Social Expectations
Social Expectations - Related Videos
01:15
Expected Value
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2023
The expected value is known as the "long-term" average or mean. This means that over the long term of experimenting over and over, you would expect this average. The expected average is represented by the symbol μ. It is calculated as follows:In the equation, x is an event, and P(x) is the probability of the event occurring.The expected value has practical applications in decision theory.This text is adapted from Openstax, Introductory Statistics, Section 4.2 Mean or Expected Value and...
01:19
Expected Income, Expected Utility, and Risk Aversion II
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2025
John is evaluating a job offer from a company where his income will be uncertain. If the company performs well, John will earn an annual income of $81,000; otherwise, he will earn $49,000. It is assumed that either outcome has an equal chance, assigning a probability of 0.5 to each. This results in an expected income of $65,000. His decision-making is affected by the diminishing marginal utility of income. John evaluates his options based on their utility. Expected utility accounts for risk...
02:10
Social Scripts
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2020
People tend to know what behavior is expected of them in specific, familiar settings. A script is a person’s knowledge about the sequence of events expected in a specific setting (Schank & Abelson, 1977). Essentially, scripts are a particular kind of schema, one containing default values for the features within an event. In the restaurant example, the script's features include the props (e.g., tables, menu, food, and money), the roles to be played (e.g., customer and waiter), the opening...
02:06
Social Exchange Theory
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2020
We have discussed why we form relationships, what attracts us to others, and different types of love. But what determines whether we are satisfied with and stay in a relationship? One theory that provides an explanation is social exchange theory. According to social exchange theory, we act as naïve economists in keeping a tally of the ratio of costs and benefits of forming and maintaining a relationship with others (Rusbult & Van Lange, 2003). People are motivated to maximize the benefits...
11:13
The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
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Cited by 13 •
2015
Previous research on the social dimension of stress has focused on two important variables: social identity and social support. This protocol introduces an effective experimental manipulation of these two social variables and describes their implementation in a standard stress induction paradigm (Trier Social Stress Test).
FAQs
Socialization introduces people to group norms and culturally learned ideas about appropriate conduct. Observation shows which behaviors receive approval or disapproval, while reinforcement increases the likelihood that approved behaviors will be repeated. Together, these processes make expectations feel familiar and influential, allowing them to guide communication, role performance, and judgments about whether behavior is acceptable within a group.
People may conform when they view group expectations as appropriate, important, or difficult to challenge. They may adapt by modifying behavior while retaining personal preferences, or resist when perceived demands conflict with their values or identity. These responses help explain why the same expectation can produce cooperation in one situation, opposition in another, and stress when demands feel incompatible.
Expectations can connect group membership with assumptions about how individuals should act, communicate, or fulfill a role. When such assumptions become generalized, they may contribute to stereotyping and influence judgments before a person’s actual behavior is considered. Role behavior therefore reflects both individual choices and the social pressure to match expectations associated with particular relationships or groups.
Psychologists consider how perceived social demands shape identity, interpersonal behavior, judgments, and choices. They also examine whether individuals conform, adapt, or resist when personal preferences differ from expected conduct. This perspective connects individual experiences with group dynamics, helping explain why expectations can influence relationships and decision-making even when no explicit rule is stated.
The topic has relevance across education, organizational psychology, clinical practice, and research on group dynamics. In education, it can help clarify role behavior and inclusion. In organizations, it informs understanding of group conduct and communication. Clinical practice can consider how perceived demands relate to stress, conflict, identity, and mental health without treating social behavior as purely individual.
Examining shared expectations can reveal how judgments, role demands, and group norms affect people whose preferences or identities do not align with perceived social requirements. This understanding supports efforts to recognize avoidable conflict and reduce exclusion. It also gives educators, organizations, and practitioners a framework for considering how cultural learning and group dynamics influence participation and well-being.