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"Social pressure" is about expectations
Hello guys,
In the book "Decisive" about decision making (great book!) the author says that social pressure is about expectations.
I think it's an important concept. It might deserve an entry in the dictionary.
My understanding is that the person applying social pressure sets themselves as the judge and then expresses his/her expectations explicitly or implicitly.
If we accept his/her frame as a judge, then we will feel anxiety/fear/shame (of social rejection I think) until we raise to this expectation.
Example 1
Boss: I see you are not shaven today (sets the expectation of being shaved at work)
Person being pressured: Yes, welll I did not have time this morning (accepts the frame and feel ashamed)
Example 2
Boss: I see you are not shaven today (sets the expectation of being shaved at work)
Person being pressured: Hahaha, well sometimes I'm in a rush (accepts the frame but does not feel ashamed)
Example 3
Boss: I see you are not shaven today (sets the expectation of being shaved at work)
Person being pressured: Hahaha, I think it suits me well (smiles) (rejects the frame and does not feel ashamed)
What do you think?
Yes, absolutely, the dynamics in the examples are spot on.
There are several examples of social pressure and the dynamics of pressure in PU.
As to whether social pressure is about expectations, I'm not convinced though -or at least, not as the main driver-.
In my opinion, it's largely about power and judge role, as you correctly point out.
Because if someone you care nothing about has expectations about you, those expectations carry little weight.
It's only when someone has power over you -including emotionally- that those expectations matter.
