot of people do the activity or like the item.

The pros and cons of conformity

When we adjust our views or behaviors to fit in with other people, we may be altering ourselves to conform to a certain standard. These standards could be explicitly stated, as in the case of a written or oral set of instructions or requests, or they could be implicit, normative expectations for how a particular group behaves or functions. 

In some situations, conformity may be good or even necessary. For example, conformity can be beneficial for:

• Social order: Conformity helps in the proper functioning of society. For example, we practice conformity when we drive a car, for example, because following the rules of the road generally makes it more likely that we will get to our destination safely.
• Workplace harmony: In a professional setting, conformity can help ensure that work is done safely and efficiently, and it helps maintain a comfortable environment for workers, customers, and visitors. Shared goals and values can also be helpful in forging a strong team dynamic.
• Cultural or religious integration: People who belong to a religion or culture may find comfort and community in conforming to beliefs, modes of dress, and dietary practices, as well as certain holidays or traditions.
• Positive social influence: Positive responses to the pressure to conform can include things like seeking out friendships with good people and working to maintain those friendships, changing unhealthy habits, finding a good career, and even respecting and communing with the people around us.
• Expanding horizons: Being part of a group can encourage individuals to try new activities and experiences that they might not have considered on their own. 

However, social pressure can also lead us to behave in ways that aren’t good for ourselves or those around us. A desire to conform could be problematic if it involves:

• Negative peer pressure: The desire to fit in can lead people to engage in harmful behaviors, such as substance abuse or unwanted sexual activities.
• Fear of punishment or ostracism: Conforming out of fear can lead to harmful practices or norms, even when individuals know they are wrong.
• Undue obedience to authority: Blind conformity to authority can result in harmful situations, as questioning and dissent are suppressed.
• Suppression of individuality: Conformity can stifle personal expression and the uniqueness of individuals, leading to a lack of diversity in thoughts and actions.

Groupthink: A high pressure to conform within groups can result in poor decision-making, as dissenting opinions and critical information are withheld for fear of backlash.

Making independent choices

This doesn’t necessarily mean that we need to rebel against all social pressure, since not all social pressure is automatically bad. However, while no one can be entirely immune to social pressure, maintaining the ability to make independent choices is a little extra something that can help us avoid falling into harmful behaviors and situations just to get along.

It may also be important to remember that while conforming may be the right thing to do in some situations, expressing your own individuality may be even more important than going along with the crowd. Knowing how to express your individuality can be a valuable skill to have. Respecting your own uniqueness can be an important tool in boosting your self-esteem and developing your personal identity. It can help you make better choices that align with your own values.

It can be worthwhile to find a healthy balance between social pressure and independent choices. We often find value in community, a sense of belonging, and support from our family and peers. However, being able to stand on our own two feet and make our own choices sometimes may be the better thing to do.

How to handle society's social pressures

Having a hard time with social pressure is a challenge many people face. While social pressure may impact our choices in various ways, it can become a problem in our lives if we too frequently feel compelled to go along with the group instead of making our own decisions, especially if we sense that what the group is doing might be harmful to ourselves or to other people.

Being too intent on pleasing others, especially if we tend to do it to our own detriment, also can be one of the traits of trauma response. Psychologist Pete Walker calls the tendency to people-please the “fawn” response, and notes that it often arises as a childhood survival strategy meant to appease a neglectful or abusive parent. Adults who have a fawn response can have difficulty setting boundaries with other people, and as a result may find themselves in codependent or other types of harmful relationships that they may have difficulty leaving.

Resources for support and guidance

If you find yourself regularly having difficulty with social pressure or other issues, speaking with a therapist could be of value to you. Learning more about your situation, gaining new perspectives, and coming up with possible solutions to manage social pressures are some of the potential benefits linked to working with a mental health professional.

Some people prefer to have in-person sessions with a therapist in their area, but online resources are also available. Online therapy can pair you with a licensed therapist who has training and expertise in the issues that you might want to discuss and work on.

One benefit of online therapy is that you can have your sessions in the comfort of your own home, or wherever you have an Internet connection. In many places, online therapy might be less expensive than traditional in-person sessions. Studies have also shown that online therapy can be just as effective as in-person sessions and that online therapy using specific techniques such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma-related issues may yield positive results.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can cause social pressure? What are the effects of social pressures? Why is social pressure important? How is social pressure a stressor? What are examples of pressures in life? How do you overcome pressure in your life?

What social pressures help you?  Why is social pressure a problem? What is the social pressure of a student? What is positive social pressure? How do you avoid social pressure? Who has more social pressure? What type of stressor is social pressure? What is direct social pressure? Is social media a social pressure?

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Social Pressure to Young Adults

Social pressure has existed for as long as human beings have lived in groups. People exert influence on their friends and colleagues, making them take some actions and change their behaviors to engage in their social circle. Various persons have suggested that, despite the differences between generations in terms of technology and the economy, all young people confront the same pressure. However, this essay proposes that young adults currently face more social influence than in the past. For example, they confront parental influence to pursue their preferred courses, experience peer influence to adopt negative behaviors and please their friends, and are subjected to exam performance pressure to avoid being placed last in school rankings.

One of the significant coercions which students face is the paternal pressure they experience while choosing careers. A study conducted by Ranil et al. showed that “parental pressure was the motive which drove them to the medical profession” (324). Most young people consider their parent’s advice when choosing their careers due to believing that their relatives are more experienced in such issues. For this reason, they frequently join the courses which are not appealing to them to please their guardians. Such pressure to pursue particular “high-paying” careers is currently significantly higher than in the past because of high unemployment rates and living costs. Therefore, learners in the past experienced lower social pressure than modern students.

Influence from friends is also a common form of social compulsion students confront on a daily basis. Adimora et al. explain that young adults face detrimental impacts from their peers, which leads to “negative acts such as smoking, drinking, negative way of dressing, and speaking” (220). As students grow, they are influenced by their friends to adopt malicious behavior such as drinking and smoking to fit in their social circles. This influence is remarkably substantial nowadays due to the increase in social media usage experienced in the last few years. The youth feel the need to do “cool” things to seem trendy to their peers, which was not rampant before social media development and demonstrates that today’s learners face more societal influence than before.

Another form of social coercion young adults experience is the constant pressure to perform well in their placement exams. Ozen and Atmaca found that “ranking and labeling the students by… placement examinations… is the most damaging aspect of human nature” (423). Placement exams involve ranking students according to their performances in various tests. Whereas these tests are essential for teachers to evaluate their student’s capabilities, they exert a lot of pressure on learners to excel. For instance, students have to read regularly and worry about their achievements to avoid disappointing their parents. Such hardships were not common before the 1950s, which proves that students now face more pressure to succeed than in the past.

However, despite the evidence provided, some people might argue that educational performance pressure is not as high as it was because there are more non-educational careers than in the past. Badenhausen suggests that the “average NBA salary is projected to hit $10 million for the 2020-21 season” (para.1). Whereas nowadays there are more career choices available to students, some professions require rare talent and physical capabilities. For instance, most NBA players are taller than an average student, which means that most young adults would not fit the requirements to play basketball professionally. The best option for such students is to pursue education, which puts them under constant pressure to both perform in school tests and impress their parents. Therefore, modern pupils still face much more pressure than previous generations.

In conclusion, current learners experience more societal pressure than former students due to various factors. In particular, they face parental influence to pursue their preferred career courses instead of their passions. Students also confront peer coercion to be accepted by their friends. Finally, they also experience stress to perform well in placement tests. Therefore, educational institutions and other stakeholders should find solutions to this recurrent problem.

Works Cited

Adimora, Dorothy E. et al. “Peer Pressure and Home Environment as Predictors of Disruptive and Risky Sexual Behaviors of Secondary School Adolescents”. African Health Sciences , vol. 18, no. 2, 2018, pp. 218-226.

Badenhausen, Kurt. “The Average Player salary and Highest-paid in NBA, MLB, NHL, NFL and MLS”. Forbes , 2016, Web.

Rani, N. Asha et al. “Medical Profession as a Career-pressure or Passion: A Cross-sectional Survey among Undergraduate Medical Students”. International Journal of Medical Science and Education , vol. 3, no. 4, 2016, pp. 322-327.

Ozen, Hamit, and Taner Atmaca. “Self-esteem of High School Students: A Structural Equation Modelling Analysis”. Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences , vol. 14, no. 3, 2019, pp. 422-435.

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Navigating Societal Pressures: Understanding the Psychology Behind Social Pressure

In a world where societal pressure shapes our choices and behaviors, understanding its impact and developing coping strategies is crucial. This comprehensive guide delves into various aspects of societal pressure, providing practical advice for maintaining ideal mental health and authenticity.

Understanding Societal Pressures

Societal pressure, a potent force shaped by society's norms and expectations, significantly influences our behavior and mental well-being. This external pressure, varying across life stages and cultural contexts, affects everything from personal relationships to career choices. It manifests in various forms, from explicit expectations to implicit norms that dictate 'acceptable' behavior. This pressure can also lead to anxiety symptoms and a tendency to conform, impacting young adults and adults alike. It's essential to examine how these societal norms have evolved and how they continue to make people see themselves through a lens of negativity.

The Role of Social Media in Social Pressure

Social media platforms, particularly influential among young adults, have become significant sources of societal pressure. They often portray idealized, picture-perfect lives, creating unrealistic benchmarks for personal success and happiness. This leads to an increase in social comparison, where individuals feel pressured to measure their lives against these idealized online portrayals, often feeling inadequate or anxious as a result. The pressure to present a perfect life on platforms like Instagram can contribute to a distorted sense of reality and negatively affect mental health.

Peer Pressure and Its Effects on Young Adults

Peer pressure, especially prevalent among teenagers and young adults, compels individuals to conform to certain behaviors or norms. This pressure to fit in can lead to a conflict between personal preferences and societal expectations. It's not just about fitting in; it's about navigating the complex social dynamics of peer groups. This can lead to behaviors that may not align with personal values, causing internal conflict and stress. Understanding and addressing peer pressure is crucial for maintaining authenticity and mental well-being.

