Chapter 12 Flashcards
personality psychology
study of internal causes of behavior
social psychology
study of interactive causes of behavior
sociology
impact of group membership on behavior
social influence
process through which the real or implied presence of others can directly or indirectly influence the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of an individual
conformity
changing one’s own behavior to match that of another
muzafer sharif study
autokinetic effect
how far did the light move?
impact of others’ opinions
solomon asch study
classic conformity study
when confederates gave wrong, the subject also gave the wrong answers 33% of the time
cultural differences
gender differences: women conform more than men
why conformity
normative influence: desire to be liked
informational influence: desire the be right
most conformity is desirable (traffic lights)
most lethal when conform to self-destruction (drugs, smoke, over-eating, lazy) and other-destructive (bullying, racism, gang violence)
group think
people place more importance on maintaining group cohesiveness than on assessing the facts of the situation under consideration
famous group think examples
Pearl Harbor Attack 1941
bay of pigs disaster 1962
challenger diaster 1987
war in Iraq 2004
irving janis
groupthink founder
book says what not to do, most describe positive steps to avoid lethal effect of group think
- leader appreciated might be wrong
- withhold opinion initially as to not influence others
- encourage alternative perspectives
- devils advocate
- outside expert to express opinion
group polarization
group comes up w decision that are more extreme than the average of the members
- conservative, more conservative (status quo)
- liberal, more liberal (risky)
robert zajonc
social faciliation and social inhibition
presence of others -> increase level of arousal
a) dominate response correct: social facilitation
b) dominate response wrong: social inhibition
social loafing
do less when others are around
reduced when:
- boss present
- worker is self-motivated
- outcome of work important
- individuals are measured
deindividuation
lynch mobs are made
lose personal identity in the context of a group
do things an individual would not have done by themselves
compliance
changing behavior as a result of other people directing or asking for the change
burt raven
bases of social power- ability to get someone to comply with your request
- reward
- coercion
- legitimate authority
- expertise
- referent power
- informational power
- appeal to 3rd party
- helplessness
- environmental manipulation
sale techniques
foot in the door (small to large)
door in the face (large to small)
lowball technique (get it, then raise)
obedience
changing behavior at the command of an authority figure
stanley milgram
obedience study at 29
stimulated by trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann who was just “following orders”
teacher (subject) /learner (confederate)
teacher told to increase shock if answer wrong
results: 2/3 all the way
conclusion: ordinary people can commit atrocity when under the influence of an authority figure
ethical concerns: subjects shaken, continued to shock innocent person- guilt, never thought “posed”
social cognition
mental processes that people use to makes sense of the social world around them
attitude
tendency to response positively or negatively toward certain person, object, idea, or situation