PSYCHOLOGICAL MECHANISMS OF SOCIAL GROUP INFLUENCE ON THE INDIVIDUAL AND THEORETICAL INTERPRETATIONS OF SOCIAL PRESSURE

This article explores the psychological aspects of the interaction between the individual and social groups, focusing on the mechanisms through which groups influence personal decision-making. The analysis draws on various theoretical frameworks, including É. Durkheim’s concept of social facts, S. Freud’s idea of internal control (superego), S. Asch’s conformity experiments, L. Festinger’s cognitive dissonance theory, A. Bandura’s social learning model, H. Tajfel’s theory of social identification, S. Milgram’s obedience studies, and E. Erikson’s stages of identity development. Using theoretical and analytical methods, the study examines how group influence operates through both external norms and internal psychological processes. The findings suggest that social pressure is perceived not only as an external force, but also as a product of the individual’s need for identity, group belonging, and psychological adaptation.