The Psychology Behind Societal Pressure

Exploring the psychological aspects of societal pressure reveals why it's such a pervasive force. The need for social acceptance and the fear of rejection are deeply ingrained in human psychology. Societal pressure exploits these needs, often leading individuals to engage in behaviors or adopt beliefs that align with societal norms, even if they conflict with personal values. This pressure can make individuals feel compelled to conform, sometimes at the cost of their individuality and mental health.

Social Comparison: A Double-Edged Sword

Social comparison, a natural human tendency, can become a double-edged sword under societal pressure. It often leads to negative self-assessment and a constant feeling of not being 'good enough' compared to others. This comparison can amplify feelings of inadequacy and contribute to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Recognizing and managing the tendency for social comparison is crucial in mitigating the negative impacts of societal pressure .

Societal Pressure Across Life Stages

Societal pressure evolves with each life stage, presenting unique challenges and expectations. Young adults often face intense societal pressure as they navigate major life transitions, such as choosing a career path or establishing personal relationships. This period is marked by a heightened sensitivity to societal expectations and a strong desire to conform. As individuals progress into adulthood, societal pressure shifts focus, often centering around career success, family life, and social status. The nature of the pressure may change, but its impact on mental health and well-being remains significant.

Coping with Societal Pressure

Developing resilience and a strong sense of self is key to mitigating the negative effects of societal pressure . Embracing individualism involves recognizing and valuing one's unique qualities and life path, resisting the urge to conform to unrealistic societal standards. Building resilience involves developing a strong, positive self-image and the ability to bounce back from setbacks. This can be achieved through self-reflection, mindfulness practices, and seeking support from friends, family, or mental health professionals. By fostering a mindset that values personal authenticity over societal conformity, individuals can navigate societal pressure more effectively.

Conclusion - Resources to Prioritize Your Mental Health

Societal pressure is a pervasive force that can significantly impact our mental health and well-being. By understanding its sources, psychological underpinnings, and effects across different life stages, we can better navigate its challenges. Embracing individualism, building resilience, and seeking professional support when needed are key to coping effectively with societal pressure.

Remember, you're not alone in this journey. For more personalized support and guidance, visit Love Discovery Institute , or book an appointment directly through this link . If you wish to speak to someone, our team is available at 305-605-LOVE (5683). We specialize in psychotherapy and are dedicated to helping you find your unique path to well-being. With a legacy of nearly 15 years in serving the South Florida community, our practice has accumulated a wealth of insight into relational dynamics, which we eagerly share through our meticulously crafted content.

FAQs on Societal Pressure

Q: How does societal pressure affect mental health? A: Societal pressure can lead to chronic stress, manifesting as anxiety and depression. The relentless pursuit of societal standards of success and happiness can leave individuals feeling drained and inadequate.

Q: Can societal pressure have positive effects? A: While often challenging, societal pressure can sometimes serve as a motivator, pushing individuals to achieve goals or improve aspects of their lives. The key is balancing these pressures with personal values and well-being.

Q: What role can psychotherapy play in coping with societal pressure? A: Psychotherapy can be an effective way to address the anxieties and stresses caused by societal pressure. Therapists help individuals understand the root of their stress and develop personalized strategies for coping.

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SOCIAL PRESSURE

the influence that is exerted on a person or group by another person or group. It includes rational argument, persuasion, conformity and demands. See social force ; social influence .

Introduction

Social pressure is a vital component of human life, impacting our actions, attitudes, and daily decisions . Its ubiquitous effect governs a vast range of individual and social behaviors, from the trivial to the serious . The force of social pressure is still as powerful in today's society as it was in previous generations, continually shaping societal structures and influencing the course of personal decisions.

The force exerted by a group or society at large on an individual or another group to comply to specified norms or behaviors is known as social pressure:

• Social pressure is the influence exerted by a group or society on an individual or another group to comply with particular norms or behaviors.
• This pressure can be overt (direct requests or orders) or covert (an implicit expectation to conform).

Background and Context

Historical perspective.

The concept of societal pressure is far from novel. Since the mid-twentieth century, it has occupied a major position in social psychology study.:

• Social pressure has been a central focus of social psychology since the 1950s .
• Groundbreaking studies like the Asch conformity experiments revealed the powerful influence of social pressure on individual behavior.

Current State of Research

The study of social pressure continues today, delving into its complexity and current expressions. Researchers are currently investigating the impact of digital technology and social media on social pressure, as well as the dynamics of peer pressure and the impacts of social pressure on mental health :

• Current research focuses on understanding the role of social pressure in the digital age, including the influence of social media and digital technology.
• Contemporary studies also explore the dynamics of peer pressure and the effects of social pressure on mental health .
• The implications of social pressure in our interconnected digital world are a significant area of modern research.

 Understanding social pressure is critical due to its tremendous influence on human decision-making and its ability to affect societal structures and cultures. Knowing social pressure enables us to understand why people tend to adhere to the majority and how societal norms are maintained:

• Understanding social pressure is crucial as it impacts individual decision-making and significantly influences societal structures and cultures .
• Knowledge of social pressure enables us to understand why individuals conform, how societal norms are maintained, and can help inform interventions to promote beneficial behaviors.

Key Concepts and Terminologies

Understanding several fundamental words connected to social pressure is critical in the field of social psychology: conformity, compliance, and obedience:

• Conformity: describes the act of modifying one's behaviors or attitudes to align with those of a group, indicating the powerful influence group dynamics can have on an individual
• Compliance: the act of changing one's behavior in response to a direct request, highlighting the impact of personal interactions
• Obedience: the act of following orders or instructions from an authority figure, underscoring the role of hierarchical structures in shaping behaviors

Practical Applications and Implications

Understanding social pressure is not only crucial for academia but also has practical applications. Some sectors can leverage insights about group influence to craft strategies that promote positive behaviors or decisions, contributing to societal well-being:

• Awareness of social pressure: help individuals resist inappropriate influence and make more autonomous decisions.
• Knowledge of social pressure: practical applications in fields like marketing, politics, and public health, where insights on group influence can promote positive behaviors or decisions.

Overall, social pressure has been used strategically in public health campaigns, where peer influence is harnessed to promote positive behaviors such as smoking cessation or regular exercise. Understanding social pressure can also assist in developing strategies to resist harmful influence, such as bullying or unhealthy diet trends.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

What is social pressure, and why is it important.

Social pressure is the influence exerted by a group on an individual to conform to certain norms or behaviors. It's important because it affects individual decision-making and societal structures.

How do psychologists conduct research and gather data on social pressure?

Psychologists use various research methods , including experiments, surveys, and observational studies, to understand social pressure.

What are the different branches of social pressure?

Social pressure can be categorized into conformity, compliance, and obedience, each with its unique characteristics and implications.

How do psychological theories and concepts of social pressure apply to daily life?

These theories help us understand why people may conform to group norms, comply with requests, or obey authority figures. They can also inform strategies for resisting such pressures.

Asch, S. E. (1956). Studies of independence and conformity: I. A minority of one against a unanimous majority. Psychological Monographs: General and Applied, 70(9), 1–70. DOI: 10.1037/h0093718

Burger, J. M. (2009). Replicating Milgram: Would people still obey today? American Psychologist , 64(1), 1–11. DOI: 10.1037/a0010932

Christakis, N. A., & Fowler, J. H. (2008). The collective dynamics of smoking in a large social network . The New England journal of medicine, 358(21), 2249–2258. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMsa0706154

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Peer Pressure Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on peer pressure.

Peer pressure can be both negative and positive. Because if a person is a peer pressuring you for a good cause then it is motivation. Motivation is essential for the growth of a person. While peer pressure for a bad cause will always lead you to a disastrous situation.

Therefore it necessary for a person to not get influenced by the people around them. They should analyze the outcome of the deed in a strict manner. So that they no may commit anything harmful for themselves. As this world is full of bad people, so you need to be careful before trusting anybody.

Advantages of Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is advantageous in many ways. Most importantly it creates a sense of motivation in the person. Which further forces the person to cross the barrier and achieve something great. Furthermore, it boosts the confidence of a person. Because our brain considers people’s opinions and makes them a priority.

Many salesmen and Entrepreneurs use this technique to influence people to buy their products. Whenever we are in a social meet we always get various recommendations. Therefore when a person gets these recommendations the brain already starts liking it. Or it creates a better image of that thing. This forces the person to buy the product or at least consider it.

This peer pressure technique also works in creating a better character of a person. For instance, when we recommend someone for a particular job, the interviewer already gets a better image of that person. Because he is recommended by a person the interviewer trusts. Therefore there is a great chance of that person to get hired.

Above all the main advantage of peer pressure can be in youth. If a young person gets influenced by an individual or a group of people. He can achieve greater heights in his career.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Disadvantages of Peer Pressure

There are various disadvantages of peer pressure which can harm a person in many ways. If any person is not willing to perform a task then the peer pressure can be frustrating to him.

Furthermore, peer pressure should not be in an excessive manner. Because it lands a negative impact on the person. A person should be of the mindset of listening to himself first. While considering opinions in favor of him.

Peer pressure in youth from a bad company can lead a person to a nasty situation. Furthermore, it can also hamper a student’s career and studies if not averted. Youth these days are much influenced by the glamorous life of celebrities.

And since they follow them so much, these people become their peers. Thus they do such things that they should not. Drugs and smoking are major examples of this. Moreover most shocking is that the minors are even doing these things. This can have adverse effects on their growth and career.

It is necessary to judge the outcome of a deed before getting influenced by peers. Furthermore, peer pressure should always be secondary. Your own thoughts and wants should always have the first priority.

Q1. What is peer pressure?

A1 . Peer pressure is the influence on people by their peers. As a result, people start following their opinions and lifestyle. Furthermore, it is considering a person or his opinion above all and giving him the priority.

