social influence theory

Social Influence Theory explores how individuals change their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in response to others. It highlights that people are influenced by social factors, such as the presence of others, group norms, and authority figures. This can manifest in various ways, like conformity—going along with a group—compliance—yielding to direct requests—and obedience—following orders from an authority. Understanding this theory helps explain why people may act differently in a crowd compared to alone and why social context is crucial in shaping our decisions and actions.