Social Influence: Why do we do what we do?

Why We Do What We Do: The Power of Social Influence

Have you ever gone along with something just because everyone else was doing it? Maybe you watched a show you didn't even like, wore something you didn't feel comfortable in, or agreed with your friends even though you didn't actually think they were right. If you said yes (and let's be honest, most of us would), then you've experienced social influence—one of the most fascinating parts of psychology.

What Even Is Social Influence?

Basically, social influence is when other people affect the way we think, feel, or act. It can come from our friends, family, teachers, or even people online. Sometimes we follow the crowd without even realising it, just because we want to fit in, avoid conflict, or feel accepted.

There are a few types of social influence, but the main ones are conformity (changing your behaviour to match others), obedience (doing what someone in authority tells you), and persuasion (being influenced by arguments or information). And while it sounds a bit manipulative, it's actually something we all do—and often for good reasons.

Conformity: Fitting In (Even When You Don't Want To)

Back in the 1950s, a psychologist called Solomon Asch did this really clever (and slightly evil) experiment. He showed people a bunch of lines and asked them to pick which ones matched in length. Simple, right? But the twist was that everyone else in the room was in on the experiment and purposely gave the wrong answers. Shockingly, 75% of the actual participants also gave the wrong answer at least once, just to go along with the group.

It's kind of wild, but it shows how much pressure we feel to conform—even when we know something's not right. Think about how many people post stuff just because it's trending or pretend to like a song because everyone else does. Same idea.

Obedience: Listening to Authority (Even When It Feels Wrong)

Another famous study was done by Stanley Milgram in the 1960s. He told people to give electric shocks to a stranger (who was actually an actor pretending to be in pain). Over 60% of people kept shocking them, just because someone in a lab coat told them to.

It's a bit disturbing, but it shows how people will obey authority—even if it means hurting someone else. Not because they're evil, but because they don't want to question someone in charge. This explains a lot about how people act in schools, jobs, and even politics.

But It's Not Always Bad

Social influence isn't all doom and gloom. Sometimes it helps us grow. Albert Bandura came up with the idea of observational learning, where we learn by watching others. So if you see someone being confident, kind, or standing up for what's right, that can influence you to do the same. And that's pretty awesome.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, social influence is something we all experience. Knowing about it doesn't mean we'll never be influenced again—but it does help us think twice about why we're doing something. Is it really what you want, or just what everyone else is doing?

Understanding this stuff won't just help you with your psychology exam—it'll help you understand yourself and the world around you a bit better too.