GENDSO030 1.

Identification – occurs when people

Lesson 2: SOCIAL INFLUENCE, MORAL conform to what is expected of them
DEVELOPMENT, based on their social roles.
AND CONFORMITY 2. Internalization – occurs when we
change our behavior because we want
In the previous lesson, we have to be like the other person
discussed about how our thoughts, 3. Public Compliance – a superficial
feelings, and actions, make up the change in behavior (including the public
totality of our experience. We have also expression of opinions) that is not
discussed about what makes up our accompanied by an actual change in
society and its components. We have one’s private opinion.
further explored the factors that 4. Obedience - if complain is to an
influence our view regarding which explicit command. Acting in accord with
manner of feeling, thinking, and acting a direct command or order.
are acceptable and which are not. There 5. Acceptance - the sincere, inward
is no denying that the presence of conformity. Sometimes follows
others is a big part of whether we carry compliance (we may come to inwardly
on with a behavior or we don’t. believe something we initially
Conformity is when we behave questioned.) Both acting and believing
according to how we are asked or in accord with social pressure.
expected to behave, directly or
indirectly. Sometimes it is easy to carry Non-Conformity– failure or refusal to
out a role expected of us, sometimes conform to prevailing rule or practice.
it’s difficult, sometimes, maybe
impossible. Correlates of Conformity
A. Social Influence – Social attitudes
It’s easy to understand why we do that impact the strengthening or
things that we like, but how about weakening of beliefs and behaviors, to
when we do things we don’t necessary match that of those around us.
like, but the rest of the world thinks “we
should”? What makes us do it? In this Types of Social Influence:
lesson we will explore the concepts of 1. Informational Influence – happens
Conformity and Moral Development. As when people change their behavior in
we do so, let us try to look at ourselves order to be correct; also happens when
and gain more understanding about the person lacks knowledge and looks
why we think, feel, or act a certain way to the group for information and
– or why we don’t. direction.
Conformity– the act of matching 2. Normative social influence – occurs
attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to when we express opinions or behaves in
group norms, politics, or being like- ways that help us to be accepted or that
minded; can occur in the presence of keep us from being isolated or rejected
others, or when the individual is alone; by others.
may also refer to a change in behavior
caused by another person or group. Correlates of Conformity Social
Comparison – the process of comparing
our opinions with those of others to
Types of Conformity gain an appropriate appraisal of the
validity of an opinion or behavior. 1. Source Traits – underlying basic
Sources of Social Influence factors of an individual’s personality
1.Majority Influence – occurs when the 2. Surface Traits – the observable
beliefs held by the larger number of behavior resulting from source traits
individuals in the current social group
prevail; more common. Cattel proposed that Personality is “that
2. Minority Influence – occurs when the which permits a prediction of what a
beliefs held by the smaller number of person will do in a given situation.” He
individuals in the current social group argued that individual differences
prevail; less common. between personalities can be
understood by assigning categories
(types) to people; and believed that
Correlates of Conformity each person has a unique blend of traits
B. Personality –the consistent and with varying strength of expression. He
distinctive thoughts, feelings and identified 16 personality traits that can
behavior an individual engages in. The be measured and defined. From these
quality that makes each of us a unique 16 traits, he derived what he referred to
person. as five global factors: (1) Extraversion,
Elements of Personality According to (2) Anxiety, (3) Tough Mindedness, (4)
Sigmund Freud: Independence, and (5) Self-Control.
1. Id – prioritizes what is pleasurable, • Extraversion – a measure of a
regardless of reason person’s general social participation
2. Ego – prioritizes reason over pleasure level.
3. Superego – prioritizes internalized • Anxiety – a measure of a person’s
values of society over either pleasure or level of reactivity, vigilance, tension,
reason and apprehension.
• Tough mindedness – a measure of a
Freud believed that individuals with person’s tendency to deal with
stronger ID are less likely to conform to problems either at the cognitive or
the expectations of society when it emotional level.
violates the pleasure principle; while • Independence – a measure of Self-
individuals with stronger SUPER-EGO determination.
are less likely to engage in a socially • Self-control – a measure of the
unacceptable behavior, regardless of an person’s tendency to control one’s
existing opportunity to exercise reason urges
or experience pleasure. Individuals with
well-developed ego, on the other hand, Personality Factors that contribute to
tend to act in response to reason and Stronger Self-control
logical thinking; they are more likely to 1. low liveliness (high seriousness)
inhibit the urge to satisfy needs 2. high perfectionism
(pleasure) until appropriate actions are 3. high rule-consciousness
found. 4. low abstractedness (high
practicality)

