Group Influence Essay Example
Explain what group influence is and discuss both the pros and cons of group influence?
"Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.” Napoleon Hill. We can define a group as two or more members who interact and share responsibilities to do a certain task. Group influence is when one member or more manage to change the others decision and opinion about a specific situation.
A good example of how effective is the group influence is Asch’s conformity experiment that has shown how easily we get influenced by other even if we are not convened. The experiment was conducted in the 1950’s shows a group of seven people who were previously knew the intention of the experiment, and then experimenter let in an participant who had no idea about the aim of the experiment. They asked each member whether the shape in front of them looks like shape (A, B or C), every one chose the same wrong shape .The participant was pushed and influenced by others to pick the wring shape as well, , even though the correct shape is obvious to all. From this experiment it’s shown how often a person can be influenced by others even if they were influenced to do the wrong thing and they are not convinced.
The dark side of group influence that group influence can lead to several disadvantages like social loafing when one member of group show no interest in doing the task with the group members and act less effective and productive than others. Another disadvantage is injustice the situation might be a life changing situation and one person or few could drive all the members to take a decision that might put people’s life in risk. It also Implants the sense of irresponsibility
"Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.” Napoleon Hill. We can define a group as two or more members who interact and share responsibilities to do a certain task. Group influence is when one member or more manage to change the others decision and opinion about a specific situation.
A good example of how effective is the group influence is Asch’s conformity experiment that has shown how easily we get influenced by other even if we are not convened. The experiment was conducted in the 1950’s shows a group of seven people who were previously knew the intention of the experiment, and then experimenter let in an participant who had no idea about the aim of the experiment. They asked each member whether the shape in front of them looks like shape (A, B or C), every one chose the same wrong shape .The participant was pushed and influenced by others to pick the wring shape as well, , even though the correct shape is obvious to all. From this experiment it’s shown how often a person can be influenced by others even if they were influenced to do the wrong thing and they are not convinced.
The dark side of group influence that group influence can lead to several disadvantages like social loafing when one member of group show no interest in doing the task with the group members and act less effective and productive than others. Another disadvantage is injustice the situation might be a life changing situation and one person or few could drive all the members to take a decision that might put people’s life in risk. It also Implants the sense of irresponsibility