In the journey of adulthood, the dynamics of self-control and social influence represent pivotal forces shaping individual trajectories. These forces not only affect personal outcomes but also have broader implications for societal well-being. Understanding the interplay between self-control and social influence across the adult lifespan requires a dive into interdisciplinary research, encompassing psychology, sociology, and neuroscience.
Self-control, or the ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in the face of temptations and impulses, is a critical aspect of human psychology. It underlies successful decision-making and goal achievement. The development and exercise of self-control are influenced by various factors, including genetics, upbringing, and social environment. Psychological research has consistently shown that higher levels of self-control are associated with a range of positive outcomes, including better health, higher academic and career achievements, and more satisfying relationships.
Social influence, on the other hand, refers to the ways in which individuals change their behavior to meet the demands of a social environment. It includes the impact of societal norms, peer pressure, cultural expectations, and the influence of social media. Throughout adulthood, individuals are subject to changing domains of social influence, from the more confined circles of family and friends to broader societal and cultural contexts.
The Changing Landscape of Self-Control and Social Influence in Adulthood
The journey through adulthood is marked by a series of developmental stages, each presenting unique challenges and opportunities for the exercise of self-control and the experience of social influence. Emerging adulthood, a phase from the late teens through the twenties, is characterized by significant exploration, identity formation, and the establishment of independence. During this stage, individuals may experience heightened vulnerability to social influences due to the increased importance of peer relationships and the exploration of new social roles.
As individuals transition into midlife, often defined as the period from late twenties through the sixties, the focus shifts towards achieving stability, fulfilling responsibilities, and nurturing relationships. The challenges of balancing career aspirations, family life, and personal goals require a high degree of self-control. Social influences during midlife increasingly come from professional networks, family dynamics, and societal expectations regarding aging and success.
Later adulthood, beyond the sixties, brings reflections on life achievements and legacies, along with challenges related to health, loss, and navigating retirement. Self-control may be tested by the physical and cognitive changes of aging, while social influence shifts towards generational relationships, community involvement, and adapting to societal attitudes towards aging and eldercare.
Recent Research and Implications
Recent studies have highlighted the plasticity of self-control throughout adulthood, suggesting that, contrary to previous beliefs, the capacity for self-control can be strengthened or weakened over time, influenced by lifestyle choices, cognitive training, and social environments. For instance, interventions aimed at improving self-regulation, such as mindfulness training, cognitive-behavioral strategies, and physical exercise, have shown promise in enhancing self-control across various adult populations.
The impact of digital technology and social media on both self-control and social influence has emerged as a significant area of concern and study. The constant barrage of information, instant gratification of digital interactions, and the pervasive nature of online social networks have introduced new challenges to self-regulation and heightened the intensity of social influence, affecting decision-making, attention spans, and social comparisons.
Self-Control and Social Influence Across Adulthood
Every day presents us with choices that challenge our long-term goals, particularly in matters of health and well-being. Whether it’s resisting the temptation of a slice of cake while trying to lose weight or refraining from indulging in an expensive latte while aiming to save money, these decisions often require exerting self-control, especially when in the presence of others engaging in the temptation.
Self-control, as a psychological construct, involves balancing immediate desires with overarching personal goals linked to long-term benefits (Kotabe & Hofmann, 2015). This intricate interplay between desires and goals drives individuals to exert effortful control to resist temptations, where the strength of the control effort determines whether desires are overcome, given no other constraints such as conformity pressures.
Extensive empirical evidence indicates that susceptibility to social conformity evolves across development stages. Studies suggest that resistance to social influence typically increases from childhood through young adulthood (Steinberg, 2005; Sumter et al., 2009), with recent longitudinal analyses reaffirming a consistent, albeit modest, effect of social conformity across childhood and adolescence (Giletta et al., 2021).
Dual process models of decision-making propose that the balance between affective (subcortical) and controlled (prefrontal) brain systems tends to shift towards greater equilibrium in young adulthood, potentially reducing risk-taking behaviors and susceptibility to peer influence (Albert et al., 2013).
However, scholarly attention has turned towards understanding how social context influences self-control in later stages of development and aging. Concerns about misinformation dissemination among older adults have sparked interest in age-related susceptibility to social influence (Brashier & Schacter, 2020). Integrating socioemotional selectivity theory (SST), which posits that socioemotional goals gain prominence with age (Carstensen, 1995, 2006), with empirical observations, provides insights into how aging might affect susceptibility to social context. While SST doesn’t directly predict shifts in social conformity, its emphasis on socioemotional goals suggests that older adults may prioritize social harmony over personal goals, potentially rendering them more susceptible to social influence.
Empirical studies have indeed shown that older adults exhibit increased emotional closeness to strangers and demonstrate more generosity towards them (Bar-Tur & Levy-Shiff, 1994; Pornpattananangkul et al., 2019), indicative of a shift towards ego-transcendent goals. This shift, coupled with a preference for group activities over solitary pursuits, suggests a heightened susceptibility to conformity pressures among older adults, driven by the pursuit of intrinsic emotional rewards associated with shared experiences.
Contrary to this perspective, some argue that middle-aged and older adults may actually exhibit greater resistance to social influence. Despite cognitive declines, emotional stability tends to increase with age (Burr et al., 2020; Carstensen et al., 2011, 2020; Urry & Gross, 2010), potentially bolstering self-control capacities. The selective optimization with compensation (SOC) theory further suggests that older adults become adept at regulating their emotions and resisting external pressures by leveraging accumulated knowledge and experiences (Baltes & Baltes, 1990; Teshale & Lachman, 2016).
Empirical evidence on this matter, however, remains inconclusive. While some studies indicate a decrease in susceptibility to social pressures with age (Keenan et al., 2015; Pasupathi, 1999), others suggest comparable susceptibility across age groups (Bixter & Rogers, 2019), with discrepancies potentially arising from methodological variations and context-specific factors.
To address these gaps, an exploratory study utilizing existing data across diverse age groups was conducted to investigate the interplay between social influence and self-control. Through experience sampling methodologies, the study aimed to elucidate how others’ spontaneous desires influence self-control across adulthood, providing valuable insights into age-related variations in susceptibility to social context.
In conclusion, understanding the nuanced dynamics of self-control and social influence across adulthood is essential for developing targeted interventions aimed at promoting well-being and informed decision-making across the lifespan. This analytical exploration serves as a foundational step towards unraveling the complexities of age-related changes in susceptibility to social influence and their implications for individual behavior and societal dynamics.
reference link : https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fpag0000790