Elements of Personality According to Cattel noted that certain traits

Raymond Cattell: contribute to whether one exhibits
“lack of restraint” or “self-control”. He
believed that individuals with higher – a code of conduct that is derived from
self-control are more likely to behave in one’s culture, religion, or personal
a manner that is socially acceptable; philosophy
they are also less likely to break rules or – guides one’s actions, behaviors, or
challenge the status quo. thoughts
Synthesis Morality recognition – the conscious
“It’s easy for a dead fish to go with the distinction between right and wrong /
flow; it takes a life one to swim against good and evil; respect for and
the current.” obedience to rules and right conduct
Sometimes it takes courage to show our Moral Development – focuses on the
true selves to other people, especially emergence, change, and understanding
when doing so have put us in an of morality from infancy to adulthood
unpleasant situation in the past. Fear of Theoretical Concepts explaining Moral
rejection by peers, for instance, may Behavior
hold us back from voicing opinions, 1. Morality and the Super Ego
sharing convictions, openly declaring (Sigmund Freud)
involvement to uncommon interests There is an existing tension between
and hobbies, or expressing feelings and the needs of the society and the needs
ideas contrary to popular belief. At one of the individual. As the person
point or another, however we are matures, the individual’s selfish desires
eventually faced with a choice: to follow are repressed and replaced by the
a path others chose for us, or that we values of important socializing agents
choose for ourselves. (such as parents) in one’s life.
Synthesis 2. Morality and Social Learning (Albert
“Many people will walk in and out of Bandura)
your life, but only the true few will Socialization is the primary force behind
leave footprints in your heart.” moral development. Moral behavior can
– Eleanor Roosevelt be acquired by observing and imitating
We encounter a lot of people as we others.
grow and mature, but only few will 3. Morality and Cognitive Development
leave a notable impact. These are (Jean Piaget)
individuals that contribute greatly to The individual’s construction, construal,
the things we like about ourselves – and interpretation of morality from a
sometimes they are persons that social-cognitive and social-emotional
generously nurture our thirst for perspective is a necessary agent to
understanding – a source if wisdom and morality recognition. 4. Morality and
inspiration; sometimes they are Moral Reasoning (Lawrence Kohlberg)
companions to experiences which Moral reasoning influences a person’s
showed us a lot more about life; willingness or unwillingness to engage
sometimes they are simply persons who in certain behaviors and can be
share our struggles, who understood us, classified into levels.
and helped us make it through the
difficult times. Each level presents a unique source of
evaluationof right or wrong, acceptable
Morality – an individual’s growing or unacceptable.
sense of what is right and wrong
Individuals often initially evaluate the Divine Command Theory – refers to the
acceptability of a behavior based on the act of equating morality to adherence
resulting pain or pleasure, but may to authoritative commands from a holy
eventually learn to apply reasoning book.
based on social conditions or personal
convictions. General Classification of World
Religions:
An individual may progress from the a. Monotheistic religions – believe in
first level to the next but not everyone only one God
gets to develop the highest level of b. Polytheistic religions – believe in
reasoning. many gods

