Conflict Between a Person’s Behavior and Sense of Self
The motive to fit in often compels people to do what is considered appropriate behavior in a given situation. Sometimes the compulsion to fit in leads people to say or do something at odds with their sense of self. No one wants to be perceived as weird. Therefore, when the situation calls for a certain kind of behavior, people are likely to comply, even when that behavior is not consistent with their self-concept.
For this Discussion, you will examine conflict between a person’s behavior and sense of self.
Think of a specific situation when you said or did something that you believed was out of character. Note: You will use this specific situation for this Discussion so make sure the situation is one you feel comfortable sharing with your colleagues.
Post a description of a specific situation when you said or did something that conflicted with your beliefs or was out of character. To what would you attribute behavior that did not reflect your sense of self? What compelled you to say or do something that misrepresented your true self? Your analyses must be informed by social psychology theory and research.
Also use peer reviewed articles as references.
Power of the Situation Essay
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Social influence entails doing what others say or do. Regrettably, I once cheated on an online exam – an action that conflicted with my beliefs and character. Students should practice academic integrity by demonstrating a commitment to courage, responsibility, trust, honesty, respect, and fairness (Holden et al., 2021). These values define ethical academic conduct, thus creating a community committed to learning and sharing authentic insights and ideas. I would attribute this behavior to social influence because my peers had previously cheated on their exams and passed without getting caught. I cheated in an attempt to elicit approval from my peers as a smart student. According to Fiske (2018), normative influence can drive actions tailored to augment the self, sustain self-esteem, and avoid guilt or anxiety. Although cheating in an exam did not reflect my character and sense of self, the need to belong to the valued reference group influenced my academic dishonesty in order to fit in (Fiske, 2018). In this vein, social psyc...