In: Psychology
How does a group influence the behavior of the individual? How does an individual counter the influence of the group? write at least 250 words
It is obvious that in a group situation individual behaviour undergoes different types of changes. Processes such as conformity and compromise, which necessarily involve changes in individual behaviour. It has been shown that judgements, attitudes, perceptions, etc. can be changed to a great extent by group situations.
There are many ways a group can influence an individual behaviour. Among them I will three major ways i.e. groupthink, groupshift, and deindividuation. Groupthink happens when group members, faced with an important choice, become so focused on making a smooth, quick decision that they overlook other, possibly more fruitful options. Groupshift is a phenomenon in which the initial positions of individual members of a group are exaggerated toward a more extreme position. Deindividuation happens when a person lets go of self-consciousness and control and does what the group is doing, usually with negative goals or outcomes.
Countering group influence is an act of not letting the group dominate on individuals. Everyone in a group should have their own ideas and thoughts. Individuals should enjoy freedom of expression in the group. Let the leader not dominate others. These are some of the ways we can try counter group influence on individuals.