Levels of Moral Reasoning (Lawrence Abrahamic Religions – a group of

Kohlberg): Semitic-originated, monotheistic
1. Pre-conventional Level – focus on religions that claim decent from
reward and punishment brought about Judaism of ancient Israelites and the
by certain behaviors. worship of the God of Abraham.
2. Conventional Level – focus on social
contract or a sense of responsibility to The Three Largest Abrahamic Religion:
contribute to the society one is part of (a) Christianity;
and behave in a manner that is (b)Islam; and
acceptable. (c) Judaism
3. Post Conventional Level – focus on
conscious principles and personal 4 Major Abrahamic Religions
convictions governing one’s actions • Christianity – Abrahamic religion
based on the teachings of Jesus of
Nazareth
• Islam – Abrahamic religion based on
the teachings of Mohammed
• Judaism – Abrahamic religion based
on teachings of Moses and the Prophets
• Messianic Judaism – a combination of
Judaism and Christianity.
5.Morality and Religion
Many religions have various
frameworks regarding personal
behavior meant to guide believers in
determining right and wrong. Religious
belief systems are often very strong
regulator of human behaviors. These
also shape a lot of society’s roles and
norms, when a specific religion is
prevalent. Value judgements can vary
greatly between religions, past and
present.
 distinct kinds of value systems or action
guides. Morality does not necessarily
depend upon religion, although for
some, as Rachels, et. Al. (2011) would
put it, this is an ‘almost automatic
assumption.’ In the views of others,
however, the two can overlap.

On the issue of the ability of religious

to provide value frameworks:
• Religious commentators have
asserted that a moral life cannot be led
without an absolute lawgiver as a guide
(God).
• Other observers assert moral behavior
does not rely on religious tenets.
• Contemporary commentators point to
ethical challenges within various
religions that conflict with
contemporary social norms.

Synthesis:
Belongingness is a universal need. As
social beings, we thrive in environments
where we can foster nurturing
relationships and smooth interpersonal
connections with other people. So much
in fact, that psychologist William
Glasser, proponent of Reality Therapy,
went as far as claim that “all long lasting
psychological problems are relationship
Religion and conformity is among the problems.”
widely studied field in sociology. Many
religions have value frameworks
regarding personal behavior meant to
guide adherents in determining
between right and wrong. An example
of this is the “good thoughts, good
words, and good deeds” concept,
common to most religions.

These frameworks are outlined and

interpreted by various sources such as
religious books, oral and written
traditions, and religious leaders. Although varying in opinion regarding
the intensity of the need, psychologists
A lot of social scientists believe that agree that relationships play an
morality and religious systems are two
essential role in human development, A lot of times expression of these
adjustment, and coping with the changes difficult and met with
demands of day to day life. Whether disapproval or contempt. Nevertheless,
consciously or unconsciously, it is not people have been challenging their
uncommon for us to behave according society’s existing norms throughout
to what is expected of us; in some history, some successfully stirring its
instances, we deliberately exert efforts course in their lifetime, others
to change our behaviors in order to persecuted and recognized only
belong or fit in. Generally, people view recently, when modern society has
conflict unfavorably and though at caught up with what used to be an
times inevitable, we are more likely to extreme taboo.
seek out behavior which tend to avoid,
eliminate, or pacify any arising
arguments.

C o n f o r m i t y is an important
element in society, often serving as a
stabilizing agent. Society with higher
levels of conformity among its members
are less likely to experience drastic
changes in it s culture, cus toms , and
traditions, and the prevailing norms are
more likely to be passed on to next
generations. This, however, may
become problematic when existing
norms are rigid, oppressive, and/or
invite opportunity to oppress,
discriminate, or abuse.

Synthesis:
Although to most of us it may appear
rigid, and unchangeable, our morality
recognition is actually dynamic. It is
largely influenced by learning, maturity,
and individual differences, and may
change over time or as society changes;
it evolves as we grow internally, get
exposed to social influences, and
generally respond to the world around
us. Conflict occurs when our need to
belong and tendency to conform is
challenged by the need to express our
newly acquired moral reasoning. It is
often complicated by society’s
disapproval or lack of support from
significant persons.