Social Influences on Behavior Human Behavior Depends Essay

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Social Influences on Behavior

Human behavior depends on feedback from the environment consisting of climatic, material and human factors. Feedback from individuals in the environment is a crucial factor in determining human behavior. The extent to which behavior is shaped by the presence or feedback of others varies from person to person. Certain individuals, such as those living in collectivistic societies, tend to be more sensitive to social influences, whereas others who possess greater independence and will power can resist the influence of social forces. Their behavior is then determined largely by their personal motivations and emotional states. However, it is practically impossible for there to be no effect of social forces on behavior because human beings respond positively as well as negatively to the social environment (Kowalski & Westen 2010.

Display of Emotionality

Human beings possess the faculty of emotion. This enables them to sense their environment and respond to it. Both men and women experience emotion but they do not express them in the same way. Social norms largely shape the extent to which men and women display emotion. Generally, men are expected to display less emotion than women. Men and women are also expected to experience and display different types of emotion. For example, women are expected to display fear and to express it by crying but men are not. Similarly, men are expected to display anger and express it through aggression while women are expected to show restraint. The social setting also determines the extent to which expression of emotion is acceptable.

Description

A common behavior generally observed is the open and excessive display of emotion at weddings. A wedding is a social occasion where extended families and friends gather to witness and celebrate the marriage of a family member. On these occasions, it is seen that many adults, especially women become tearful and continue to cry throughout the ceremony.

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At times, men also cry but not as excessively. Younger people do not experience this intensity of feeling.

Context

A wedding, especially one in the family provides a unique context. Taking place in the church lends religious importance to the ceremony. Being surrounded by family members one may not have seen is something unique to the social context. A marriage is also a much-awaited and life-changing event and an opportunity where family members and friends do their best to partake in the happiness of the married couple.

Precursors and Consequences

The social cues that trigger the display of emotion at a wedding include the realization of the crossing of an important life stage. There is also the competition among the guests to show greater attachment towards the couple. The religious aspect also has an emotional effect.

The consequences of such behavior are that they invite emotional support and acknowledgment from the couple and the guests. The behavior also results in a release of excessive emotion. It also enables the person to experience vicarious pleasure.

Associated Phenomena: Social Facilitation

The presence of others greatly affects the weeping behavior at weddings. It may be part of the cultural display rules that make such display acceptable (Vingerhoets et al. 2002). Therefore, weeping behavior may be necessary to become part of the privileged group of close family and friends. At times, watching others in the room weeping may cause a person to weep in turn. The emotional support received from others as a result of weeping may also be a source of gratification and validation.

Need for Therapeutic Intervention

Display of emotion depends on personal factors and cultural norms. This….....

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