Chapter 11 Flashcards
Social Psychology
- trying to answer the question of why the same person acts differently in different situations
- thinking, feeling, and behavior and how people (the group) are able to influence the individual (individual)
Conformity
- Social influence
- change in behavior, attitude, belief in response to real or imagine pressure
- adjust behavior to a group standard
Solomon Ash
- Line test
- Group answers question wrong, but individual conforms to agree with the group
Likely to conform when:
- unanimous majority of greater than 3 people
- response is public
- not expressed commitment to different ideas
- doubt knowledge or abilities (incompetent, insecure)
- strongly attracted to the group
- collectivistic culture (group favored over individual)
Possible reasons for conformity: Why?
- Normative social influence: desire to be LIKED
- Informative social influence: desire to be RIGHTf
Groupthink
-Idea that people in a group feel like its more important to create group cohesiveness rather than considering a realistic perspective
Invulnerability
*characteristic of Groupthink
Members feel they cannot fail
Rationalization
*characteristic of Groupthink
Members explain away warning signs and help each other rationalize their decision
Lack of introspection
*characteristic of Groupthink
Members do not examine the ethical implications of their decision because they believe that they cannot make immoral choices
Stereotyping
*characteristic of Groupthink
Members stereotype their enemies as weak, stupid, or unreasonable
Pressure
*characteristic of Groupthink
Members pressure each other not to question the prevailing opinion
Lack of disagreement
*characteristic of Groupthink
Members do not express opinions that differ from the group consensus
Self-deception
*characteristic of Groupthink
Members share in the illusion that they all agree with the decision
Insularity
*characteristic of Groupthink
Member prevent the group from hearing disruptive but potentially useful information from people who are outside the group
Group polarization
-idea that if you put a bunch of people together with the same view and get them to discuss, their views get more extreme (polarized) and pushed toward one direction
What to avoid
*avoid Groupthink and Group Polarization
4 ways to avoid Groupthink
- Have leader be impartial (doesn’t take sides or vote)
- Purposefully seek an opinion from outside the group
- Vote by secret ballot
- Welcome and encourage problems and critics
Social facilitation
Presence of other people could facilitate (make it better) behavior if the person is an expert and the task is easy
Social impairment
Task performance impaired in presence of other people when task is hard or haven’t practiced
Social loafing
What happens when we’re working toward a group goal and individuals become lazy
-Can call it diffusion of responsibility- not seen as accountable
Dindividuation
Occurs when individuals are in a large group and feel that they are anonymous (anonymity) (mob behavior)
-feel as if part of a group instead of an individual
Stanley Milgram
Worked as a graduate assistant in Solomon Ash’s study.
- Asks whats going to happen if an authority figure asks you to do something
- shock video
- Forces that contribute to obedience
- Doing things in small increments
- Progressing
Persuasion
Try to get another person to change their belief, opinion, and behavior by argument, plead, and explaining
Complience
Change in behavior as a result of a person/group directing them to change
- But the person has NO authority
ex: someone with hands full asking you to hold the door open— they have no authority
Commonality
Both conditions (persuasion and compliance) have deliberate attempt to influence them to change and we have a free choice
Social norms
Social rules, not explicitly said
ex: taking shoes off in someones house
What social norms do
- Help facillitate social interaction
- Saves mental energy
- Free you from anxiety (waving bye or shaking hand)
Different culture may have different social norms
Rule of reciprocity
Going to feel pressure (social norm) to reciprocate if someone does something nice for you