Q2. Which sector of the society is the peer pressure adversely affecting?

A2 . Peer pressure has adverse effects on the youth of society. Some false influencers are playing with the minds of the youngsters. As a result, the youth is going in the wrong direction and ruining their career opportunities.

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What to Know About Peer Pressure

It's not as simple as just saying no

• Positive Peer Pressure

Peer Pressure vs. Parental Influence

Peer pressure beyond childhood.

Have you ever been pressured to have "one more drink," or stay out later than you said you'd be home? If so, you've been a victim of peer pressure—chances are, most of us have. Peer pressure is the process by which members of the same social group influence other members to do things that they may be resistant to, or might not otherwise choose to do.

Peers are people who are part of the same social group, so the term "peer pressure" refers to the influence that peers can have on each other. Usually, the term peer pressure is used when people are talking about behaviors that are not considered socially acceptable or desirable, such as experimentation with alcohol or drugs.

sturti / Getty Images

Though peer pressure is not usually used to describe socially desirable behaviors, such as exercising or studying, peer pressure can have positive effects in some cases.

What Is an Example of Peer Pressure?

Peer pressure causes people to do things they would not otherwise do with the hope of fitting in or being noticed.

Things people may be peer pressured into doing include:

• Acting aggressively (common among men)
• Bullying others
• Doing drugs
• Dressing a certain way
• Drinking alcohol
• Engaging in vandalism or other criminal activities
• Physically fighting
• Only socializing with a certain group

Peer pressure or the desire to impress their peers can override a teen or tween's fear of taking risks, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Kids. Risky behavior with drugs and/or alcohol may result in the following:

• Alcohol or drug poisoning
• Asphyxiation
• Driving under the influence (of alcohol or other drugs)
• Sexually transmitted diseases

Behavioral Addiction

People can also feel an internal pressure to participate in activities and behaviors they think their peers are doing, which can put them at risk for the following behavioral addictions:

• Food addiction
• Gambling addiction
• Internet addiction
• Sex addiction
• Shopping addiction
• Video game addiction

In the case of teens, parents are rarely concerned about the peer pressure their kids may face to engage in sports or exercise, as these are typically seen as healthy social behaviors. This is OK, as long as the exercise or sport does not become an unhealthy way of coping, excessive to the point of negatively affecting their health, or dangerous (as in dangerous sports).

What starts out as positive peer pressure may become negative pressure if it leads a person to over-identify with sports, for example, putting exercise and competition above all else.

If taken to an extreme, they may develop exercise addiction , causing them to neglect schoolwork and social activities, and ultimately, use exercise and competition in sports as their main outlet for coping with the stresses of life. This can also lead to numerous health consequences.

What Are Examples of Positive Peer Pressure?

We tend to hear more about the potentially negative effects of peer pressure. But the reality is, peer pressure can also be positive. For instance, two friends might put positive pressure on each other to go to the gym together and stay accountable for their fitness goals.

Teens who volunteer in their community can keep each other motivated to participate. This involvement can lead to exposure to role models and eventually lead to the teens becoming positive role models themselves.

You can also positively peer pressure others by the way you respond to situations. For instance, if your friend is body-shaming another person, you can say, "Actually, it can be really harmful to criticize people's bodies like that."

In turn, your friend might reconsider criticizing people based on their appearance. By simply adhering to your own values and sharing them with a friend, you can positively peer pressure them to think before making a negative comment.

Although parents worry about the influence of peers, overall, parents also can have a strong influence on whether children succumb to negative peer pressure.

Rather than worrying about the effects of their children's friendships, parents would do well to focus on creating a positive, supportive home environment. That way, even if your child is peer pressured to do something they don't want to do, they'll feel comfortable coming to you to talk about it first.

Role modeling good emotional self-regulation may also help your child stick to their own values when it comes to peer pressure. Self-regulation involves the ability to control thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in order to manage current behavior and achieve long-term goals.

This will teach your child positive ways of solving problems and coping with uncomfortable feelings , rather than trying to escape by doing things to fit into a crowd. Parents can balance the peer pressure to take potentially harmful risks by ensuring they set appropriate boundaries, provide support, and help avoid risks. A few examples:

• Pick up your child from events where alcohol or drugs may have been consumed.
• Provide balanced, truthful information on issues such as alcohol and drug use.
• Stay involved in your child's life. Believe it or not, you are one of their biggest influences and they listen when you talk.
• Urge the importance of thinking before doing. Teach teens to ask themselves questions like: Could this harm me or someone else? Will this put my health or safety at risk? Is it legal? What are the long-term consequences for my health, family, education, and future?

Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to peer pressure because they are at a stage of development when they are separating more from their parents' influence, but have not yet established their own values or understanding of human relationships or the consequences of their behavior.

They are also typically striving for social acceptance and are more willing to engage in behaviors against their better judgment to be accepted.

However, adults are also vulnerable to peer pressure. Many adults are susceptible to drinking too much because their friends are doing it, or putting work before family because they're competing with other people in their office for a promotion.

Being aware of, and carefully choosing the influence of peers that will lead to healthy and happy experiences is a lifelong process.

How to Deal With Peer Pressure

Dealing with peer pressure can be difficult, but below are some ways to help address it.

Take Your Time

Instead of quickly agreeing to do something you'd rather not do, pause and take a few deep breaths . If someone is waiting for you to answer them, tell them you need to take a few days and think about it. It's easier to resist the pressure when you put some time and space between yourself and the situation.

Consider Your Reasons

When you're faced with a choice, ask yourself what your reasons are for doing something. If it's because all of your friends are doing it and you're afraid they won't talk to you if you don't join them, then you may want to reconsider.

You deserve to surround yourself with supportive people who respect your decisions—not people who pressure you into doing something that doesn't feel right.

Set Boundaries

Saying "no" can be hard, but it's necessary to set healthy boundaries in relationships . If someone persistently pressures you to do something, you can try telling them how it affects you.

For instance, you might say something like, "It upsets me when you offer me a cigarette when you know I don't smoke. I won't be able to keep hanging out with you if you don't respect my answer."

Offer an Alternative

It's possible that a friend who is peer pressuring you simply wants to spend more time with you or connect with you, but they don't know how else to ask.

If they pressure you to do shots with them at the bar when you aren't drinking, for example, you might suggest that you both hit the dance floor instead. Or maybe, you make a plan to go on a hike or to the movies the next time you hang out. That way, you're fulfilling both of your needs in a mutually beneficial way.

Clark DA, Donnellan MB, Durbin CE, et al. Sex, drugs, and early emerging risk: Examining the association between sexual debut and substance use across adolescence . PLoS ONE. 2020;15(2):e0228432. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0228432

Stanaland A, Gaither S. “Be a man”: The role of social pressure in eliciting men’s aggressive cognition . Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2021;47(11):1596-1611. doi:10.1177/0146167220984298

Sabramani V, Idris IB, Ismail H, Nadarajaw T, Zakaria E, Kamaluddin MR. Bullying and its associated individual, peer, family and school factors: Evidence from Malaysian National Secondary School students .  Int J Environ Res Public Health . 2021;18(13):7208. doi:10.3390/ijerph18137208

Kim J, Fletcher JM. The influence of classmates on adolescent criminal activities in the United States .  Deviant Behav . 2018;39(3):275-292. doi:10.1080/01639625.2016.1269563

National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens. Why Does Peer Pressure Influence Teens To Try Drugs? .

Pamela Rackow, Urte Scholz, Rainer Hornung.  Received social support and exercising: An intervention study to test the enabling hypothesis .  British Journal of Health Psychology , 2015;20(4):763. doi:10.1111/bjhp.12139

Vogel L. Fat shaming is making people sicker and heavier .  CMAJ . 2019;191(23):E649. doi:10.1503/cmaj.109-5758

Dhull P, Beniwal RD. Dealing with peer pressure . Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal. 2017;7.

By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada. 

Social Influence Revision Notes

Saul Mcleod, PhD

Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

Saul Mcleod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

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Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Associate Editor for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education

Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.

On This Page:

Social influence is the process by which an individual’s attitudes, beliefs or behavior are modified by the presence or action of others. Four areas of social influence are conformity, compliance and obedience, and minority influence.

Conformity (Majority Influence)

Conformity is a type of social influence defined as a change in belief or behavior in response to real or imagined social pressure. It is also known as majority influence.

Types of Conformity

Compliance ao1.

This refers to instances where a person may agree in public with a group of people, but the person privately disagrees with the group’s viewpoint or behavior. The individual changes their views, but it is a temporary change.

For example, a person may laugh at a joke because their group of friends find it funny but deep down the person does not find the joke funny.

For a study on compliance refer to Asch’s Line Study .

Internalisation AO1

Publicly changing behavior to fit in with the group while also agreeing with them privately. An internal (private) and external (public) change of behavior. This is the deepest level of conformity were the beliefs of the group become part of the individual’s own belief system.

An example of internalisation is if someone lived with a vegetarian at university and then decides to also become one too because they agree with their friend’s viewpoint / someone converting religions would also be a good example.

For a study on internalisation refer to Jenness (see below).

Identification AO1

Identification occurs when someone conforms to the demands of a given social role in society. For example, a policeman, teacher or politician. This type of conformity extends over several aspects of external behavior. However, there still be no changed to internal personal opinion.

A good example is Zimbardo’s prison study .

AO2 Scenario Question

Jan and Norah have just finished their first year at university where they lived in a house with six other students. All the other students were very health conscious and ate only organic food. Jan had listened to their point of view and now she also eats only organic food.

Norah was happy to eat organic food while in the house, but when she went home for the holidays she ate whatever her mother cooked. Both girls conformed, but for different reasons.

Explain which type of conformity each girl was showing.

“Jan shows internalisation. She has publicly and privately changed her attitudes and now permanently only eats organic food. Norah is showing compliance. She only conformed publicly to her friends’ behavior but had obviously not privately undergone attitude change to eating organic as she reverted to eating non-organic in the holidays. Norah probably conformed to gain group approval and membership whereas Jan believed the other students to be ‘right’ in their belief that organic food was ‘good’.”

