The phrase "are influenced" is spelled using the English alphabet, but its pronunciation is represented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /ɑːr ˈɪnfluənst/. The first sound is the vowel sound "ah," followed by the consonant sound "r." The second syllable begins with the non-stressed vowel sound "ih," followed by the consonant cluster "nfl." The final syllable begins with the non-stressed vowel sound "oo," followed by the consonant sound "n" and the sound "st," which represents the final suffix "-ed" in "influenced."
"Are influenced" is a verb phrase that refers to the act of having an impact on someone or something, causing a change in their thoughts, behavior, or actions. It indicates the existence of an external force or factor that plays a role in shaping or altering a particular individual, group, or thing.
When a person or entity is influenced, it means they are affected by various factors such as people, events, circumstances, ideas, or opinions. These influences can either be positive or negative, leading to changes in attitudes, beliefs, choices, or decision-making processes.
The phrase "are influenced" implies that the subject is not acting solely based on their own internal motivations or independent will, but rather that outside forces play a role in guiding or shaping their actions. These external influences can come from family members, friends, society, culture, mass media, education, or personal experiences. The extent of influence and its outcomes may vary depending on the subject's susceptibility, openness, or resistance to external factors.
Understanding how individuals or phenomena are influenced can offer insights into the complexities of human behavior, cultural dynamics, and societal structures. Recognizing the sources and nature of these influences is crucial for evaluating the degree of autonomy or agency an individual or entity possesses, as well as predicting future behavior or outcomes.
The word "influenced" is derived from the verb "influence". The etymology of "influence" can be traced back to the Latin word "influens", which is the present participle of the verb "influere". "Influere" is composed of the prefix "in-" meaning "in" or "into", and "fluere" meaning "to flow". Therefore, "influence" originally meant "to flow into". Over time, the word evolved and came to be used in its modern sense, referring to the power or effect that one person or thing has on another. Consequently, the collocation "are influenced" denotes the passive form of the verb "influence" and signifies that something or someone is being affected or impacted by external factors.