Groups, Conformity, Opinion Leaders and Peer Pressure

Groups
A group is two or more individuals who share a set of norms, have role relationships,
and experience interdependent behaviours. Groups can be made through social, cultural or the same interests.

Why do groups exist?
A discussion in lecture started off with why we think groups exist, this may be to:

• To form an Identity 
• Feel belonged
• Afraid to be alone
• Feel secure
• Associate with people with similar interests

These are a list of reasons why groups exist, as maslows hierachy of needs is belonginess, maslows says how people need to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance, when someone doesnt feel love or beloginess it can lead to loneliness, social anxiety, and clinical depression.

Group types: 

Conformity:
Conformity is a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behaviour in order to fit in with a group. 


Opinion leaders:
Solomon et al explains opinion leader is a person who is frequently able to influence others attitudes or behaviours.

Peer pressure:
Peer pressure in my words is forced by friends to take on something. A definition of peer pressure is when children and teenagers feel social pressure to conform to the group of peers with whom they socialize. This can have an influence on how children dress, what kind of music they listen to, and what types of behavior they engage in, including risky behaviors such as using drugs, alcohol and smoking. Pressure could also happen in adulthood.