Explanations for Conformity

Normative influence (ao1/ao3).

Normative social influence is where a person conforms to fit in with the group because they don’t want to appear foolish or be left out. Normative social influence is usually associated with compliance,

where a person changes their public behavior but not their private beliefs.

For example, a person may feel pressurised to smoke because the rest of their friends are. Normative Social influence tends to lead to compliance because the person smokes just for show but deep down they wish not to smoke. This means any change of behavior is temporary .

For a study on normative influence refer to Asch .

Informational Influence (AO1/AO3)

Informational social influence is where a person conforms because they have a desire to be right , and look to others who they believe may have more information.

This type of conformity occurs when a person is unsure of a situation or lacks knowledge and is associated with internalisation .

An example of this is if someone was to go to a posh restaurant for the first time, they may be confronted with several forks and not know which one to use, so they might look to a near by person to see what fork to use first.

For a study on informational influence refer to Jenness (see below).

Jenness’ Bean Jar Experiment AO1

Jenness carried out a study into conformity – in his experiment participants were asked to estimate how many beans they thought were in a jar. Each participant had to make an individual estimate, and then do the same as a group.

He found that when the task was carried out in a social group, the participants would report estimates of roughly the same value (even though they had previously reported quite different estimates as individuals).

The study was successful in showing majority influence, thus proving that individuals” behavior and beliefs can be influenced by a group. Additionally, this is likely to be an example of informational social influence as participants would be uncertain about the actual number of beans in the jar.

Variables Affecting Conformity

Asch’s line study ao1.

Asch wanted to investigate whether people would conform to the majority in situations where an answer was obvious.

Procedure : In Asch’s study there were 5-7 participants per group. Each group was presented with a standard line and three comparison lines. Participants had to say aloud which comparison line matched the standard line in length. In each group there was only one real participant the remaining 6 were confederates. The confederates were told to give the incorrect answer on 12 out of 18 trails.

Results : Real participants conformed on 32% of the critical trials where confederates gave the wrong answers. Additionally, 75% of the sample conformed to the majority on at least one trial.

Evaluation of Asch’s Study AO3

• This study lacks ecological validity as it was based on peoples’ perception of lines, this does not reflect the complexity of real life conformity.
• There are also sampling issues regarding this study as the study was only carried out on men thus the sample was gender bias and therefore the results cannot be applied to females. The sample therefore lacks population validity.
• Moreover, there are ethical issues regarding Asch’s study – Mention deception as participants were told the study was about perception of lines. As a result, they could not give informed consent. Furthermore, it is possible that the participants may have felt embarrassed when the true nature of the study was revealed. Thus could potentially put them through some form of psychological harm. However, Asch did debrief at the end.
• For extra AO3 points link Asch’s results to theories/reasons why people may conform to the majority. For instance, some participants said they conformed to fit in with the group, this claim coincides (supports) ‘Normative influence’ which states that people conform to fit in when privately disagreeing with the majority.

Factors Affecting Conformity AO3

In further trials, Asch (1952, 1956) changed the procedure (i.e., independent variables) to investigate which situational factors influenced the level of conformity (dependent variable).  His results and conclusions are given below:

Asch altered the number of confederates in his study to see how this effected conformity. The bigger the majority group (number of confederates), the more people conformed, but only up to a certain point.

With one other person (i.e., confederate) in the group conformity was 3%, with two others it increased to 13%, and with three or more it was 32% (or 1/3). However, conformity did not increase much after the group size was about 4/5.

Because conformity does not seem to increase in groups larger than four, this is considered the optimal group size.

Brown and Byrne (1997) suggest that people might suspect collusion if the majority rises beyond three or four.

According to Hogg & Vaughan (1995), the most robust finding is that conformity reaches its full extent with 3-5 person majority, with additional members having little effect.

Group Unanimity

A person is more likely to conform when all members of the group agree and give the same answer.

When one other person in the group gave a different answer from the others, and the group answer was not unanimous, conformity dropped. Asch (1951) found that even the presence of just one confederate that goes against the majority choice can reduce conformity as much as 80%.

Difficulty of Task

When the (comparison) lines (e.g., A, B, C) were made more similar in length it was harder to judge the correct answer and conformity increased.

When we are uncertain, it seems we look to others for confirmation. The more difficult the task, the greater the conformity.

Answer in Private

When participants were allowed to answer in private (so the rest of the group does not know their response) conformity decreases. This is because there are fewer group pressures and normative influence is not as powerful, as there is no fear of rejection from the group.

Conformity to Social Roles

Social roles are the part people play as members of a social group (e.g. student, teacher, policeman etc). There is considerable pressure to conform to the expectations of a social role. Conforming to a social role is called identification.

Stanford Prison Experiment AO1

Zimbardo wanted to investigate how readily people would conform to the social roles of guard and prisoner in a role-playing exercise that simulated prison life.

Procedure : To study the roles people play in prison situations, Zimbardo converted a basement of the Stanford University psychology building into a mock prison.

He advertised for students to play the roles of prisoners and guards for a fortnight. Participants were randomly assigned to either the role of prisoner or guard in a simulated prison environment.

Prisoners were issued a uniform, and referred to by their number only. Guards were issued a khaki uniform, together with whistles, handcuffs and dark glasses, to make eye contact with prisoners impossible. The guards worked shifts of eight hours each (the other guards remained on call). No physical violence was permitted.

Zimbardo observed the behavior of the prisoners and guards (as a researcher), and also acted as prison warden.

Findings : Within a very short time both guards and prisoners were settling into their new roles, with the guards adopting theirs quickly and easily. Within hours of beginning the experiment some guards began to harass prisoners. T

hey behaved in a brutal and sadistic manner, apparently enjoying it. Other guards joined in, and other prisoners were also tormented.

The prisoners soon adopted prisoner-like behavior too. They talked about prison issues a great deal of the time. They ‘told tales’ on each other to the guards. They started taking the prison rules very seriously, and some even began siding with the guards against prisoners who did not obey the rules.

As the prisoners became more submissive, the guards became more aggressive and assertive. They demanded ever greater obedience from the prisoners.

The prisoners were dependent on the guards for everything so tried to find ways to please the guards, such as telling tales on fellow prisoners.

Evaluation of Zimbardo’s Study AO3

• Demand characteristics could explain the findings of the study. Most of the guards later claimed they were simply acting. Because the guards and prisoners were playing a role their behavior may not be influenced by the same factors which affect behavior in real life. This means the study’s findings cannot be reasonably generalized to real life, such as prison settings. I.e the study has low ecological validity.
• The study may also lack population validity as the sample comprised US male students. The study’s findings cannot be applied to female prisons or those from other countries. For example, America is an individualist culture (were people are generally less conforming) and the results maybe different in collectivist cultures (such as Asian countries) .
• A strength of the study is that it has altered the way US prisons are run. For example, juveniles accused of federal crimes are no longer housed before trial with adult prisoners (due to the risk of violence against them).
• The study has received many ethical criticisms, including lack of fully informed consent by participants as Zimbardo himself did not know what would happen in the experiment (it was unpredictable). Also, the prisoners did not consent to being “arrested” at home.
• Also, participants playing the role of prisoners were not protected from psychological harm, experiencing incidents of humiliation and distress. For example, one prisoner had to be released after 36 hours because of uncontrollable bursts of screaming, crying and anger. However, in Zimbardo’s defence the emotional distress experienced by the prisoners could not have been predicted from the outset. In addition Zimbardo did conduct debriefing sessions for several years afterwards and concluded they were no lasting negative effects.
• Another strength of the study is that the harmful treatment of participant led to the formal recognition of ethical guidelines . Studies must now gain ethical approval before they are conducted. An ethics committee review whether the potential benefits of the research are justifiable in the light of possible risk of physical or psychological harm. They may request researchers make changes to the studies design or procedure, or in extreme cases deny approval of the study altogether.

Obedience is a type of social influence where a person follows an order from another person who is usually an authority figure.

Explanations for Obedience

Milgram’s shock study ao1.

Milgram wanted to know why Germans were willing to kill Jews during the Holocaust. He thought that it might have been because German’s were just evil.

He thought that Americans were different and would not have followed such orders. To test this ‘German’s are different’ hypothesis he carried out this study (outlined below).

Procedure : Milgram wanted to see whether people would obey a legitimate authority figure when given instructions to harm another human being.

He conducted a lab experiment in which two participants were assigned either the role of a teacher (this was always given to the true participant) or learner (a confederate called Mr. Wallace).

The teacher and learner were put into separate rooms. The teacher was then asked by the experimenter (who wore a lab coat) to administer electric shocks (which were actually harmless) to the learner each time he gave the wrong answer. These shocks increased every time the learner gave a wrong answer, from 15 – 450 volts.

The experimenter (Mr Williams) wore a grey lab coat and his role was to give a series of orders / prods when the participant refused to administer a shock. There were 4 prods and if one was not obeyed then the experimenter read out the next prod, and so on.

• Prod 1: please continue.
• Prod 2: the experiment requires you to continue.
• Prod 3: It is absolutely essential that you continue.
• Prod 4: you have no other choice but to continue.

Results : The results were that all participants went to 300 volts and 65% were willing to go all the way to 450 volts. Milgram did more than one experiment – he carried out 18 variations of his study.

All he did was alter the situation (IV) to see how this affected obedience (DV). For example, when the experimenter instructed and prompted the teacher by telephone from another room, obedience fell to 20.5%.

Evaluation of Milgram’s Study AO3

• A limitation is that this study lacked ecological validity as it was carried out in a lab under artificial conditions. This means that it might not be possible to generalise the finding to a real life setting, as people do not usually receive orders to hurt another person in real life.
• Another problem is that the sample was biased. Milgram only used males in his study and this means we cannot generalise the results to females.
• Highlight the value that Milgram’s work has provided to social Psychology. For instance Milgram’s work gives an insight into why people under the Nazi reign were willing to kill Jews when given orders to do so. It also highlights how we can all be blind to obedience often doing things without question.
• A strength of the study is that it used a standardised procedure because it was a lab experiment. This is good because it improves the reliability of the study and also helps establish a causal relationship.

