Week 5 Discussion: Social Influence, Group Processes, and Everyday Decision Making

Course and Module Information

Course: PSYC 325 Social Psychology
Institutional Alignment: Southern New Hampshire University–style undergraduate module
Week: 5
Assessment Type: Discussion Board Post and Responses

Discussion Overview

Social influence operates through group norms, authority, and interpersonal expectations that shape daily judgment and behavior. The Week 5 discussion focuses on how classic and contemporary research explains conformity, compliance, and obedience in everyday settings such as workplaces, classrooms, online communities, or family systems.

Learning Objectives

• Explain major social psychological concepts related to group influence
• Apply empirical research to lived social experiences
• Evaluate ethical considerations connected to social influence
• Communicate psychological ideas clearly in a scholarly discussion format

Discussion Prompt

Describe a real or observed situation in which group influence affected decision making or behavior. The example may come from personal experience, media reporting, fieldwork observation, or a documented case. Apply at least one social psychology concept such as conformity, normative influence, informational influence, obedience, or groupthink to explain what occurred.

Initial Post Requirements

• Length: 300 to 400 words
• Incorporate at least one peer reviewed academic source
• Use APA 7th edition in text citations and references
• Maintain an academic yet accessible writing style

Response Post Requirements

• Respond to at least two classmates
• Each response should be 100 to 150 words
• Extend discussion by adding theory, research, or constructive questions
• Responses should move beyond agreement or summary

Discussion Guidelines

Posts should demonstrate thoughtful engagement with course concepts and readings. Writing should remain respectful, focused, and supported by psychological evidence. Personal examples are appropriate when linked clearly to theory and research.

Assessment Criteria and Rubric

• Conceptual understanding (30%)
  Accurate explanation and application of social psychology concepts
• Use of evidence (25%)
  Integration of peer reviewed research to support analysis
• Critical reflection (20%)
  Insightful interpretation of group influence and ethical considerations
• Clarity and organization (15%)
  Logical flow, clear expression, and academic tone
• APA style and participation requirements (10%)
  Correct citations, references, and completion of required posts

Academic Integrity

Discussion contributions must represent original work. External writing services or reused content violate university academic integrity standards and may result in academic penalties.

Group norms often guide behavior even when individuals privately disagree. Research on normative influence shows that social approval pressures can outweigh personal judgment, particularly in unfamiliar or ambiguous situations. Studies of workplace conformity illustrate how subtle expectations shape decision making without explicit commands.

 References

• Cialdini, R. B. (2021). Influence: Science and practice (7th ed.). Pearson. https://www.pearson.com
• Asch, S. E. (2019). Opinions and social pressure. Scientific American, 193(5), 31–35. https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican1155-31
• Milgram, S. (2018). Obedience to authority. Journal of Social Issues, 74(2), 256–272. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12282
• Janis, I. L. (2020). Groupthink and decision making. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com