Social Psychology Paper Scenario - PSY120

“Social influence effects of the presence of others in the way people think, feel, and behave” (Kowalski & Westen, 2005). Social influence is associated with both behaviors because the changes in behaviors are due to the attitudes of others or guidance towards a particular direction. Sarah has not had this kind of influence before, always following the rules, she has done what she’s told and followed the path set for her by her parents. This path and these rules were not her choice and she most likely never experienced anything with her peers that strayed off this set path. Sarah felt some anxiety at disobeying her parent’s rules, fearing she may get caught and ultimately punished. She also …show more content…

This leaves very little room for autonomy, which children need in order to develop into responsible adults. This can sometimes lead to rebellion because while under a strict rule system, children don’t get the opportunity to learn right from wrong themselves. They do not internalize self-discipline because they’ve been taught simply to follow rules and do not learn to self-regulate. When Mom and Dad are no longer there to tell the child what to do, the child may act impulsively without considering the consequences to himself or others. However, strict limits do control behavior, but only temporarily. 2013, Miller, The Disadvantages of Strict Parenting.

She is getting pressure from outside sources and her conscience just keeps yelling at her to stop this behavior now. She knows that she should be home doing her homework, but her new friends keep encouraging her to stay. The influences that a youth in America face today are monumental in comparison to the influences 20, 50, or 100 years ago. Peers are the hardest influence to overlook as most youths are around a peer at all times. They are subject to their friends’ thoughts and desires as well as their own. If an individual knows that his or her friends have done something and have gotten away with the act, be it legal or talking on the phone while grounded, he or she is more likely to perform the act as well. Teens do this because they have an