Ethical Issues AO3

• Deception – the participants actually believed they were shocking a real person, and were unaware the learner was a confederate of Milgram’s.

However, Milgram argued that “illusion is used when necessary in order to set the stage for the revelation of certain difficult-to-get-at-truths”.

Milgram also interviewed participants afterwards to find out the effect of the deception. Apparently 83.7% said that they were “glad to be in the experiment”, and 1.3% said that they wished they had not been involved.

• Protection of participants – Participants were exposed to extremely stressful situations that may have the potential to cause psychological harm. Many of the participants were visibly distressed.

Signs of tension included trembling, sweating, stuttering, laughing nervously, biting lips and digging fingernails into palms of hands. Three participants had uncontrollable seizures, and many pleaded to be allowed to stop the experiment.

Full blown seizures were observed for 3 participants; one so violent that the experiment was stopped.

In his defence, Milgram argued that these effects were only short term. Once the participants were debriefed (and could see the confederate was OK) their stress levels decreased. Milgram also interviewed the participants one year after the event and concluded that most were happy that they had taken part.

• However, Milgram did debrief the participants fully after the experiment and also followed up after a period of time to ensure that they came to no harm.

The Agentic State

Agency theory says that people will obey an authority when they believe that the authority will take responsibility for the consequences of their actions. This is supported by some aspects of Milgram’s evidence.

For example, when participants were reminded that they had responsibility for their own actions, almost none of them were prepared to obey. In contrast, many participants who were refusing to go on did so if the experimenter said that he would take responsibility’.

Another example of the agenetic state involved a variation of Milgram’s study whereby participants could instruct an assistant (confederate) to press the switches. In this condition 92.5% shocked to the maximum 450 volts. This shows when there is less personal responsibility obedience increases.

Limitations AO3

• Cannot explain Nazi behavior – Mandel described how the German Police Reserve shot civilians in a small Polish town even though they were not directly ordered to and were told they could be assigned to other duties – Challenges agentic state as they were not powerless to obey.
• May be better explained by ‘plain cruelty’ – Zimbardo’s participants may have used the situation to express their sadistic tendencies, guards inflicted rapidly escalating cruelty to prisoners even though there was no authority figure telling them to – Obedience may be caused by certain aspects of human nature.

Legitimacy of Authority Figure

Most societies are hierarchal (parents, teachers and police officers hold authority over us). The authority they use is legitimate as it is argued by society, helping it to run smoothly. One of the consequences is that some people are granted the power to punish others.

People tend to obey others if they recognise their authority as morally right and / or legally based (i.e. legitimate). This response to legitimate authority is learned in a variety of situations, for example in the family, school and workplace.

With regard to Milgram” study the experimenter is seen as having legitimate authority as he has scientific status.

If an authority figure’s commands are potentially harmful, for it to be perceived as legitimate they must occur within some type of institutional structure (e.g. a university or the military).

Situational Factors

The Milgram experiment was carried out many times whereby Milgram varied the basic procedure (changed the IV). By doing this Milgram could identify which situational factors affected obedience (the DV).

Obedience was measured by how many participants shocked to the maximum 450 volts (65% in the original study).

Authority Figure Wearing a Uniform

Milgram’s experimenter (Mr. Williams) wore a laboratory coat (a symbol of scientific expertise) which gave him a high status. But when the experimenter dressed in everyday clothes obedience was very low. The uniform of the authority figure can give them status.

Status of Location

Milgram’s obedience experiment was conducted at Yale, a prestigious university in America. The high status of the university gave the study credibility and respect in the eyes of the participants, thus making them more likely to obey.

When Milgram moved his experiment to a set of run down offices rather than the impressive Yale University obedience dropped to 47.5%. This suggests that status of location effects obedience.

Proximity of Authority Figure

People are more likely be obey an authority figure who is in close proximity (i.e. nearby). In Milgram’s study the experimenter was in the same room as the participant (i.e. teacher).

If the authority figure is distant it is easier to resistant their orders. When the experimenter instructed and prompted the teacher by telephone from another room, obedience fell to 20.5%. Many participants cheated and missed out shocks or gave less voltage than ordered to by the experimenter.

Dispositional Explanation: Authoritarian Personality

Adorno felt that personality (i.e. dispositional) factors rather than situational (i.e. environmental) factors could explain obedience. He proposed that there was such a thing as an authoritarian personality, i.e. a person who favours an authoritarian social system and, admires obedience to authority figures.

One of the various characteristics of the authoritarian personality is that the individual is hostile to those who are of inferior status, but obedient of people with high status.

He investigated 2000 middle class, white Americans and their unconscious attitudes towards other racial groups using the F-scale to measure authoritarian personality

• Adorno found many significant correlations (e.g. Authoritarianism correlated with prejudice against minority groups) but we cannot say that one variable causes another – Adorno cannot claim that a harsh parenting style caused a development of an Authoritarian personality, we must consider other explanations like legitimacy of authority.
• Millions of individuals in Germany displayed obedient behavior but didn’t have the same personality, it is unlikely that the majority of Germany’s population possessed an authoritarian personality – An alternative explanation like social identity theory (people identify with groups they are apart with and discriminate against ones they are not) may be more realistic.
• May be better explanations – Prejudice and submissiveness could just as easily be caused by a poor standard of education as a child – Theory lacks internal validity as it assumes obedience is caused by dispositional explanations when it may be situational variables.
• Adorno used a biased sample – Only used 2000 middle class white Americans who are more likely to have an Authoritarian personality due to demographics and the time of the study – Research lacks population validity and historical validity, so conclusions cannot be generalised to people outside the sample.

Resistance to Social Influence

Independent behavior is a term that psychologists use to describe behavior that seems not be influenced by other people. This happens when a person resists the pressures to conform or obey.

Social Support

In one of Asch’s experimental variations he showed that the presence of a dissident (a confederate who did not conform) led to a decrease in the conformity levels in true participants.

This is thought to be because the presence of a dissident gave the true participant social support and made them feel more confident in their own decision and more confident in rejecting the majority position.

Social support also decreases obedience to authority. In a variation of Milgram” study two other participants (confederates) were also teachers but refused to obey. Confederate 1 stopped at 150 volts and confederate 2 stopped at 210 volts. The presence of others who are seen to disobey the authority figure reduced the level of obedience to 10%.

Locus of Control

The term ‘ Locus of control ’ refers to how much control a person feels they have in their own behavior. A person can either have an internal locus of control or an external locus of control.

There is a continuum, with most people lying in between.

People with a high internal locus of control perceive (see) themselves as having a great deal of personal control over their behavior and are therefore more likely to take responsibility for the way they behave. For example, I did well on the exams because I revised extremely hard.

In contrast a person with a high external locus of control perceive their behaviors as being a result of external influences or luck – e.g. I did well on the test because it was easy.

Research has shown that people with an internal locus of control tend to be less conforming and less obedient (i.e. more independent). Rotter proposes that people with internal locus of control are better at resisting social pressure to conform or obey, perhaps because they feel responsible for their actions.

Minority Influence

Minority influence occurs when a small group (minority) influences the opinion of a much larger group (majority). This can happen when the minority behaves in the following ways.

Consistency

Moscovici stated that being consistent and unchanging in a view is more likely to influence the majority than if a minority is inconsistent and chops and changes their mind.

Procedure : Moscovici conducted an experiment in which female participants were shown 36 blue slides of different intensity and asked to report the colours. There were two confederates (the minority) and four participants (the majority).

In the first part of the experiment the two confederates answered green for each of the 36 slides. They were totally consistent in their responses. In the second part of the experiment they answered green 24 times and blue 12 times. In this case they were inconsistent in their answers. A control group was also used consisting of participants only – no confederates.

Findings : When the confederates were consistent in their answers about 8% of participants said the slides were green. When the confederates answered inconsistently about 1% of participants Said the slides were green.

A distinction can be made between two forms of consistency:

(a) Diachronic Consistency – i.e. consistency over time – the majority sticks to its guns, doesn’t modify its views. (b) Synchronic Consistency – i.e. consistency between its members – all members agree and back each other up.

Consistency may be important because:

1. Confronted with a consistent opposition, members of the majority will sit up, take notice, and rethink their position (i.e. the minority focuses attention on itself). 2. A consistent minority disrupts established norms and creates uncertainty, doubt and conflict. This can lead to the majority taking the minority view seriously. The majority will therefore be more likely to question their own views.

When the majority is confronted with someone with self-confidence and dedication to take a popular stand and refuses to back own, they may assume that he or she has a point.

Flexibility

A number of researchers have questioned whether consistency alone is sufficient for a minority to influence a majority. They argue that the key is how the majority interprets consistency. If the consistent minority are seen as inflexible, rigid, uncompromising and dogmatic, they will be unlikely to change the views of the majority.

However, if they appear flexible and compromising, they are likely to be seen as less extreme, as more moderate, cooperative and reasonable. As a result, they will have a better chance of changing majority views.

Some researchers have gone further and suggested that it is not just the appearance of flexibility and compromise which is important but actual flexibility and compromise. This possibility was investigated by Nemeth.

Their experiment was based on a mock jury in which groups of three participants and one confederate had to decide on the amount of compensation to be given to the victim of a ski-lift accident. When the consistent minority (the confederate) argued for a very low amount and refused to change his position, he had no effect on the majority.

However, when he compromised and moved some way towards the majority position, the majority also compromised and changed their view.

This experiment questions the importance of consistency. The minority position changed, it was not consistent, and it was this change that apparently resulted in minority influence.

(a) Name 3 behaviors that enable a minority to influence a majority. (3 marks)

(b) Marcus wants to persuade his group of friends to go travelling in the summer but the rest of the group would like to go on a beach holiday.

