Opinions and Social Pressure Essay - 939 Words

Solomon E. Asch â€Å"Opinions and Social Pressure† Salomon E. Asch in his essay â€Å"Opinions and Social Pressure† conducted an experiment to determine effects of group pressure towards an individual and concluded that there is a very strong tendency to conformity even when doing so conflicting with their own senses of morality. In the experiment a group of young students have to compare length of lines on two different sheets of paper. On one of them there is a sample single line and on the other one there are three lines only one of which is same size as the sample line from the first sheet. People taking part in this experiment are instructed to point at lines that are the same length. At first, during the experiment the group is†¦show more content†¦Breaking up unanimity of the group in given answers has a significant effect. In the experiment it is also noted that the rate of wrong answers depends to a considerable degree on how wrong the majority is. E ven with significant difference in length of lines there were still individuals who agree with majority error. For those participating in this experiment almost all declare that independence was preferable to conformity. â€Å"Life in society requires consensus as an indispensable conditions. But consensus, to be productive, requires that each individual contribute independently out of his experience and insight. (†¦) We have found that tendency to conformity in our society so strong that reasonably and well- meaning young people are willing to call white black is a matter of concern† (Salomon E. Asch â€Å"Opinion and Social Pressure† pp.730). The experiment has proven that we live in times where opinion become very subjective and can be easily modified. Social techniques are wildly used in marketing and sales or even by lobbyist in governmental decision making process. The uncertainty of people own senses, opinion or knowledge can be easily abused. Asch’s experiment implements how people believe in the obvious lies. It’s shows simple ways of influencing perception, judgment and action. Results of this experiment trigger a number of social and scientifically researches like study of BernsShow MoreRelatedOpinions and Social Pressure Response Essay729 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Asch, Solomon E. â€Å"Opinions and Social Pressure.† Scientific America. 193.5 (1995): 31-35. Rpt. in Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum. Eds. Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Rosen.12th ed. New York: Pearson Inc., 2013. 655-659. Print. McLeod, Saul. â€Å"Asch Experiment.† SimplyPsychology.org. Simply Psychology, 2008. Web. 28 August 2014. Summary: In the article, â€Å"Opinions and Social Pressure† by Solomon E. Asch, he states that social pressure from a majority group could influenceRead MoreUnderstanding Social Influence On Online Choice1024 Words   |  5 PagesUnderstanding Social Influence in Online Choice is a study that was focused on the role of social influence in online recommender systems. Haiyi Zhu and Bernardo A. Huberman, the authors of the study, were interested in studying how often peoples’ choices are affected by other individuals’ endorsements. The hypothesis of the study is that individuals â€Å"are more likely to reverse their opinions when the reversion causes less self-inconsistency (the confirmation pressure is weaker) or the opposing social opinionsRead MoreGroup Minds1068 Words   |  5 PagesENG1050 July 9, 2012 Dismissing your own individual opinions to reach group consensus, now that’s negative peer pressure! Peer pressure will always be a problem and can affect anyone. I say that because no matter where you’re from or who you are, peer pressure is lurking about. Anytime you’re pressured to do something and your conscience is telling you not to do it, and you follow through with the task anyway, that is dismissing your opinion just to please other group members. Not wanting to beRead MoreThe Psychology behind Social Pressure Essay1108 Words   |  5 Pagesusually brought together through forms of social pressure and preconceived notions of moral obligation. Furthermore, these groups are often characterized by the absence of individualism and a sense of obliviousness towards how their unspoken rules influences their view of the world as a whole. Moreover, group minds also involve social pressures, often enticing some to forsake their opinions to fit the given status q uo of the group. Indeed, humans are social creatures that want to feel as if their participationRead MoreDangers of Authority and Social Pressures Essay1298 Words   |  6 PagesHitler and Mussolini were both individuals that used social influences throughout history . Each of these evil villains used authority and social pressure to persuade and manipulate people into performing acts that they wouldn’t normally do . Hitler and Mussolini legitimized their authority through immoral actions and fear and abused their authority. This is important because authority and social pressures are one of the most dangerous combinations there are. The use of these two socially acceptedRead MorePeer Pressure Essay693 Words   |  3 Pagesclear point of view on a specific contemporary issue and argue how it has and will continue to have an impact on your generation. Peer Pressure. We have all at one stage in our lives, experienced it. We all know what it feels like to be pressured by a peer. Peer pressure today impacts on kids of my generation in a huge aspect. Teenagers feel social pressure in numerous ways such as clothing, music and entertainment choices, to unsafe areas such as drugs, alcohol and smoking. During adolescenceRead MoreTo What Extent Do Pressure Groups Undermine Democracy in the Us?796 Words   |  4 Pageswhat Extent do Pressure Groups undermine Democracy in the US? For some, pressure groups are a fundamental part of democracy. To others, pressure groups undermine the whole principle of democracy. Democracy is a system of government where decisions are arrived at by majoritarian principles with representatives elected at periodic elections where political equality and political freedom allow the voter an effective choice between competing candidates in a secret ballot. How do pressure groups fit inRead MoreDiscrimination In Society In Small Town Boy1204 Words   |  5 Pagesit talks about who the author’s mother feels are real women. City women are repeatedly belittled in the poem, despite their appearance is a result of the pressure put on them by society. Meanwhile, the city women ignore the troubles that the Aboriginal community was put through to set their own standards. The poem refers to the different opinions from the lack of understanding and existing preconceptions in the communities. People are constantly being pressured to cha nge to fit with society’s standardsRead MoreLeadership Style And Its Affect On Teams981 Words   |  4 Pagesrelieve possible pressure of fitting in to a group or team. In the 1930’s Kurt Lewin argued three major styles of leadership Autocratic, Democratic and Laissez-fair (Manktelow, n.d.). Kurt’s simple but effective categorized leadership models provided a foundation to many different leadership theories. An Autocratic leader is one who makes decisions without the help or input of others. Because this leader doesn’t consult with the team, team members may feel as though their opinion doesn’t matterRead MoreI Am A Citizen Of A Free Society914 Words   |  4 PagesThese days in our country we like to believe that we have the power to do as we please. Lessing makes a remarkable suggestion about our minds under social pressure. â€Å"I am a citizen of a free society, and that mean I am an individual, making individual choices. My mind is my own, my opinions are chosen by me, I am free to do as I will.(Pg.595)† is bad because indeed we do not want to be individuals, we all want to be a part of something and the h onest truth is we can’t stand being alone for a long

