9. SOCIAL INFLUENCE & SOCIAL SUPPORT Flashcards
(18 cards)
Social Influence
Real or imagined pressure to change behavior, attitudes, or beliefs
ex: we are more likely to adhere to exercise if those around us exercise
Social Influence:
Not just Influence of Social Norms
- people provide us with resources and support
- connections improve exercise experience
- but can also spread misinformation, negative influence
Social Support Defined
(Different perspectives)
support includes transactions of resources
- everyone provides and receives resources
- information, access, encouragement
Support is analyzed by individual
- perception is the most important
- leads individuals to feel
-»_space; cared for
-»_space; loved, esteemed, and valued
-»_space; part of a reciprocal network
Types of Social Support
- Emotional
- Esteem
- Informational
- Instrumental
Types of Social Support:
Emotional
- helps one emotionally by serving as a buffer against hardships and stressors
- includes compassion, empathy, validation, concerns, sympathy, time and physical comfort
Types of Social Support:
Esteem
- helps boost feelings of confidence and worth.
- includes affirmations, compliments, motivation, encouragement, and confidence, pride, and faith in one’s ability or character
Types of Social Support:
Informational
the sharing of experiences, advice, information, or resources to help one cope with a stressor or overcome a challenge
Types of Social Support:
Instrumental
- acts of service or assistance
- gives one more time and focus to deal with a problem or participation in the problem-solving process itself
Social Support:
Components Considered
- Quality & Quantity
Social Support:
Quality
- perceived comfort, caring, assistance, and information that a person receives from others
- NATURE and EFFECTIVENESS of hte help and care (i.e. depth and type of support)
Social Support:
Quantity
- SIZE of the social network (number of people who give or receive support)
- amount of support received by each person in the network
Types of Resources in Exercise
- resources exchanged between two people
- one receives, one supplies
–> informational, instrumental, emotional, companionship, validation - important that these resources are perceived to be positive
–> people can also be negatively influenced
Informational Resources
- directions, advice, or feedback
-» often from experts or professionals (trainers, doctors, teachers)
-» also from peers, family, friends
-» information not always accurate
Instrumental Resources
tangible, practical support
- financial (ex paying someone’s gym membership)
- equipment (loaning someone a bike)
- overcoming barriers (child care, providing transportation)
Emotional Resources
encouragement, empathy, concern
- telling someone she can do it
- listening and sympathizing
- encouraging someone to keep at it and work harder
Companionship Resources
who you exercise with
- friends, family members, exercise group
- increase enjoyment
- distract from the pleasant feelings
-» pain, fatigue, boredom
differs from emotional support
- companions don’t necessarily provide emotional support
- companionship has to be during exercise; emotional support can occur at other times
Validation Resources
comparing yourself to others
- gauge progress
- validating thoughts and feelings
- feeling that you are not the only one with the same barriers to exercise
- feeling good about what you are doing
- *negative evaluation (social comparison to others)
Who are the Most Influential Sources
social support (in general) linked to higher physical activity levels
- across lifespan
- during transitional time periods
adherence
- important people besides family
- family
compliance
- family
exercise leaders/professionals
- can be very influential in exercise behavior
- particularly if we seek it out voluntarily
