02/10 Flashcards
social influence theory
refers to the way in which individuals change their behavior to meet the demands of a social environment. It involves how people are affected by others’ opinions, suggestions, and behaviors.
social norms
are the unwritten rules and expectations that dictate how individuals should behave in a particular social group or society. They provide a framework for appropriate behavior and help maintain order and cohesion within a community.
conformity
adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard. More likely when:
● Insecure, feel incompetent
● Group >3 people
● Everyone else agrees
normative social influence
influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval. We need to belong. To get along, we go along
informational social influence
influence resulting from one’s willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality.
chameleon effect
Tanya Chartrand and John Bargh found we are natural mimics, unconsciously imitating others’ expressions, postures, and voice tones
Helps empathize - promotes mood linkage. We feel happier around happy people than around depressed people.
social facilitation
(Norman Triplett) improved performance on simple or well-learned tasks in the presence of others and worse on difficult tasks.
● What you do well, you are likely to do even better in front of an audience, especially a friendly audience. What you normally find difficult may seem all but impossible when you are being watched.
social loafing
the tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts toward attaining a common goal than when individually accountable.
1. Less accountability in a group
2. Individual contributions may be seen as dispensable
3. When rewards are equally shared, some may free-ride
deindividuation
the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity .
● Wearing KKK hood doubled shocks administered by participants
● Tribal warriors who use war paint to depersonalize are more likely to kill
● Online bullies and trolls hide behind the anonymity the internet provides
group polarization
the enhancement of a group’s prevailing inclinations
through discussion within the group
● (+) Self-help groups helps promote resolve
● (-) Can feed extremism and terrorism
● Consider modern-online social media “bubbles”
group think
occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives.
minority influence
power of one or two individuals to sway majorities. Holding firm to minority beliefs causes other to view one’s self-confidence and consider why you react as you do, or generate sympathy.