World War I - 1396 Words

Lets return to the earth shattering occasions from 1939 to 1945 that reshaped the world. It may well be that this recognition will prompt rediscoveries and new gratefulness — the way the Bicentennial provoked prominent and scholarly rediscovery of American convention going back to the Revolution and the Constitution. The Great War — World War I — has now blurred in the aggregate memory of Americans. Yet, to the degree that World War I is all around refered to by history specialists to clarify the causes of World War II, it is fitting — in fact vital — that investigation of World War II incorporate some gratefulness for American experience amid the First World War. Something else, the thanks may be shallow or fragmented; more†¦show more content†¦Be that as it may, Germany in World War I didn t represent a security danger to the United States — not even verifiably. Besides, American association in the war denoted the first express dismissal of George Washington s and Thomas Jefferson s recommendation — and consequent American remote approach — not to participate in debate that were absolutely European in nature. World War I is likewise the first American war to depend fundamentally upon recruits, three million of whom filled seventy-two per cent of wartime Army positions. In spite of the fact that not bound by catching unions, the United States entered the war at any rate to make the world safe for majority rule government. American passage into the war is all the more amazing following Woodrow Wilson was reelected president in November 1916 on the trademark (broken five months after the fact): He kept us out of war. Wilson had demanded exchanging with the belligerents majority, however France and England kept on upholding a bar of Germany. The English likewise mined the North Sea. The greater part of this abused nonpartisan rights, yet the United States kept on exchanging — hypothetically with both sides. After some time, then again, it turned out to be clear that the United States exchanged exclusively with the Allies. For all intents and purposes, American lack of bias had turned out to be

Characterization in “Charles” Free Essays

Laurie’s lies In the story â€Å"Charles† , Shirley Jackson vividly creates an entertaining main character, Laurie, through a description of his own looks, clothing, his own words, and actions. Shirley Jackson shows Laurie as having three main personality traits. Laurie can be best described as rude, impish, and disruptive. We will write a custom essay sample on Characterization in â€Å"Charles† or any similar topic only for you Order Now Early on in this story Laurie shows us his rude behavior when he starts kindergarten. Laurie is rude to everyone. He is rude to his teacher, his dad, and his mom. He says to his dad â€Å"hey pop you old dust mop†. That’s rude most dads would have slapped him. Laurie shows another trait later on in the story â€Å"impish†. He got in trouble and the whole class stayed to watch what would happen. He also makes up this character Charles he tells his mom that â€Å"Charles does whatever he really does at school. † That is just some really impish attitude. Laurie also has a third trait disruptive. Laurie disrupts the whole class a lot in this story. He tells a little girl in his class to say a bad word. † The little girl did and got in trouble. Then Laurie goes ahead and says the word himself and gets in trouble. That shows disruptive behavior. In our world today kids are the same. They all do stuff to get attention. This story will bring to parents attention how their kids act when they are not around. All kids today can have the same characteristics as Laurie does rude, impish, and disruptive. How to cite Characterization in â€Å"Charles†, Essay examples

