The forces other people exert on one's buying behavior are called which of the following?

• A. Cultural Norms
• B. Price Elasticity
• C. Social Influences
• D. Brand Loyalty

Answer: (C)

Social influences capture the impact that other people—family, friends, peers, reference groups, and online networks—have on what you buy. They shape attitudes, information you trust, and decisions through recommendations, trends, and the desire to fit in or imitate others. This differs from cultural norms, which are broad societal rules beyond any one individual, price elasticity, which measures how sensitive demand is to price changes, and brand loyalty, which is a personal preference for a particular brand that may arise independently of others’ input. For example, a friend’s positive review or a trend seen on social media can push you toward a product you wouldn’t have chosen on price or brand alone.