Introduction
Social influence is how an individual’s emotions and actions are impacted by their social surroundings. Compliance, obedience, persuasion, and indoctrination are all types of power that may significantly impact individuals and groups. Titanic’s characters’ actions and choices often reflect the impact of larger socioeconomic forces. Rose, a wealthy lady betrothed to a rich man, and Jack, a poor artist, go on a trip together in the 19th century in the epic film Titanic (Titanic Official, 2023). As they fall in love with the doomed ship, one can observe the effects of societal pressure on their lives.
In Titanic, as in real life, peer pressure significantly shapes people’s actions. One can observe how it influences the characters’ choices and behavior throughout the film. Their social environments, families, and desires for love and autonomy influence the characters’ choices. The significance of social impact in people’s lives is undeniable, making studying it an absolute need.
The film emphasizes the power of peer pressure to alter one’s trajectory in life. For instance, Rose chooses to leave her wealthy life behind and be with Jack because of her need for independence and love. In the same way, Jack’s passion for Rose inspired him to risk his life to save her. Titanic shows the many faces of social pressure; conformity is an example (Stolz et al., 2019). When Rose initially sets sail, she dresses and acts in a way consistent with the standards her family and society set for her. However, as her feelings for Jack grow, she begins to defy norms and ultimately decides to give up her social standing for him.
Persuasion is another type of social influence. In the film, Cal, Rose’s fiance, uses his money and connections to convince her to stay with him. But Rose gives in to her feelings for Jack, and his convincing efforts fail. Character actions and interactions highlight the value of friendship and community. For instance, the socioeconomic stratification of the time is reflected in the distinction between those traveling in first class and those in steerage.
Relevant Scene
The moment in Titanic, when Rose’s mother and Cal try to persuade her to abandon Jack and board a lifeboat, is an excellent example of the power of societal pressure. At this moment, the principle of social influence at work is conformity, as Rose is being influenced to meet the standards set by her peers and society. Rose’s mother and Cal, who embody upper-class society’s conventional morals and norms, push her to abandon Jack and board a lifeboat as the ship sinks (Titanic Official, 2023). They try to get her to leave Jack in favor of a richer guy, promising her a better life if she leaves Jack. Rose’s inner conflict and uncertainty stem from her struggle to reconcile her feelings for Jack with society’s expectations.
Her predicament exemplifies the persuasive potential of societal pressure, which may cause individuals to act in ways that are at odds with their values and goals. Group dynamics and the significance of social standards are reflected in Rose’s mother and Cal’s attempt to persuade her to agree with their choice. The Titanic official in 2023 describes a scene in which first-class passengers board the lifeboats, but third-class people are confined below deck. At first, the third-class passengers do what they are told, but eventually, they challenge the crew’s authority and stage a rebellion. The protagonist, Rose, goes against convention by not getting on a lifeboat without her third-class boyfriend, Jack.
The film also demonstrates the influence of societal standards on individuals. Examples include those on board adhering to traditional gender and social role expectations at first (Bursztyn et al., 2020). Men are expected to be brave and put the safety of women and children ahead of their own while following the captain’s orders. However, as the crisis continues, people act in their best interests, and social norms break down. Overall, this scene from Titanic is an excellent illustration of the strength of colonial influence, showing how conformity may cause individuals to disregard their values in favor of those of the majority. It emphasizes the importance of the social environment in influencing behavior and the possibility for both good and negative results to be influenced by social context.
Social Psychological Principle Relevant to the Scene
Conformity is the applicable social psychology principle here. People conform when they shift their perspectives, values, and actions, following what they perceive to be the expectations of others (Legros & Cislaghi, 2020). In the film, Rose’s mother and Cal utilize peer pressure to get Rose to agree with their assessment of her best interests. They appeal to her obligation to her loved ones and the social norm that women must be rescued before males. The effects of conformity on individuals have been studied extensively and shown to be significant enough to cause them to act contrary to their better judgment. Bursztyn et al. (2020) had subjects estimate the length of lines. It was common for participants to provide the wrong response along with the rest of the group, even though they knew it was bad.
In Titanic, Rose experiences similar pressure from her mother and Cal to adopt their worldview. Even though she feels for Jack and wants to be with him, she caves to peer pressure and boards the lifeboat (Stolz et al., 2019). This exemplifies how social anxiety may change our actions in the face of imminent danger. In the Titanic scenario, the first- and second-class passengers are elitist toward the third-class passengers and do not want them on the lifeboats. This kind of conduct is representative of social identity-based intergroup discrimination (Legros & Cislaghi, 2020). The first- and second-class passengers think of themselves as better off than the third-class travelers. Social identity theory also predicts that in-group individuals would engage in prejudice towards out-group members to protect their sense of belonging to the in-group (Legros & Cislaghi, 2020). This attitude is displayed in the Titanic moment when the first-class passengers block the third-class passengers from boarding the lifeboats.
