chap8 group processes Flashcards
define group
collection 3+ pple who interact & r interdependent (needs n goals cause them to rely on one another)
2 pple group referred to as
dyad
why join groups / benefits of group membership
1 src info 2 helps define our identity 3 motivate to become involved in social change 4 establish social norms (iplicit n explicit rules of acceptable behav)
composition of group
3-6 members, if too large, unlikely interact group diversity LOW bc groups attract pple who’re similar groups operate in ways that encourage similarity
functions of group
social norms social roles
define social norms
specify how groupies should behave
what r social roles
shared expectations of how pple supposed to behave
how r social roles helpful
know what to expect from each other
how can social roles be detrimental
if roles embraced to extent where we lose personal identity
stanford exp
students paid to act as prison guard or prisoner, students conformed to social role, but guards lost sense of decency, prisoners extremely psych distraught. all were normal pple before, but conforming to social roles and norms caused to lose moral standards.
critisicms of stanford exp
ehtical issues, failed to implement proper scientific controls ppts aware of hyp therefore may have performed in accordance to experimenter’s prediction to please him. zimbardo also active during exp as supervisor
define group cohesiveness
qualities of group that binds members tgt n promote liking among them
high group cohesion leads to
inc likelihood stay in group
what are gender roles
expectations bout how m&f should behave
female role in many cultures
sife, mother, limited career opportunities
social facilitation
presence of others engaged in same task as use nrgizes us tend to do better on simple tasks but worse on complex tasks when in presence of others and their individual performance can be evaluated
when does social facilitation occur
w simple, well-learned tasks, not complex
simple task / well -learned
dominant response = perform accurately
complex task / r learn smthg new
dominant resp = make mistakes
dominant response
resp most likely for that particular task
presence of others facilitates psych arousal which then facilitates…
dominant response
expression of dominant response
makes ezier to do smthg simple, but difficult to do smthg complex or new
3 theories that explain role of arousal caused by audience in social facilitation
1 make us more alert & vigilant 2 evaluation apprehension 3 distraction - conflict: others distract us from task
social loafing: when presence of other relaxes us
do worse on simple tasks, better on complex in presence others & individual performance CANNOT be eval
why does social loafing relax us
individual perform in group cannot be identified / indistinguishable therefore no evaluation apprehension
effect of social loafing on complex tasks
more relaxed therefore less tense, fewer mistakes
effect of social loafing on simple tasks
impairs performance on simple tasks deemed unimportant - no arousal to elicit dominant resp
social loafing in m&f
stronger in men bc women focus on relationships w others, relational interdependence
social loafing in cultures
stronger in individualistic bc collectivistic interdependent view of self - cannot fail the group
social facilitation vs social loafing differences
de-individuation: getting lost in the crowd/ losing individuality/ identity
loosening of normal constraints on behav when in group -> incr impulsive & deviant acts like looting n riots
deidividuation leads to impulsive acts bc of PRESNCE of others
diffusion accountability
lowers self-awareness, shifting attention away from moral standards
incr extenct to which obey social norms - follow majority, can be positive for volunteering
process loss
when group interactions inhibit good problem solving
any aspect of gorup interaction that inhibits good problem solving
eg tend to focus on what members already know in common
how to avoid process loss?
erbody shares specific unique info good or bad
process loss demonstration w candidate
transactive memory
combined memory of 2 pple -> more efficient than memory of single individual
group think
thinking that sees maintaining group cohesiveness & solidarity as more important than considering facts in realistic maner
ie seek unanimity despite individual doubts - leads to irrational decision outcome
group think process
how to avoid group think
impartial
seek outside opinions
create subgroups
seek anonymous opinions w/out fear of rejection from other members
group polarization
groups make decisions more xtreme than initial inclinations of individual members
when individual member shifts to an xtreme opinion when in a group
why does group polarization occur?
1 persuasive arguments : end up w arguments hadnt previously considered, more arguments in support of initial position therefore more xtreme position
2 social comparison theory : compare ur position to erbody , then take up more xreme position to appear MORE supportive of group values
leadership in groups:
great person theory
certain personality traits make good leader regardless of situation / context
*research shows weak relationship bw personality traits and leadership effectiveness
leadership styles
transactional : set CLEAR, SHORT term goals n rewward pple who meet them, gets things done
Transformational : inspire to focus on common LONG term goals, think outside box, higher level psych well being
Not strongly associated w personality traitstherefore can be trained
not mutually exclusive, both can be adopted by individual to offer more efective leadership
contingency theory of leadership
leadership effectiveness depends on how task- oriented or relationship-oriented leader is & on amount of control & influence leader has over group
involves considering context / situation to evaluate good leader
emphasis on personality n situation in which leader operates, effective leadership depend on extent of authority leader has on group n how task or relationship oriented leader is
task vs relationship oriented leader
depending on situation, 1 style is more effective than the other
task oriented leader more effective in situations whereby:
great leader-member relations, task is clear
or
poor leader -member relations and task unclear
relationship - oriented leader more effective in situations whereby
moderate leader-member relations, task moderately clear
conflict n cooperation: social dilemma
conflict in which the most beneficial action for individual has harmful effects on erbody if chosen
social dilemma: prisoner’s dilemma
game in which 2 players must each choose 1 of 2 options w/out knowing what other will choose
outcome depends on their combined choices
dilemma: choice which seems best from viewpt of INDIVIDUAL wont lead to best outcome if BOTH players choose it
game of trust w/out communication: prisoner dilemma
how to incr cooperation in social dilemmas
play against friend
or
expect to interact w partner in future
incr cooperation in social dilemmas: tit for tat strategy
act cooperatively then respond the wya ur pponent di on previous turn( to reduce being exploited)
incr cooperation in social dilemmas:
cooperators more +ly evaluated by membersthan freeloaders (those who benefit but dont contribute)
what’s more effective: reward cooperator or punish freeloaders?
reward cooperators
using threats to resolve conflct: is it effective?
no lol
eg trucking game
threats dont resolve conflict: trucking game
trucking game results
communication helps resolve conflict if used to work soln for BOTH parties
but if communication used to convey threats, competition INCR
therefore quality of communication matters
negotation
communication bw opposing sides in conflict in which:
offers and counter-offers r made
soln if both parties agree
integrative soln
soln made thru trade-offs, each side concedes/acknowledge/ grant the most on issues unimportant to themself, but important to the other side