Briefly suggest how Marcus might use the 3 behaviors that you have identified in your answer to (a) to persuade his friends to go travelling. (3 marks)

(Total 6 Marks)

(a) Answer. “Consistency, Commitment, Flexibility.” (No need to explain – just name them). (b) Answer. “Marcus should consistently give the same message again and again that the group should go travelling rather than on a beach holiday. He should show commitment to his idea by, for example, investing time in planning and organising his proposed trip. Lastly, he should some flexibility: for example, he could suggest the group go travelling but they will spend quite a bit of time at the beach whilst travelling.”

Social Change

Social change occurs when a whole society adopts a new belief or behavior which then becomes widely accepted as the ‘norm’ which was not before. Social influence processes involved in social change include minority influence (consistency, commitment and flexibility), internal locus of control and disobedience to authority.

Social change is usually a result of minority influence . This is when a small group of people (the minority) manage to persuade the majority to adopt their point of view.

This also links to independent behavior, because the minority resists pressures to conform and/or obey. Usually the minority have an internal locus of control.

Committed minorities, such as those who risk themselves for their cause has an effect on the majority through an augmentation principle, this means the majority value the importance of the cause – as the minority are risking their lives for it.

Through these processes more and more of the majority will gradually change towards the cause resulting in the snowball effect which will ultimately result in societal change, once this has happened social cryptomnesia occurs which is when people can remember a change but not how it came about.

Moscovici found that consistency is the most important factor in deciding whether the minority are influential or not. This means that the minority must be clear on what they are asking for and not change their minds, or disagree amongst themselves. This creates uncertainty amongst the majority.

Moscovici investigated the importance of consistency. He had a group of 6 participants and a range of blue/ green slides varying in intensity – they all had to state the colour they saw.

The study had two conditions, confederates who consistently said green and an inconsistent group and a control group with no confederates. He found that the consistent minority group had a greater effect on the other participants than the inconsistent group. This confirms that consistency is a major factor in minority influence.

It has been found that once the minority begin to persuade people round to their way of thinking, a snowball effect begins to happen. This means that more and more people adopt the minority opinion, until gradually the minority becomes the majority.

At this point, the people who have not changed their opinion are the minority, and they will often conform to the majority view as a result of group pressures.

The majority opinion then becomes law, and people have to obey this law. Once this happens, the minority opinion has become the dominant position in society, and people do often not even remember where the opinion originated from. This is a process known as crypto amnesia .

Further social influence research from Asch and Milgram demonstrates that a minority can have an affect on the majority – both studies involved a dissenter or disobedient role model who influenced the behavior of the majority. However, there are methodological issues in these areas of research: these studies are both based on artificial tasks (judging line lengths).

The application of minority influence is further limited due to the importance of identification which is overlooked in minority influence research. Psychologists have suggested that people are less likely to behave in environmentally friendly ways due to the negative connotations associated with them (“tree huggers”).

Minorities wanting social change should avoid behaviors that reinforce social change – essentially off-putting to the majority.

This suggests that being able to identify with a minority group is just as important as agreeing with their views in order to change the behavior of the major.

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Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

Here’s Why Some People Can Stand Up to Social Pressure

Utah Senator Mitt Romney voted in February to convict President Donald Trump on the charge of abuse of power, becoming the first senator ever to vote against his own party’s president in an impeachment trial .

Two Theranos employees—Erika Cheung and Tyler Shultz— spoke out about their concerns regarding the company’s practices, even though they knew they could face lasting personal and professional repercussions.

Actors Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan came forward to report Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment and assault , despite his threats to ruin their careers if they did so.

All of these people spoke up to call out bad behavior, even in the face of immense pressure to stay silent. Although the specifics of each of these cases are quite different, what each of these people share is a willingness to take action. Psychologists like me describe those who are willing to defend their principles in the face of potentially negative social consequences such as disapproval, ostracism, and career setbacks as “moral rebels.”

Moral rebels speak up in all types of situations—to tell a bully to cut it out, to confront a friend who uses a racist slur, to report a colleague who engages in corporate fraud. What enables someone to call out bad behavior, even if doing so may have costs?

The traits of a moral rebel

First, moral rebels generally feel good about themselves . They tend to have high self-esteem and to feel confident about their own judgment, values, and ability. They also believe their own views are superior to those of others, and thus that they have a social responsibility to share those beliefs.

Moral rebels are also less socially inhibited than others . They aren’t worried about feeling embarrassed or having an awkward interaction. Perhaps most importantly, they are far less concerned about conforming to the crowd. So, when they have to choose between fitting in and doing the right thing, they will probably choose to do what they see as right.

Research in neuroscience reveals that people’s ability to stand up to social influence is reflected in anatomical differences in the brain. People who are more concerned about fitting in show more gray matter volume in one particular part of the brain , the lateral orbitofrontal cortex. This area right behind your eyebrows creates memories of events that led to negative outcomes. It helps guide you away from things you want to avoid the next time around—such as being rejected by your group.

People who are more concerned about conforming to their group also show more activity in two other brain circuits : one that responds to social pain—like when you experience rejection—and another that tries to understand others’ thoughts and feelings. In other words, those who feel worst when excluded by their group try the hardest to fit in.

What does this suggest about moral rebels? For some people, feeling like you’re different than everyone else feels really bad, even at a neurological level. For other people, it may not matter as much, which makes it easier for them to stand up to social pressure.

These characteristics are totally agnostic as to what the moral rebel is standing up for. You could be the lone anti-abortion voice in your very liberal family or the lone abortion rights advocate in your very conservative family. In either scenario, it’s about standing up to social pressure to stay silent—and that pressure of course could be applied about anything.

The path of a moral rebel

What does it take to create a moral rebel?

It helps to have seen moral courage in action . Many of the civil rights activists who participated in marches and sit-ins in the southern United States in the 1960s had parents who displayed moral courage and civic engagement, as did many of the Germans who rescued Jews during the Holocaust. Watching people you look up to show moral courage can inspire you to do the same.

A budding moral rebel also needs to feel empathy, imagining the world from someone else’s perspective. Spending time with and really getting to know people from different backgrounds helps. White high school students who had more contact with people from different ethnic groups—in their neighborhood, at school, and on sports teams—have higher levels of empathy and see people from different minority groups in more positive ways .

These same students are more likely to report taking some action if a classmate uses an ethnic slur, such as by directly challenging that person, supporting the victim, or telling a teacher. People who are more empathic are also more likely to defend someone who is being bullied.

Finally, moral rebels need particular skills and practice using them. One study found that teenagers who held their own in an argument with their mother , using reasoned arguments instead of whining, pressure, or insults, were the most resistant to peer pressure to use drugs or drink alcohol later on. Why? People who have practiced making effective arguments and sticking with them under pressure are better able to use these same techniques with their peers.

Moral rebels clearly have particular characteristics that enable them to stand up for what’s right. But what about the rest of us? Are we doomed to be the silent bystanders who meekly stand by and don’t dare call out bad behavior?

Fortunately, no. It is possible to develop the ability to stand up to social pressure. In other words, anyone can learn to be a moral rebel .

This article was originally published on The Conversation . Read the original article .

About the Author

Catherine A. Sanderson

Catherine A. Sanderson, Ph.D. , is the Poler Family Professor and chair of psychology at Amherst College. You can learn more about Sanderson’s research, writing, and speaking at SandersonSpeaking.com , or follow her on Instagram at SandersonSpeaking.

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Social Pressure Essay Example

• Pages: 2 (362 words)
• Published: May 5, 2017
• Type: Essay

Many of people’s opinions, habits, interests, lifestyles, aspirations, and behavior in general are significantly shaped or affected by unwritten social rules and conventions whose observance determines whether they are generally regarded as normal or not.

This social phenomenon is called social pressure which, to a lesser or greater extent, forces individuals to do their best to be like the rest of society, or normal. Social pressure affects individuals from the early stages of their lives. For example, schoolchildren are often influenced by their peer groups to conform to particular beliefs and behavior shared by most of its members.They usually conform in order to avoid rejection or criticism and follow the lifestyles or become interested in things that are considered normal by their peers.

When children become adults, social pressure imposes on them new lif

estyles, values, aspirations, interests, etc as well. Individuals are preoccupied with their own success which they compare to that of others, and with their own happiness compared to that enjoyed by others. They may cause serious pain or destruction to their own bodies in an attempt to make it appear more normal.They spend many years to achieve something that others have already achieved, regardless of whether they like or need it at all. By doing this, they try to be liked by others and appear normal to them (Wolfe).

Social pressure also affects the way people raise their children and what lessons they teach to them. Many parents, for example, do not dare to criticize or punish their children for mischief because it might be considered as an extreme exaggeration by their friends and make them appear too severe, which is not normal (Billington-Wade).Social pressur

is pervasive and affects every aspect of our life. By conforming to its requirements, individuals often pursue goals that they can never achieve, particularly when it comes to acquiring more material goods. It is extremely disturbing how much social pressure can sometimes govern our lives making many of us unhappy and dissatisfied with life.

By succumbing to social pressure, people lose their own identities, uniqueness, and, instead of enjoying life as it is, begin mimicking others and their lifestyles (Wolfe).

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Social Responsibility and Pressures in Business Essay

Types of pressures, impact on behaviour, satisfaction with performance on sustainability and social responsibility.

Currently, there are several pressures that act as a barrier to managerial efficiency (Kofodimos, 1990). First, the pressure of internal training makes it difficult to concentrate on other organizational operations. The need to ensure new employees are trained sufficiently is derailing other staff members from working. In addition, training new and current employees is tricky due to a lack of enough time and instructors.

