Social Actions
In sociology, "behavior" itself means an animal-like activity devoid of social meaning or social context, in contrast to "social behavior", which has both. In a sociological hierarchy, social behavior is followed by social actions, which are directed at other people and are designed to induce a response. |
Emotions
Our emotions are the biggest driver in our responses to certain situations and our feelings toward them or what may happen. Joy and grief, love and disgust are all thought triggered emotions and are considered unresolved types of emotional triggers. In the media and marketing these types of psychological arousal are used daily to provoke a response from the viewers or potential clients. Marketing pros will tell you to think of it this way, Everything you “put out there” should be provocative enough to generate a response—beyond a Like or a Share on social media.
Our emotions are the biggest driver in our responses to certain situations and our feelings toward them or what may happen. Joy and grief, love and disgust are all thought triggered emotions and are considered unresolved types of emotional triggers. In the media and marketing these types of psychological arousal are used daily to provoke a response from the viewers or potential clients. Marketing pros will tell you to think of it this way, Everything you “put out there” should be provocative enough to generate a response—beyond a Like or a Share on social media.
Rationally Motivated
Is all social action rationally motivated? Rationality means that the actions taken are analyzed and calculated for the greatest amount of (self)-gain and desired response. Social interactions with others and in social media, we tend to identify our sense of self as we observe and reflect upon others and what they may think of our actions and our response to others actions. This is a follow the pack mentality where our responses will be determined by the responses of others.
Both individuals and society cannot be separated far from each other because they are both created through social interaction. Our behavior is not defined by forces from the environment or inner forces such as drives, or instincts, but rather by a reflective, socially understood and external incentives. Meaning our views, thoughts, beliefs and rational reasoning will come from external forces, which will drive our responses to certain situations. People thus do not respond to this reality directly, but rather to the social understanding of reality.
Is all social action rationally motivated? Rationality means that the actions taken are analyzed and calculated for the greatest amount of (self)-gain and desired response. Social interactions with others and in social media, we tend to identify our sense of self as we observe and reflect upon others and what they may think of our actions and our response to others actions. This is a follow the pack mentality where our responses will be determined by the responses of others.
Both individuals and society cannot be separated far from each other because they are both created through social interaction. Our behavior is not defined by forces from the environment or inner forces such as drives, or instincts, but rather by a reflective, socially understood and external incentives. Meaning our views, thoughts, beliefs and rational reasoning will come from external forces, which will drive our responses to certain situations. People thus do not respond to this reality directly, but rather to the social understanding of reality.
Created Through Interaction
Human beings are social creatures, we are in a constant search for social interaction with others and these interactions will determine what we do and how we act. We are all created through interaction; society too is created through social interaction. What we do depends on interaction with others earlier in our lifetimes, and it depends on our interaction right now. Social interaction is central to what we do. If we want to understand cause, focus on social interaction. This cause and effect is what drives our response to situations we are confronted with and because we have been sort of brainwashed into believing certain things, we will response as a group the same way. |
Group Action
A community or society may at times come together and simultaneously communicate the same thought and participate in the same action. Such an event then causes collective enthusiasm which excites individuals and serves to unify the group; this will often take place when the group or society realizes they are more likely to achieve their goal when acting together rather than individually. This is also similar to the herd mentality or herd behavior and is described as how individuals in a group can act together without planned direction. The term pertains to the behavior of animals in herds, flocks and schools but also with humans by demonstrations, riots and general strikes, sporting events, religious gatherings, episodes of mob violence and everyday decision-making, judgment and opinion-forming. In many instances around the world a simple suggestion from someone or some group can incite and entire community or nation to come together for a particular cause or event.
In social media and marketing this herd mentality can be seen when a business like Apple makes a comment that a new phone is going to be released on a certain day, and before that day even comes around the new phone is sold out. Social media incited the feeding frenzy and our collective social interactions cause our reactions and response.
A community or society may at times come together and simultaneously communicate the same thought and participate in the same action. Such an event then causes collective enthusiasm which excites individuals and serves to unify the group; this will often take place when the group or society realizes they are more likely to achieve their goal when acting together rather than individually. This is also similar to the herd mentality or herd behavior and is described as how individuals in a group can act together without planned direction. The term pertains to the behavior of animals in herds, flocks and schools but also with humans by demonstrations, riots and general strikes, sporting events, religious gatherings, episodes of mob violence and everyday decision-making, judgment and opinion-forming. In many instances around the world a simple suggestion from someone or some group can incite and entire community or nation to come together for a particular cause or event.
In social media and marketing this herd mentality can be seen when a business like Apple makes a comment that a new phone is going to be released on a certain day, and before that day even comes around the new phone is sold out. Social media incited the feeding frenzy and our collective social interactions cause our reactions and response.
Collective Obsession Behavior
Basically, a delusion amongst the group, or society, that some threat either from a disease or some other form of catastrophe is immanent, and the fear is spread by rumors. A common manifestation of mass hysteria occurs when a group of people believe they are suffering from a similar disease or ailment. Another form of obsessive behavior occurs within a group of people, in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Group members try to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without critical evaluation of alternative viewpoints, by actively suppressing dissenting viewpoints, and by isolating themselves from outside influences which causes a loss of individual creativity, uniqueness and independent thinking.