Economic structure of the mafi Essay Example For Students

Economic structure of the mafi Essay The Mafia is viewed by many people as a bunch of gangsters like those that they might see on movies such as Goodfellas, The Godfather, or Donnie Brascoe. In all actuality the Mafia represents much more than that, it is an entity within itself. The original Sicilian Mafia was just a group of families controlling certain territories in which they each laid claim to. These families were headed by a dominant male and were usually in competition with other families. The members of these families would engage into various illegal and legal businesses with each other and outsiders (Fiorienti and Peltzman 38). In the introduction to The Economics of Organized Crime, Fiorentini and Peltzman claim that between the years of 1860and maybe ranging all the way to 1957, the Mafia was not a membership organization but a natural outgrowth of culture, politics and law enforcement (Peltzman 38). Many have tried to eliminate the Mafia from its’ control of the underworld and its’ strangleho ld on politicians and government. Under the fascist movement in the late 20’s and 30’s of Cesare Mori, Mori tried to eliminate the Mafia in any way in which he could. This attempt at elimination was quite unsuccessful since the Mafia’s base was so far ranging.Arlachhi (1986 44-5) concluded in 1983 there does not exist a centralized criminal organized called the Mafia†¦ The cosca mafiosa is a simple organism but a solid one, without formalism or bureaucracy. Within it are neither statutory ordinances, initiation rites nor courts of judgment (Fiorienti and Peltzman 38).This is in contrast as to what others recognize as organized crime. In direct retrospect to his earlier writings, Arlacchi claims that, through interviews with Mafia members, there is a more formal organization within the Mafia and that the Mafia does have initiations. The United States Mafia definitely was different than the Sicilian Mafia when trying to generalize them. The American Mafia con sisted of only around 24 families whereas the Sicilian Mafia consisted of hundreds of families. These families were much larger than their Sicilian counterparts and that the families were most definitely organized and formal. A detailed case-study of one of these families and its legal and illegal activities as of 1970 (Anderson, 1979) found that the Mafia family itself was not a firm; rather, its members entered into various businesses on their own account (Fiorentini and Peltzman 39). The European Mafia was founded on a sense of loyalty and respect for culture, family and the Sicilian heritage. The Mafia was in existence in order to protect its’ member interests and grant them freedom in business in exchange for absolute loyalty and submission to the family as a whole. The Sicilian Mafia based their existence upon their strong beliefs that justice and honor are for oneself to take care of not for the government to control. Antithetical to this honor that is represented by the European Mafia, the American Mafia consists of more cold-hearted thieves and criminals. Although they based their organizational beginning around the model of the Sicilian Mafia, their actual actions do not coincide with the Sicilians. It seems as though the American Mafia sole purpose is to make money by whatever means possible. When beginning to analyze the Mafia from and economic standpoint one can see that the Mafia came into existent as almost a capitalistic counterpart to what th e government and society were providing.The Mafia members see themselves as alternative providers of public services. Robert Claiborne states in his book Climate, Man and History (266-7) that (t)he distinction between robber and cop, between extortion and taxation, has been blurred at many times in human history. A quote from the economists sums up the Mafia from an economic standpointPalermo’s chief prosecutor, Giancarlo Caselli, describes the Mafia†¦as a state within the state, ‘with its own territory, population and laws’†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢The Mafia’s determination to establish itself as a state within the state is what makes it unique’ says Roberto Scapinato, one of 13 prosecutors committed full-time to Mafia enquiries. And the would be state not only imposes its own laws-at gunpoint-but levies its own taxes (21-2). Herchel I Grossman in The Economics of Organized Crime analyzes the Mafia from this same economic standpoint as an alternative pro vider. He claims that the Mafia is not only trying to represent themselves as an alternative provider but to provide competition to the state on the allocation of resources and distribution of income (Fiorentini and Peltzmam 154). The Mafia’s competition with the state keeps prices good, because as long as the state’s resources are a viable commodity for a consumer , he Mafia’s competition with the state increases the provision of public services that are available and increases the income of whoever the consumer chooses to be his representative producer (Fiorentini and Peltzman 154)._Some scholars of The Mafia consider it to not only be an underworld government so-to-say, but a business enterprise. Ralph Salermo, a former police officer ho published a study of organized crime in the late 1960’s stated that the Mafia was highly organized and he also went on to say that the Mafia modeled a criminal confederation whose structure parallels that of a major co rporation (Salermo and Tompkins 85). This idea that the Mafia is modeled after a corporation is based on many different aspects that involve the Mafia’s internal structure. First it assumes that the Mafia is like a corporation in that all its activities are planned and coordinated from a single power center (Clark 1986). The (b)oss preside(s) over and organization characterized by staff and line positions devoted to a rational search for profit. The Boss, then, was roughly like the CEO of a business corporation (Rush 53). This is what makes up modern corporations. The decisions that are made by certain companies come from the hierarchy of the company. It is this way in the Mafia as well according to Cressy: (d)esicion making (in the Mafia) is concentrated at the top of the hierarchy†¦ a low-status member is expected to surrender his own will and authority to the authority of his superiors (and) place (himself) almost completely at the disposal of the rulers to be used as the latter see fit (Cressey 125). Cressey also delves further into the matter claiming that just as every small aspect of a big business is coordinated with other small aspects, the same holds true for the Mafia (Rush 77). Advocates of the corporate model of the Mafia also claim that just as their are divisions of labor in any bureaucratic corporation, their is also a high degree of functional specialization and division of labor (Parsons 330) in the Mafia. This view though might be slightly incorrect. Ex-members of the Mafia claim that they had to make their living the way in which they wanted to. One author even quotes a newly-made Mafia member as saying that after he was initiated, older members would constantly ask him if he wanted to join in burglaries and armed robberies and it was okay that he declined. His only duties were to be loyal and to bring money into the family in whatever way he could.