Social psychology research has shown that peers have a significant influence on the behavior of an individual. Individuals tend to comply with the expectations of their peers, even when compliance goes against their moral beliefs. Factors such as the desire to be accepted by others and the need to belong can significantly influence conformity to a group’s standards (Wardell & Read, 2013). There are individuals, however, who take a firm stand against the status quo. Such individuals resist the peer influence and refuse to comply with the social dictates of a group. Their moral standards oblige them not to compromise their values for social acceptance.
Social psychologists refer to such individuals as moral rebels. Moral rebels have an internalized belief of what is right or wrong, which guides their moral decisions. Studies indicate that moral rebels have a relatively higher score on the measure of self-esteem and conscience (Sonnentag, & Barnett, 2013). Having confidence in one's abilities and possessing a favorable attitude toward self reduces susceptibility to peer influence. Research has shown that adolescents with high self-esteem are less likely to indulge in inappropriate behavior with their peers (Sonnentag, & Barnett, 2013). The research findings provide significant factors that a social psychologist would consider when persuading an individual to do what is in his or her best interest and defy group dictates.
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Persuading an individual to be a moral rebel would require boosting their self-confidence. Once an individual's confidence improves, they are more likely to have high self-esteem that would enable them to defy the group demands. Most individuals tend to comply with the group expectations since they feel that detaching from the group would lower their social value (Hornsey, Majkut, Terry, & McKimmie, 2003). I would, therefore, assist the individual to build up their confidence to improve their self-esteem. The moment the esteem is high, such an individual would be capable of defying a group demands and doing what is right (Aronson, Wilson, Akert, & Sommers, 2019). I would also show them what they want and need by drawing into their conscience. The inner voice has a significant influence on the behavior outcome of an individual in the context of a social group. I would, therefore, tap into this inner voice of the individual and convince the person to follow their conscience.
References
Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., Akert, R. M., & Sommers, S. R. (Eds.). (2019). Social psychology (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Hornsey, M. J., Majkut, L., Terry, D. J., & McKimmie, B. M. (2003). On being loud and proud: Non ‐ conformity and counter ‐ conformity to group norms. British journal of social psychology, 42(3), 319-335.
Sonnentag, T. L., & Barnett, M. A. (2013). An exploration of moral rebelliousness with adolescents and young adults. Ethics & Behavior , 23 (3), 214-236.
Wardell, J. D., & Read, J. P. (2013). Alcohol expectancies, perceived norms, and drinking behavior among college students: Examining the reciprocal determinism hypothesis. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 27 (1), 191–196.