Pressures from my family and the community are a major distracter in meeting organizational goals (Kofodimos, 1990). The organization expects my social conduct to reflect the image of the company perfectly. The responsibility of attending social gatherings and business meetings on behalf of the company is tedious. I tend to use my spare time in attending business meetings and charitable events. Therefore, as a manager, I do not have adequate time to socialize with the family and close friends in the community. Alternatively, I only afford to attend a social gathering where people of the same calibre meet. The pressure of meeting the company’s expectation disrupts my private life and is always preoccupied with matters concerning the company.

I experience pressures from maintaining and upholding organization values. In this regard, the pressure of ensuring that the organization values are respected as part of the entity’s culture is intensive. In this context, the idea of managing personnel as a way of upholding the integrity and reputation of the organization is time-consuming and challenging (Kofodimos, 1990).

The pressure of steering the organization towards achieving business objectives, goals, targets and expectations is challenging for a manager. Achieving business objectives and goals requires intensive planning (Kofodimos, 1990). The idea of implementing a plan that requires constant monitoring, as well as establishing new changes, is difficult (Kofodimos, 1990).

External factors are a major cause of pressures. For example, economic conditions affect business performance, especially in unpredictable markets. The pressure of monitoring economic and market trends on a frequent basis is not appealing. There are environmental pressures that do not allow a manager to implement major strategies for effective management. For example, governmental laws and immediate industrial regulations are a major hindrance to managerial orders (Kofodimos, 1990).

The existence of pressures in a business organization can have both positive and negative impact on a manager (Robbins, 2012). From a personal perspective, the pressure is vital in understanding the critical principles of management. For example, through pressure managing other employees becomes an essential element in getting work done. In this context, ensuring that work is done with respect to the organizational code of ethics is necessary. While the intensity of pressures is unbearable, the importance of ensuring integrity, transparency, honesty, social responsibility and fairness is observed as a priority.

However, the aspect of assuming personal responsibility when pressures become intense is one of my common behaviours. I assume personal responsibility as the prerogative of a business manager. In this context, such behaviour is important in acting as an example of how pressure should be approached by the rest of the workforce (Robbins, 2012). When under pressure, I ensure that the subordinates do violate the integrity of the organization.

This is important in ensuring that the organization’s sustainability in the industry is not affected in the long-term. In addition, maintaining integrity while under pressure is vital in saving the organization’s reputation and image. Individual responsibility as a manager to ensure that human concerns are prioritized is an important aspect of professionalism. The idea of continuing with social responsibility efforts when faced with pressure is a significant strategy of showing resilience and high performance.

In most cases, pressures have a negative impact on sustainability. However, this depends on the manager’s behaviour. From a personal perspective, being resilient is critical to ensuring that organizational sustainability is not affected negatively. In addition, social responsibility becomes an essential strategy for covering the prevailing situations of pressure. In this context, engaging in corporate social responsibility activities is encouraged (Robbins, 2012).

Currently, I cannot attest to being satisfied with the performance of sustainability and social responsibility. In this regard, I intend to change several aspects in order to improve the same.

First, I need to change the current leadership and visual element. In this context, developing a business program to address sustainability issues takes precedence. In addition, sustainability will be addressed by engaging the top-level management and major stakeholders in the decision-making process (Epstein & Roy, 2001). Moreover, sustainability can be improved by modifying the organization’s long-term goals by establishing a high-level strategy and new culture.

Secondly, sustainability can be improved through effective planning and implementation processes (Epstein & Roy, 2001). In this regard, I intend to assess the organization’s sustainability performance with respect to the current mission, vision and targets. From this perspective, prioritization of key sustainability issues will take form through consultations. To ensure that long-term plans are sustainable, I intend to prioritize the use of short-term action plans. Apparently, short-term plans entail well-detailed objectives and targets that can be easily monitored and modified.

Thirdly, I intend to improve organizational sustainability by evaluating the monitoring, reviewing and reporting policy. In this context, measuring and monitoring the progress of the organization will be based on the predetermined values and performance objectives. In order to promote effective reporting strategies, it is important to include the stakeholders in implementing the same. For example, internal and external stakeholders are to be mandated with reporting and handling information feedback. In this regard, executing orders based on available information will not cost time-wastage.

In addition, improving performance on social responsibility will require organizational changes (Szekely & Knirsch, 2005). First, I will introduce effective environmental policies and principles that are to benefit both the entity and the community. Moreover, the environmental policy is to provide employees with a social-support system. In this regard, it is ensuring that the internal environment has adequate resources, space and safety standards for favourable working conditions. Prioritizing, both social and governance principles are necessary to ensure that cultural competency is appreciated in the organization.

In this context, the introduction of work ethics that respect the individuality of employees and mutual respect between workers is necessary. On the other hand, I will change the governance principles to allow for friendlier employee-management relationships. In this case, the new environmental, social, and governance policies will foster improved reporting and disclosure of information. However, it will be necessary for engaging the government in improving reporting standards that promote transparency, honesty and integrity.

Another strategy of improving performance on social responsibility is engaging investors and asset managers in advancing research and training of employees and community members. In addition, incorporating educators, consultants and analysts in research and training are vital in ensuring that business organizations and the public are conversant with environmental, social and governance issues.

Epstein, M. J., & Roy, M. J. (2001). Sustainability in action: Identifying and measuring the key performance drivers. Long range planning , 34 (5), 585-604.

Kofodimos, J. R. (1990). Why executives lose their balance. Organizational Dynamics , 19 (1), 58-73.

Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2012). Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition . Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Szekely, F., & Knirsch, M. (2005). Responsible leadership and corporate social responsibility: Metrics for sustainable performance. European Management Journal , 23 (6), 628-647.

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Article Contents

Nature and quality of data on social determinants of health inequities, example of available australian data on health inequality, growing inequities aren’t inevitable, they are a result of government policies and priorities, role of public policy in increasing and entrenching inequities, the role of health promotion research and advocacy in applying pressure for action on health equity, conflict of interest statement, health promotion and the need to accelerate advocacy for health equity.

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Joanne Flavel, Toby Freeman, Connie Musolino, Fran Baum, Health promotion and the need to accelerate advocacy for health equity, Health Promotion International , Volume 39, Issue 3, June 2024, daae040, https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daae040

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It has been 15 years since the final report of the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH)—‘Closing the Gap in a Generation’ ( CSDH, 2008 )—was published. While there have been gains in overall health since then, improvements in health have not been equitably distributed and there is evidence of increasing inequities within OECD countries ( Hu et al ., 2016 ; Mackenbach et al ., 2018 ). Reports from Oxfam and the World Inequality Lab have documented global increases in economic inequality which have been exacerbated by COVID-19 ( Chancel et al ., 2022 ; Christensen et al ., 2023 ). Increasing inequities illustrate that political, economic and social factors can be harmful to health ( World Health Organization, 1986 ), and highlight the importance of health promotion advocacy that calls for more equitable conditions. This is reflected in the 1986 Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion’s emphasis on the fundamental conditions and resources for improving health, including social determinants of health and equity ( World Health Organization, 1986 ). The drivers of increasing health inequities in OECD countries highlight the urgent need for the health promotion community to match these with an acceleration of advocacy for health equity.

Socioeconomic health inequities have increased since the 1980s in OECD countries, including Europe, the USA and Australia ( Hu et al ., 2016 ; Mackenbach et al ., 2018 ; Flavel et al ., 2022b ). The absence of good-quality data on social determinants of health equity is an issue hindering the monitoring of progress on health inequities internationally ( Flavel et al ., 2022a ). The lack of appropriate data in other OECD countries is one reason why much research on health inequities and social determinants of health inequity is concentrated in Europe and North America, with Australia also having some centres for population health research ( Flavel et al ., 2022a ). Limitations of data availability worsen when considering data by gender, sexuality, socio-economic status and ethnicity.

The main source of data on health and social inequities in Australia is from the Public Health Information Development Unit (PHIDU) which has been continually monitoring trends since the 1980s including through the provision of a regularly published Social Health Atlas. Australian data are available by quintile of socioeconomic area disadvantage for 1987–91 and 2016–20 for premature mortality and for 1997–2000 and 2016–20 for deaths from avoidable causes ( Public Health Information Development Unit, 2023 ). These data allow for measurement of the social gradient in health outcomes in Australia, and an assessment of the reduction in premature mortality and avoidable mortality by quintile of socioeconomic disadvantage.

Analyses of PHIDU data have found that inequality in premature mortality and avoidable mortality has increased in Australia ( Flavel et al ., 2022b , 2024 ). Reductions in premature and avoidable mortality have favoured the least disadvantaged: reductions in mortality were larger for the least disadvantaged, with comparatively smaller reductions with increasing disadvantage and the smallest reduction in mortality for the most disadvantaged ( Flavel et al ., 2022b , 2024 ).

PHIDU data on key social determinants of health show the same trend by quintile of socioeconomic area disadvantage as the health measures, with increases in labour force participation and participation in higher education being larger for the least disadvantaged and decreasing with increasing disadvantage ( Flavel et al. , 2024 ). There have also been smaller increases in rental stress for the less disadvantaged in comparison with more disadvantaged quintiles. The trends in health inequities are consistent with the runaway economic class at the top of the income and wealth distribution accumulating a much larger share of wealth and income. The Australian Council of Social Service (a peak body for the social care sector in Australia) analysis of growth in wealth has found much higher increases in wealth between 2003–04 and 2017–18 for the top 10%, the already wealthy, and much lower increases in wealth for people in the bottom 60% ( Davidson and Bradbury, 2022 ). This is also a global phenomenon as highlighted by the Oxfam inequality reports ( Christensen et al ., 2023 ).

Similar trends of reductions in mortality being higher for higher social class were found in other OECD countries, for all-cause mortality and for mortality from coronary heart disease in England and Wales between the 1970s and the 1990s ( Marmot, 2001 ). There were higher reductions in premature mortality for the least deprived decile compared with the most deprived decile in England between the early 2000s and 2015–18 ( Lewer et al ., 2020 ). Relative inequalities in mortality have widened in almost all European countries due to smaller percentage declines in lower socioeconomic groups ( Mackenbach et al ., 2018 ).

