Social Phenomena Thoughts
Social phenomena are behavioral processes that are carried out by human beings. This can include interactions carried out between human beings with their current behaviors influencing the interactions, or past behaviors influencing them (Cacciattolo, 2015). These behaviors are created by society instead of being ingrained in humans naturally. For example, possessing the ability to role one’s tongue is an inherited trait, while brushing one’s teeth in a learned trait. Society doesn’t place much emphasis on people being able to roll their tongues, but brushing our teeth is viewed as essential part of daily hygiene.
Other inherited traits include talking, hair color, nose shape, eye color, height, and anything determined solely by genetics. Introversion, extraversion, curiosity, and being adventurous are traits that come naturally to humans, as well. I am more adventurous than my boyfriend, so I am more prone to want to try new things he might consider to be dangerous. For example, on recent beach trip I decided to ride the SlingShot, a human catapult that flings you 300 feet in the air at speeds up to 100 mile per hour. I begged and tried to bribe him to ride it but he refused to ride it with me. Clearly being adventurous is not a socially learned trait.
Examples of social phenomena are vast and varied. One that stands out to me is the concept of normal sociative influence which “involves conforming in order to be accepted or liked by a group, not necessarily because one actually believes the things one is doing or saying” (Fournier, n.d.). When social networking sites first arose, my dad was very much against using them, while I embraced them wholeheartedly. Loving technology as much as I do I joined Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and still use them all daily. I was amongst the first of my friends and family members to do so. As time went on and more of my dad’s friends and our family members joined Facebook he found himself using my mom’s account to see what everyone was up to. He would even post comments using her account and sign them with his name. My mom, sisters, and I made fun of him until he finally caved and made his own account that he now uses every day.
Another example of normal sociative influence is a personal one. When I was 15 I wore literally no makeup. I felt awkward around girls who wore makeup and started to experiment with makeup myself. Over time I went from wearing a little powder to wearing a full face of makeup. In fact, I feel lost if I don’t have mascara and lip gloss on. Makeup is a social construct that specifically targets women. I can count on one hand women I know that don’t wear makeup because it is the societal norm to wear it.
Social phenomena are extremely prevalent in today’s society largely due to social networking. Lifestyle choices are heavily influenced by what other people are posting on Facebook and similar sites. The big fad diet at the moment is the keto diet. Almost all the people I know that are dieting are on the keto diet and say they decided to try it because someone they know posted about their results on Facebook.
Opinions can be influenced by social networking as well. My views on certain issues have shifted over the years because of discussions I have had and compelling arguments I have read on Facebook and Twitter. Most of the time influences are not noticed as they happen, rather discovered in reflection upon realization of changes experienced. As my views shifted I didn’t consciously realize they were, but rather I noticed them looking back and comparing how I currently look at things to how I used to.
Fournier, G. (n.d.). Normative Social Influence. Retrieved from PsychCentral.
Other inherited traits include talking, hair color, nose shape, eye color, height, and anything determined solely by genetics. Introversion, extraversion, curiosity, and being adventurous are traits that come naturally to humans, as well. I am more adventurous than my boyfriend, so I am more prone to want to try new things he might consider to be dangerous. For example, on recent beach trip I decided to ride the SlingShot, a human catapult that flings you 300 feet in the air at speeds up to 100 mile per hour. I begged and tried to bribe him to ride it but he refused to ride it with me. Clearly being adventurous is not a socially learned trait.
Examples of social phenomena are vast and varied. One that stands out to me is the concept of normal sociative influence which “involves conforming in order to be accepted or liked by a group, not necessarily because one actually believes the things one is doing or saying” (Fournier, n.d.). When social networking sites first arose, my dad was very much against using them, while I embraced them wholeheartedly. Loving technology as much as I do I joined Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and still use them all daily. I was amongst the first of my friends and family members to do so. As time went on and more of my dad’s friends and our family members joined Facebook he found himself using my mom’s account to see what everyone was up to. He would even post comments using her account and sign them with his name. My mom, sisters, and I made fun of him until he finally caved and made his own account that he now uses every day.
Another example of normal sociative influence is a personal one. When I was 15 I wore literally no makeup. I felt awkward around girls who wore makeup and started to experiment with makeup myself. Over time I went from wearing a little powder to wearing a full face of makeup. In fact, I feel lost if I don’t have mascara and lip gloss on. Makeup is a social construct that specifically targets women. I can count on one hand women I know that don’t wear makeup because it is the societal norm to wear it.
Social phenomena are extremely prevalent in today’s society largely due to social networking. Lifestyle choices are heavily influenced by what other people are posting on Facebook and similar sites. The big fad diet at the moment is the keto diet. Almost all the people I know that are dieting are on the keto diet and say they decided to try it because someone they know posted about their results on Facebook.
Opinions can be influenced by social networking as well. My views on certain issues have shifted over the years because of discussions I have had and compelling arguments I have read on Facebook and Twitter. Most of the time influences are not noticed as they happen, rather discovered in reflection upon realization of changes experienced. As my views shifted I didn’t consciously realize they were, but rather I noticed them looking back and comparing how I currently look at things to how I used to.
Reflections
As individuals we have to be careful that we stay true to ourselves and not allow every other opinion or thought out there to sway our own. While social networking is a great tool it is easy to get lost in it. I know sometimes I have to schedule myself little breaks from it, especially when there are important political conversations happening in the country. I often find what others choose to post to be something I don't agree with, but I usually keep scrolling. However, when others share hateful comments on my posts they disagree with it can be difficult not to argue with them. In those cases I usually tell them I respect their rights to form their own opinions and leave it at that.References
Cacciattolo, K. (2015). An Analysis of the Combination of Qualitative and Quantitative Methods to Understand Social Phenomenon. University of Malta.Fournier, G. (n.d.). Normative Social Influence. Retrieved from PsychCentral.
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