Basically, a delusion amongst the group, or society, that some threat either from a disease or some other form of catastrophe is immanent, and the fear is spread by rumors. A common manifestation of mass hysteria occurs when a group of people believe they are suffering from a similar disease or ailment. Another form of obsessive behavior occurs within a group of people, in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Group members try to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without critical evaluation of alternative viewpoints, by actively suppressing dissenting viewpoints, and by isolating themselves from outside influences which causes a loss of individual creativity, uniqueness and independent thinking.
Ideas, Fads and Trends
The more that a group or society believes a large group of people have adopted a particular idea or trend the more individual adoption increases, with respect to the proportion who have already done so. As more people come to believe in something, others also "hop on the bandwagon" regardless of the underlying evidence. A response or action is provoked simply because so many others have already done so, another of the herd type behaviors. When individuals make rational choices based on the information they receive from others, this information cascades and can quickly form into people deciding to ignore their own personal information signals and follow the behavior of others.
The more that a group or society believes a large group of people have adopted a particular idea or trend the more individual adoption increases, with respect to the proportion who have already done so. As more people come to believe in something, others also "hop on the bandwagon" regardless of the underlying evidence. A response or action is provoked simply because so many others have already done so, another of the herd type behaviors. When individuals make rational choices based on the information they receive from others, this information cascades and can quickly form into people deciding to ignore their own personal information signals and follow the behavior of others.
Peer Pressure
This is an influence within a peer group, or an individual that encourages others to change their values, beliefs or behaviors to suit them or other people’s ideals within the group. They may also recognize or disassociate themselves with other groups and behave adversely, concerning the other group or individuals within the group simply because the other group may not wish to conform to their ideals or goals.
This basically causes a term called; "identity shift effect" where the peer pressures and the threat of rejection and external conflict causes the person to conform to a group standard. But as soon as they do, eliminating this external conflict, internal conflict is introduced (because they have violated their own standards). To rid themselves of this internal conflict (self-rejection), an "identity shift" is undertaken, where they adopt the group's standards as their own, thereby eliminating internal conflict (in addition to the formerly eliminated external conflict), returning to a state of harmony.
This is an influence within a peer group, or an individual that encourages others to change their values, beliefs or behaviors to suit them or other people’s ideals within the group. They may also recognize or disassociate themselves with other groups and behave adversely, concerning the other group or individuals within the group simply because the other group may not wish to conform to their ideals or goals.
This basically causes a term called; "identity shift effect" where the peer pressures and the threat of rejection and external conflict causes the person to conform to a group standard. But as soon as they do, eliminating this external conflict, internal conflict is introduced (because they have violated their own standards). To rid themselves of this internal conflict (self-rejection), an "identity shift" is undertaken, where they adopt the group's standards as their own, thereby eliminating internal conflict (in addition to the formerly eliminated external conflict), returning to a state of harmony.
Social Norm
A norm is a group-held belief about how members should behave in a given context; it is also how people respond to each other as well as how we conduct ourselves in society. As social beings, we all learn when and where it is appropriate to say certain things, to use certain words, to discuss certain topics or wear certain clothes, and when it is not. Our knowledge about cultural norms is important for the regulation of our nonverbal behavior. We also learn through experience what types of people we can and cannot discuss certain topics with or wear certain types of clothes around. Typically, this knowledge is derived through experience (i.e. social norms are learned through social interaction). Wearing a suit to a job interview in order to give a great first impression represents a common example of a social norm in the white collar work force.
A norm is a group-held belief about how members should behave in a given context; it is also how people respond to each other as well as how we conduct ourselves in society. As social beings, we all learn when and where it is appropriate to say certain things, to use certain words, to discuss certain topics or wear certain clothes, and when it is not. Our knowledge about cultural norms is important for the regulation of our nonverbal behavior. We also learn through experience what types of people we can and cannot discuss certain topics with or wear certain types of clothes around. Typically, this knowledge is derived through experience (i.e. social norms are learned through social interaction). Wearing a suit to a job interview in order to give a great first impression represents a common example of a social norm in the white collar work force.
Our Actions
An action is 'social' if we take into account the behavior of others from our actions, this can also be the words we use or various other means of us trying to provoke a response. Most of what was discussed above was to give a full view of all the actions people will take in a response to being provoked. Either from the media, peer pressure, social media, fiends and other groups all plays a part in how we respond to a variety of issues we are faced and confronted with daily.
An action is 'social' if we take into account the behavior of others from our actions, this can also be the words we use or various other means of us trying to provoke a response. Most of what was discussed above was to give a full view of all the actions people will take in a response to being provoked. Either from the media, peer pressure, social media, fiends and other groups all plays a part in how we respond to a variety of issues we are faced and confronted with daily.
Book Above
Rational Choice in an Uncertain World: The Psychology of Judgment and Decision Making.
In the new edition of this award-winning text, renowned authors Reid Hastie and Robyn Dawes compare and contrast the basic principles of rationality with actual behavior in making decisions. This book explores theories and research findings from the field of judgment and decision making in a non-technical manner, using anecdotes as a teaching device. Intended as an introductory textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, the material not only is of scholarly interest but is practical as well. Click on the image and you will be redirected to Amazon.
Rational Choice in an Uncertain World: The Psychology of Judgment and Decision Making.
In the new edition of this award-winning text, renowned authors Reid Hastie and Robyn Dawes compare and contrast the basic principles of rationality with actual behavior in making decisions. This book explores theories and research findings from the field of judgment and decision making in a non-technical manner, using anecdotes as a teaching device. Intended as an introductory textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, the material not only is of scholarly interest but is practical as well. Click on the image and you will be redirected to Amazon.
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