The steepening social gradient for measures of mortality in Australia, England, Wales and Europe is partly a result of the gains in health and the social determinants of health favouring the most advantaged. The result has been a widening gap between the least and most disadvantaged. The key drivers of these changes are structural determinants of health such as economic and social policies that impact on social determinants of health. Reductions in government spending on welfare and social programs in OECD countries, as well as policies that confer benefits that largely flow to the already wealthy, have reversed the reductions in inequities from the 1960s and 1970s ( Labonté and Stuckler, 2016 ).

There are historical examples of achievements in reducing health inequities. These include in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland from the 1960s to 1980s, the USA from 1966 to 1980, Brazil from the 1980s to 2000s and England in the 2000s ( Bambra, 2022 ). Each of these examples involved improvements in the provision of social determinants of health, and investment in programmes targeting social inequities ( Bambra, 2022 ). The emergence of neoliberalism and cuts to spending on social programmes ended progress in reducing health inequalities in Europe and the USA in the 1980s, and improvements in population health in England and Brazil came under threat due to austerity measures following economic recessions from 2010 onwards in England and from 2015 onwards in Brazil ( Bambra, 2022 ). These examples illustrate the key role of structural determinants that can harm or improve health.

A strong progressive taxation system is required to fund social programs, public infrastructure and welfare and, in turn, should result in reduced health and social inequities. Post-World War II, highly progressive income taxes were implemented in many OECD countries, but the average highest marginal tax rates fell in the 1980s from around 60% to under 40% ( Hope and Limberg, 2022 ). Tax cuts for high-income earners entrench inequities and have the impact of not just increasing social inequities but also leading to cuts in services that support health and social equity. The fall in the highest marginal tax rates partially explains the increasing accumulation of income and wealth for the top 10% in many OECD countries.

The housing crisis some countries are experiencing is another example of how policies can result in increasing inequalities. The reduction in investment in social housing in a number of countries has decreased housing affordability and security for many segments of the population ( Fields and Hodkinson, 2018 ). Australia is an extreme case in point: investment in public housing has failed to keep pace since 1996 with social housing only growing by 4% between 1996 and 2016, and much lower than population growth of 30% over the same period ( Per Capita, 2022 ). The capital gains tax discount was introduced in 1999, providing a 50% discount for tax on capital gains on assets sold by Australian residents as long as the asset was held for at least 12 months. The introduction of the capital gains tax discount and increased generosity of negative gearing was only three years after funding for public housing was cut and resulted in a sharp increase in house prices ( Per Capita, 2022 ). Three-quarters of an estimated $5 billion per year from the capital gains tax discount goes to the top 10% of income earners ( Centre for Equitable Housing, 2023 ). These housing policy changes to capital gains taxation and negative gearing in the 1990s have redistributed wealth towards the already wealthy and made housing in Australia unaffordable for many to rent or buy.

Income support payments which are designed to alleviate poverty prevent poor health and reduce health inequities ( Arno et al ., 2011 ). However, many countries have introduced punitive welfare where payment conditions have negative effects on the health of the unemployed who are marginalized and stigmatized ( Williams, 2021 ).

Regressive policies distort the distribution of income, housing and wealth, conferring lower taxes or tax revenues to high-income earners and taking benefits from the lowest-income earners, and go some way to explaining why the increase in health and social inequities in many OECD countries is characterized by much larger gains in health and access to key social determinants of health for the most advantaged.

Most health promoters are not working at a level where they can address structural determinants of health, but that does not mean they cannot act to promote and advocate for more equitable conditions. The persistence of policies that increase health inequities globally can be discouraging for advocates, but the historical achievements that were made towards health equity in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Brazil, the USA and England not so long ago show that policies can change ( Bambra, 2022 ). Challenging and resisting policies that increase health inequities through advocacy is vital. The current conditions globally that have led to rising health and social inequities in many countries require an acceleration of advocacy which health promoters could lead.

Effective strategies for health promoters include coordinated political action between advocacy groups and countering negative narratives about groups targeted by spending cuts such as the unemployed to encourage resistance to such cuts ( O’Campo et al ., 2019 ). The effectiveness of such strategies is underpinned by accumulating compelling evidence and vivid sharing of stories based on lived experiences of the harms to health of cuts to social and health programs, punitive welfare schemes and other policies distorting the distribution of social determinants. In addition, health promoters can also facilitate the capacity of communities they work with to advocate for themselves and join advocacy efforts of other community and civil society groups. Calls to action to empower those impacted by lack of political action on social and commercial determinants of health have highlighted the importance of involving young people and women in advocacy and policy-making ( Arnot et al ., 2023 ; McCarthy et al ., 2023 ; Pitt et al ., 2024 ).

Evidence produced by health promotion researchers is vital as health promotion researchers can give voice to the lived experience of those harmed most by inequities. They can enumerate the harm done by providing qualitative and quantitative evidence that can be used to support advocacy for changes to public policy to reduce inequities. An accumulation of compelling evidence and the joining of disparate voices to coalitions advocating on the same issue can be effective in influencing policy actors.

The challenge is even greater when considering inequities between countries and within-country inequality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Data on trends in health inequities for LMICs are limited and mainly focus on child mortality, but available evidence indicates many LMICs are also facing challenges in reducing health inequities ( Eozenou et al ., 2021 ). Nonetheless, advocacy has an important role globally. Vital advocacy is already being undertaken by international organizations such as the People’s Health Movement, WHO, Oxfam and Global Health 50/50 but this advocacy is up against difficulties in generating political will and corporations lobbying for pro-business policies that undermine health equity ( Lacy-Nichols et al ., 2023 ). An acceleration of evidence-based advocacy would align with the Ottawa Charter’s call to action almost four decades ago—it is through advocacy that conditions can be made favourable for achieving equity in health ( World Health Organization, 1986 ).

This work was supported by a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council, grant number GNT 2009323.

Joanne Flavel is a member of the Editorial Board of Health Promotion International.

Arno , P. S. , House , J. S. , Viola , D. and Schechter , C. ( 2011 ) Social security and mortality: the role of income support policies and population health in the United States . Journal of Public Health Policy , 32 , 234 – 250 .

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This essay about the impact and controversies surrounding the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision discusses how it established a woman’s right to abortion under the privacy protections of the Fourteenth Amendment. It addresses both the legal challenges and societal divisions it has prompted over the years, including state-level restrictions and the significant political and cultural debates it has ignited. The essay also considers the broader implications for women’s reproductive rights and health, while acknowledging the persistent access issues and social stigma.

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The decision in Roe v. Wade, made by the United States Supreme Court in 1973, has profoundly influenced both the legal framework and societal views on abortion and reproductive rights. The ruling established a woman’s right to make decisions about her own pregnancy, emphasizing this as a matter of privacy protected under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This significant judicial recognition shifted how reproductive rights are perceived, limiting the state’s ability to impose blanket prohibitions or severe constraints on abortions without a substantial justification.

Critics, however, have charged Roe v. Wade with judicial overreach, claiming the Court engaged in activism by creating law from the bench. This decision also sparked a vehement and ongoing controversy regarding the ethical and moral dimensions of abortion, leading to vehement opposition from religious and pro-life groups who view the ruling as a violation of life’s sanctity.

Over the years, the debates and disputes surrounding abortion have not waned, with numerous states attempting to erode the Roe decision through various restrictive measures. These include obligatory waiting periods and rigorous regulations for clinics, highlighting the ongoing tension between safeguarding women’s rights and protecting fetal interests.

The abortion issue has also become a significant element in American political and cultural divides, influencing elections and public policy discussions. Political candidates are often evaluated on their abortion stance, and the topic is a central issue in legislative sessions and judicial nominations.

Socially, Roe v. Wade has empowered women by broadening their control over reproductive choices, which has had ripple effects on family planning and women’s health. Access to safe, legal abortions is linked to lower maternal mortality rates and has allowed women more autonomy in managing their reproductive health.

Nevertheless, access to abortion services is uneven, often adversely affecting marginalized groups and deepening social inequities. Rural regions, in particular, suffer from a lack of adequate healthcare facilities, and economic hurdles can restrict access for low-income individuals.

Moreover, the stigma associated with abortion endures, creating a culture of silence and judgment that can affect women’s decisions about their pregnancies. Overcoming this stigma necessitates not only legal measures but also a shift in societal attitudes towards normalizing reproductive choices.

As we look to the future, the principles established in Roe v. Wade regarding personal autonomy and constitutional protections remain crucial in guiding ongoing debates about reproductive rights and justice. The evolving dynamics of the Supreme Court and the political landscape continue to make the future of abortion rights uncertain. However, the enduring principles from Roe v. Wade continue to underscore the broader quest for equality, dignity, and human rights in evolving societal contexts.

Cite this page

Analyzing the Legal and Social Implications: A Summary of Roe v. Wade. (2024, May 12). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/analyzing-the-legal-and-social-implications-a-summary-of-roe-v-wade/

"Analyzing the Legal and Social Implications: A Summary of Roe v. Wade." PapersOwl.com , 12 May 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/analyzing-the-legal-and-social-implications-a-summary-of-roe-v-wade/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Analyzing the Legal and Social Implications: A Summary of Roe v. Wade . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/analyzing-the-legal-and-social-implications-a-summary-of-roe-v-wade/ [Accessed: 16 May. 2024]

"Analyzing the Legal and Social Implications: A Summary of Roe v. Wade." PapersOwl.com, May 12, 2024. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/analyzing-the-legal-and-social-implications-a-summary-of-roe-v-wade/

"Analyzing the Legal and Social Implications: A Summary of Roe v. Wade," PapersOwl.com , 12-May-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/analyzing-the-legal-and-social-implications-a-summary-of-roe-v-wade/. [Accessed: 16-May-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Analyzing the Legal and Social Implications: A Summary of Roe v. Wade . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/analyzing-the-legal-and-social-implications-a-summary-of-roe-v-wade/ [Accessed: 16-May-2024]

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