Everything a Person Does Is Influenced By Society

Thanks TUF. ---------------Rebuttals--------------- "Humans are independent in thought, action, and emotion from their kin, and the behavioral patterns that each human contain that are different from each other, lie heavily in the aspect of environmental influences." This is true. However, societies strongly influence the environment. Aside from automatic brain functions, society impacts all we do, even in the slightest amount. The resolution is that society influences everything we do, and influence means to have a degree of effect on a behavior, development, capacity, etc. Humans are social creatures. This is widely accepted. However, the meaning of this means that we tend to live around with others and interact with other people. People, in the form of society, will have an influence on your behavior. This has been confirmed in a series of studies, called the Asch Conformity Experiments. ---------------Society Influences Decisions and Actions--------------- The results of the Asch experiments support the resolution. In these experiments, there is basically one "real participant", because all the others know of the intentions of the experiment, and are referred to as "confederates". A small "society", which can be as small as only 2 confederates in this case, had a slight influence on the participant's behavior. With more confederates, their influence over the participant grew. The consensus here is that society, even in small amounts, effects the decisions and therefore the actions of the individual. This proves my position, that a society, even a very small one, influences a person's behavior and actions. http://en.wikipedia.org... In psychology, it has been concluded that people have two psychological needs that makes people confirm to the expectations of others. You said that we are independent in thought and action, but it appears that we are connected more than it seems! The reasons we confirm to the expectations of others is for our need to be liked or to be right. So, even unconsciously, society is influencing us to confirm to others, which influences our actions. We need to confirm to others, and with this need, our actions passively are trying to achieve this need. Deutsch, M. & Gerard, H. B. (1955). A study of normative and informational social influences upon individual judgment. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology,51, 629-636. --------------- Learning From Society >> Influences Actions -------------- 'However, instinctually, all humans from different societies knew the same neccesary actions before learning of the other cultures and societies." This is true as well. However, a society can be very small, for example, a community. However, we learn from society. For example, language. We learn vocabulary from hearing it from others as soon as we are born. Without these experiences, we shouldn't be able to talk. Since we learned to do things from society, be it America or a family, society has influenced our actions, at least passively. Time: Your Brain. Magazine, January 2012. "Language and the Baby Brain," by Jeffrey Kluger. Why would a human choose to sleep at night? Humanity has naturally slept at night for as long as we know. However, jet-lag disorders, night-shift hours, and other societal influences effect this. Sleep is a natural, automatic brain function, so this action should be mostly discarded as we are both correct here. Sleep: The Mysteries, The Problems, and the Solutions. By Carlos Schenck. 2007. "Circadian Rhythm, Light-Day cycles." p. 26 In the "scientific approach" area in the link below, we can see several places where Psychologists such as Donald Hebb Source biological and psychological evidence on how behavior is influenced naturally, and is only influenced by society slightly. Automatic brain functions can be altered by society. Nevertheless, you said that society influences behaviors slightly, and I have proved that this varies on the size of society and other factors. Conclusion: Society influences our actions, the only exception that is possible being automatic brain functions (such as primitive reflexes). However, our everyday actions are influenced by our need to confirm to others to be right or to be liked. Even if we are unaware of this, our actions carry out this need while acting. Also, societies effect one's behavior and actions, according to size. Being social creatures, society plays a huge role, or at least a slight role in our behaviors. We also learn much of what we know how to do from society. I have upheld the resolution, and look forward to my opponent's response.