“It is impossible to live in society and be free from society, ” it’s difficult to argue with this Lenin’s saying even in modern society that extol the idea of “personal freedom.” Even the most independent person is included in certain social groups and experiences their influence.
The social connections of modern man are numerous and diverse, but not everyone with whom a person is familiar influences him with his opinion. Such an opportunity is only for those whom psychologists call reference persons - those who are significant for this person.
Reference person and group
For a preschooler, reference persons are parents, for a younger schoolchild, teachers, for a teenager, peers. The circle of reference persons of an adult is more diverse, it includes colleagues, bosses and many other people. In any social group, especially an informal one, the leader has the greatest reference for its members.
Not every acquaintance is a reference person. On the other hand, it becomes not only the one with whom a person is familiar and communicates directly. This may be a politician, a religious leader, a famous artist and even a long-dead writer or philosopher.
Along with reference persons, there are also reference groups, which are for a person a standard of behavior, ratings and other norms. At the same time, real belonging to the reference group is optional. It is enough to recall the hero of the comedy JB Moliere "The Tradesman in the Nobility": this man is not a nobleman, which does not prevent him from being guided in everything by the lifestyle of the nobles.