Psychology: Social Influence and Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love

Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love

• Not mentioned in the provided text, but important to know for context.

Social Influence

• Definition: behavior, actions, attitudes, concepts, ideas, communications, wealth, and other resources that bring about changes in the beliefs, attitudes, and/or behavior of persons as a result of the action/s of another person.
• Types of social influence:
  • Compliance: when a person seems to agree but does not necessarily have to believe or agree to it.
  • Identification: when a person is influenced by someone they like or look up to, like a movie star or celebrity.
  • Internalization: when a person can own a certain belief or act and is willing to make it known publicly or privately.
  • Conformity: a change of behavior, belief, or thinking to be like others or to feel like you belong to a group (most common form of social influence).
  • Conversion: occurs when an individual whole-heartedly changes their original thinking to align with those of the other members of the group.
  • Minority influence: when a bigger member of people is influenced by a much smaller number of people and when the minority's way of looking at and doing things are accepted.
  • Reactance: when there is a willing rejection of a social influence being exerted on an individual or group (also known as anti- or non-conformity).
  • Obedience: when a person follows what someone tells them to do, although it may not reflect the person's set of beliefs (stemming from fear or respect).
  • Persuasion: used by another person or group to influence another to change their beliefs.

Theories of Leadership

• Trait Theory: defines leadership based on certain personality traits that are generally suited for all leaders, such as decisiveness, persistence, high level of self-confidence, and assertiveness.
• Behavioral Theory: presupposes that leadership is a learned behavior and that leaders are defined according to certain types of behavior they exhibit.
• Participative Theory: the opposite of an autocratic leader, the participative leader involves other people to make common decisions.
• Situational Theory: assumes that there is no one style of leadership and that leadership behavior is based on the factors present in a situation, and usually takes into consideration how followers behave.
• Transactional Theory: states that leadership involves a transaction or negotiation of resources or position, and usually employs reward and punishment.
• Transformational Theory: involves a vision, which a leader uses to rally support from followers, and the role of the leader is to motivate others to support the vision and make it happen.

Types of Family Structures

• Nuclear/Traditional Family: comprised of a father, a mother, and their offspring(s), with the father as the breadwinner and the mother managing the house and children.
• Single Parent Family: consists of just the single parent rearing the child or children while earning for the offspring(s).
• Extended Family: a very common family arrangement found in many parts of the world, especially in Asia, which is the nuclear family plus the parents of either the husband or the wife, or both their parents, depending on the arrangements they make.
• Blended Family: a family that consists of members from two or more previous families.
• Adoptive Family: a family where one or more children have been adopted.
• Conditionally Separated Family: a family member is separated from the rest of the family.
• Foster Family: a family where one or more children are legally temporary members of the household.
• Uninvolved Parents: not warm and no demands, no interaction and sometimes neglectful, indifferent to their child's needs, whereabouts, or experiences.

Holland's Personality Type Theory

• Realistic Type: people who like mechanical and outdoor activities, prefer working with their hands rather than people; example: carpentry and auto mechanic.
• Investigative Type: people who like to watch and learn about the world around them, generally quiet; example: scientist.
• Artistic Type: likes to think up new ideas, creative, artistic, imaginative; example: musicians and interior designers.
• Social Type: likes to be with other people, talkative, friendly, and interested in helping or teaching others; example: teachers and social workers.
• Enterprising Type: people who like to influence, lead, and persuade other people, sociable and outgoing; example: salespeople, lawyers, and businessmen.
• Conventional Type: likes to work with numbers, good at carrying out details, neat, orderly, organized, and practical; example: typists, file clerks, and financial experts.