How to Resist and Manage Social Pressure

Social pressure includes rational argument and persuasion (informational influence), calls for conformity (normative influence), and direct forms of influence, such as demands, threats, or personal attacks on the one hand and promises of rewards or social approval on the other (interpersonal influence).

Informational influence

Informational influence refers to new information or arguments provided in a group discussion that change a group member’s attitudes, beliefs, or behavior.

According to the American Psychology Association, informational influence may occur directly, as a result of communication and persuasion, or indirectly, through exposure to information and comparison of oneself with others. Hence, Informational influence is conformity under acceptance of evidence about reality which has been provided by others

Normative influence

It is the influence of other people that leads us to conform in order to be liked and accepted by them. Normative influence stems from the human identity as a social being, with a need for companionship and association.

It involves a change in behaviour that is deemed necessary in order to fit in a particular group.

Interpersonal Influence

Interpersonal influence results from group members encouraging, or forcing, conformity while discouraging, and possibly punishing, nonconformity.

Social pressure may cause people to change their picture of reality, and those who resist it can be emotionally upset.

Fitting in feels good, even at the expense of your otherwise good sense(s); and we may pay an emotional price for the courage of our convictions.

Social pressure could stem from:

• Perfectionism
• Performance
• Relationships
• Culture
• Conforming

Highlighted below are ways you could avoid social pressure and influence;

Form your own opinion

To effectively avoid social pressure, you should be willing to form your opinion; stand firm on your decisions and avoid herd mentality. You shouldnt be the majority person; believe in your abilities to having an independent mind.

Don’t make decisions in a haste

It is also highly crucial you make time to make decisions by asking questions and thinking about your options. Moreover, Just because everyone else seems to be making a quick decision doesn’t mean they know best.

Be willing to stand out

Social pressure often occurs because of desires to fit in with the crowd; thus we go along with the consensus. Avoiding the crowd mentality is key to standing standing out.

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