NCERT Class 12 Psychology Chapter 7, Social Influence and Group Processes, explains how people’s thoughts, feelings, and actions are shaped by the presence of others. It discusses concepts like conformity, obedience, cooperation, competition, and group dynamics. This chapter also explores how groups are formed, why people behave differently in groups, and how social pressure works in everyday life. Understanding this chapter is essential for exams as well as for real-life situations where teamwork, leadership, and decision-making play a role.
I decided to write about this topic because social influence is something we experience daily, whether we notice it or not. From following trends on social media to making choices based on friends’ opinions, we are constantly influenced by others. For students, this chapter not only helps in scoring marks but also in becoming aware of how peer pressure, group decisions, and leadership styles affect their own actions. It is important to understand that while influence can sometimes lead to positive changes, it can also push people towards unhealthy or unethical decisions. By providing access to the official NCERT PDF, I want to ensure students have the right material to study and also apply these lessons in their personal and professional lives.
Overview of Chapter 7: Social Influence and Group Processes
This chapter includes:
- Concept of Social Influence – How people’s behaviour changes due to the presence or actions of others.
- Conformity – Adjusting behaviour to match the group, with classic examples like Asch’s experiment.
- Obedience – Following instructions from an authority figure, explained with Milgram’s study.
- Compliance – Agreeing to a request without direct pressure.
- Cooperation and Competition – How people work together or against each other in group settings.
- Group Structure – Roles, norms, and leadership styles.
- Group Decision-Making – Advantages and risks like groupthink.
- Social Loafing – When individuals put in less effort while working in a group.
Simple Examples to Relate to
- Wearing a certain style of clothes because most classmates do.
- Completing a task because a teacher told you to, even if you didn’t fully agree.
- Helping in a community clean-up drive as part of a group effort.
- Avoiding speaking up in a meeting because the majority holds a different opinion.
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NCERT Class 12 Psychology Chapter 7: Social Influence and Group Processes