2a: social psychology Flashcards
How can cognitive dissonance be resolved
Change behaviour: In the case of smoking, this would involve quitting, which might be difficult and thus avoided
Acquire new information: Such as seeking exceptions e.g. “My grandfather smoked all his life and lived to be 96”
Reduce the importance of the cognitions(i.e. beliefs, attitudes). A person could convince themself that it is better to “live for the moment”
What is framing
Refers to whether a message emphasises the benefits or losses of that behaviour
What type of framing is best for encouraging behaviours aimed at detecting health problems or illness
Give example
Loss-framed messages
e.g. HIV testing
What type of framing is best for encouraging prevention behaviours
Give example
Condom use
Gain-framed
What else other than attitude can influence behaviour
Stereotypes and Prejudice
Define social loafing
the tendency for people to expend less individual effort when working in a group than when working alone
=DIFFUSION OF RESPONSIBILITY
When is social loafing most likely to occur
The person believes that individual performance is not being monitored
The task (goal) or the group has less value or meaning to the person
The person generally displays low motivation to strive for success
The person expects that other group members will display high effort
How does social loafing depend on gender and culture
Occurs more strongly in all-male groups
Occurs more often in individualistic cultures
When might social loafing disappear
- When individual performance is monitored
- Members highly value their group or the task goal
- Groups are smaller
- Members are of similar competence
What affects conformity
- Group size (no increases over 5 members, though)
- Presence of dissenter (one person disagreeing with others greatly REDUCES conformity )
- Culture (greater in collectivistic cultures…. unlike social loafing which is greater in individualistic)
What is bystander apathy
Outline the 5 steps of bystander decision process
individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present. The greater the number of bystanders, the less likely it is that one of them will help.
- Notice the event
- Decide if the event is really an emergency
(Social comparison: look to see how others are responding) - Assuming responsibility to intervene
(Diffusion of Responsibility: believing that someone else will help) - Self-efficacy in dealing with the situation
- Decision to help (based on cost-benefit analysis e.g. danger)
How can helping behaviour be increased (i.e remove bystander apathy)
Reducing restraints on helping:
- Reduce ambiguity and increase responsibility
- Enhance concern for self image
Socialise altruism:
- Teaching moral inclusion
- Modelling helping behaviour
- Attributing helpful behaviour to altruistic motives
- Education about barriers to helping
Which factors infleuce obedience
Remoteness of the victim
Closeness and legitimacy of the authority figure
Diffusion of responsibility: obedience increases when someone else does the dirty work
Not personal characteristics
What is groupthink? vs group polarisation
the tendency of group members to suspend critical thinking because they they are striving to seek agreement
the tendency of people to make decisions that are more extreme when they are in a group as opposed to a decision made alone or independently
When is groupthink most likely to occur
Is under high stress to reach a decision
Is insulated from outside input
Has a directive leader
Has high cohesiveness
