Social Influences on Behavior: Code Switching and Anxiety

Introduction

The specific social setting in which an individual finds themselves can have profound effects on their behavior, and might even lead to behavioral changes that warrant therapeutic intervention in some cases. At the same time, many of the changes in behavior that occur as a result of shifts in social setting are entirely normal and even desirable based on certain social mores and customs. The following sections present two different general scenarios in which social setting can impact behavior, demonstrating the range of extremity that social context has on behavioral processes and choices — both in normal scenarios and in certain abnormal conditions. Relevant research is cited in support of the descriptions and explanations of the phenomena identified.

Code Switching as a Social Behavior

One very common, very normal, and most of the time very subtle behavioral change that occurs as a result of changes in social setting is known as "code switching." This essentially refers to the habit individuals have of changing their language patterns — word choice, sentence structure, and even pronunciation — based on who they are talking to (Auer, 1999). This is a behavioral change that has been observed in many contexts across many, if not all, cultures. It can be as simple as the decision not to swear in front of one's grandparents when one does swear freely in front of friends (Auer, 1999). There can also be more complex and pressing examples of code switching, and for most people it occurs on a daily basis (Auer, 1999).

Precursors and Consequences of Code Switching

The precursors and consequences of code switching are highly interrelated, generally arising out of instilled social values and expectations and serving to cement social relationships through group identification and membership verification (Auer, 1999). Not swearing in front of grandparents, for example, comes from having values of respect for elders and ideas about appropriate language instilled from an early age. It serves to promote a specific image of innocence that grandparents are expected to desire, while also reducing the potential for conflict. Swearing, on the other hand, may be more expected in front of peers, and overly formal language — or language that does not include the slang of the social group — might lead to exclusion. In this way, code switching serves straightforward social facilitation needs and does not warrant therapeutic intervention.

Social Anxiety and Behavioral Change

Other types of behavioral changes are less common, more extreme, and potentially more damaging to the quality of life of the individual. Social anxiety disorder is one such change, which can be very detrimental to certain individuals and constitutes a major shift in almost all behaviors when a person moves from comfortable, known, and typically limited social settings to more varied and crowded ones (Kashdan et al., 2010; Voncken et al., 2010). Severe cases of the disorder lead to a near-complete shutdown of social interactions, with behavioral changes in the way people carry themselves, make eye contact, speak, and even think — all triggered by unfamiliar social contexts, unknown people, or simply a perceived lack of control (Kashdan et al., 2010; Voncken et al., 2010).

Conclusion

Code switching, social anxiety, and many other socially caused changes in behavior can vary widely in degree and are experienced differently by different people. Some patterns of change, like social anxiety disorder, are limited to certain individuals and do not occur at all for many. Like code switching, however, there are many behavioral changes that occur for almost everyone, every day, as a natural and functional response to shifting social environments.