What is an external influence on behavior?

An external influence on behavior refers to factors that come from outside an individual, impacting their actions or decisions. Relationships with friends exemplify this concept perfectly. Friends often exert influence through social pressures, expectations, and shared experiences, which can shape an individual's behavior in various contexts. This influence can manifest in how someone behaves in social settings, their decision-making, and even their adherence to or rebellion against societal norms.

In contrast, the officer's own values, department regulations, and personal beliefs are all internal factors or situated within the individual's own system of beliefs and values rather than stemming from external societal interactions. While these elements do play a significant role in shaping behavior, they do not fit the definition of external influences as they originate from within the individual or the organizational context rather than from peer relationships.