Overall, conformity is a social psychological principle that describes the tendency of individuals to change their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors in response to the influence of others. This tendency is demonstrated in the Titanic moment where Rose’s mother and Cal attempt to persuade her to abandon Jack and board a lifeboat. Studies indicate that conformity and social identity may profoundly affect individuals, convincing them to act in ways that go against their better judgment.
Analysis of How the Scene Conforms to the Principle
Titanic depicts several sorts of societal pressure, including conformity. The notion of societal conformity is on full display when Rose’s mother and Cal try to convince her to leave Jack and go on a lifeboat. They emotionally appeal to Rose’s feeling of responsibility, dread of the unknown, and desire to fit in (Titanic Official, 2023) to influence her choice. They try to convince her that the ship’s sinking and that women and children should be rescued first.
Normative influence, or compliance motivated by a desire to fit in with a group and acquire social approval, is well shown by Rose’s mother and Cal’s methods of persuasion. They try to persuade Rose to follow the societal norm of self-preservation by appealing to her feelings of dread, guilt, and shame (Bursztyn et al., 2020). They make her feel like she’s letting society down by not doing what’s expected. They further play on her emotions by having Rose worry about Jack’s safety if she stays with him on the sinking ship.
Evidence from studies shows that, like Rose in the Titanic scenario, people are more prone to conform to social norms in uncertain or stressful situations. People will comply with the group norm even if it contradicts their judgment. According to research, conformity is also more prominent in collectivist societies than in individualistic ones (Legros & Cislaghi, 2020). Rose’s stubbornness in the face of her mother’s and Cal’s persuasive efforts illustrates the role that variances in personality play in shaping social norms. Rose’s decision to stay with Jack may be partly attributed to her independence, love for Jack, and willingness to question societal standards (Titanic Official, 2023). These unique qualities can triumph against the social temptation to blend in.
Persuasion, promoting a specific attitude or action through communication, is another tenet of social influence. In the film Titanic, Rose’s mother and Cal try to convince her to abandon Jack and board a lifeboat. They resort to several methods of persuasion, including appeals to emotion, coercion, and the appearance of authority. Rose’s mom and Cal are trying to get her to leave Jack by making her feel wrong about being with him. They advise her to think about her future and not settle for Jack. To add insult to injury, they warn her that the boat is departing and that she must decide quickly (Titanic Official, 2023). By reminding Rose that he is her fiancĂ©, Cal demonstrates his authority and demands her submission.
However, Rose is not persuaded enough by these reasons to leave Jack. Despite everyone’s best attempts, she chooses to stay with Jack. It Is consistent with research showing that individuals are more resistant to change when they have a vested interest in keeping things the same (Bursztyn et al., 2020). Rose’s passion for Jack outweighs the influence of her mother and Cal in this predicament. In Titanic, Rose’s mother and Cal attempt to persuade her to leave Jack and board a lifeboat, illustrating conformity in general. They use normative persuasion to get Rose to act according to societal standards. Rose’s choice to remain with Jack shows the influence of uniqueness on conformity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the social pressures of conformity, social identity, and rebellion are all portrayed realistically in Titanic. It demonstrates how social norms play a role in molding behavior and how they may be questioned. Due to their assumptions about the socioeconomic status of the third-class passengers, the affluent travelers treated them poorly.
Depending on the situation’s specifics, conformity and social identity can have beneficial and harmful consequences. It has the potential to foster unity and collaboration in a group, but it also has the potential to strangle the originality and independence of its members. Therefore, a balance must be found in social interactions between adherence to principles and expression of individuality. People can work toward a more accepting and tolerant society if they appreciate the power of social influence.
References
Bursztyn, L., Egorov, G., & Fiorin, S. (2020). From extreme to mainstream: The erosion of social norms. American economic review, 110(11), 3522-3548. Web.
Legros, S., & Cislaghi, B. (2020). Mapping the social-norms literature: An overview of reviews. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 15(1), 62-80. Web.
Stolz, J., Lindemann, A., & Antonietti, J. P. (2019). Sociological explanation and mixed methods: the example of the Titanic. Quality & Quantity, 53, 1623-1643. Web.
Titanic Official. (2023). Titanic (Full Movie 1997). Web.