Chapter 14: Social Behavior Flashcards
scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to each other
social psychology
examining the group - unit of analysis is the group
sociology
unit of analysis of an individual- how an individual behaves when they are apart of a group
social psychology
evolutionary benefits of living in social groups:
- protection against predators
- cooperation to complete tasks
- child rearing
- social facilitation
- social loafing
presence of others improves one’s performance on a well learned task
social facilitation
presence of others causes one to relax and slack off
social loafing
tendency to adjust behavior to what others are doing or to adhere to norms of culture
conformity
rules about acceptable behavior imposed by cultural context in which one lives
social norms
conformity because one views others as sources of knowledge about what one is supposed to do
informational social influence
conformity in order to be accepted by others or avoid rejection
normative social influence
study on conformity example:
the line test
individuals are most likely to conform when:
- feel incompetent/insecure
- group has 3 or more people
- everyone else in the group agrees
- admire group’s status and attractiveness
- haven’t made prior commitment to response
- know others in group will observe our behavior
- belong to collectivist culture
thinking of the group takes over, so much that the group members forgo logic or critical analysis of reaching decision (mob mentality)
groupthink
symptoms of groupthink
- illusions of vulnerability
- self-censorship
- pressure on dissenters to conform
- illusion of unanimity
how to minimize groupthink
- reward doubt/dissent
- protects minority opinions
- asks for as many ideas as possible
- has group members think of disadvantages of proposed decision
when smaller group of individuals in a larger group shift majority opinions by presenting a consistent, unwavering message
minority social influence
type of social influence in which person yields to will of another person, complying with demands
obedience
obedience vs conformity
obedience: follow instructions of authority figure
conformity: trying to blend in and doing what everyone else is doing
obedience is highest when:
- person giving orders is in close proximity
- authority figure perceived to be associated with prestigious institution
- victim was depersonalized/distant
- no models for defiance
- foot-in-the-door phenomenon (can gradually increase what I’m asking you to do)
inferences made about cases of other people’s behavior
attribution
assume someone is a bad driver if they cut you off
attribution
inherent to the person (cut off in traffic –> they are always a bad driver
dispositional attribution
external to the person (cut off in traffic –> “I didn’t see the other car, but if I would have I wouldn’t have cut in front of them”
situational attribution
situational attributions for our failures but dispositional attributions for our success
self-serving bias
tendency to explain others behavior in dispositional rather than situational terms
fundamental attribution theory
ways of knowing that we develop from experiences with objects or events
schemas
expect individuals to behave a certain way based on the group they belong to
stereotype
when you put down/say something hurtful about members of a particular group
negative stereotypes
sounds like saying something that is intended to be a compliment, but you are actually treating every member of that group as the same
positive stereotypes
tendency to portray a group of people as unworthy of human rights and traits - intended to make them feel unworthy
dehumanization
treat out groups as if they are homogenous and as if they are the same
out group homogeneity
we appreciate/understand that there is diversity within our in-group
in group heterogeneity
biased attitude towards a group of people or individual members of a group based on unfair generalizations about what members in the group are like
prejudice
preferential treatment of certain people, usually driven by prejudicial attitudes
discrimination
roots of prejudice:
- social
- emotional
- cognitive
people get what they deserve
just-world phenomenon
theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger providing someone to blame
scapegoat theory
a person’s favorable or unfavorable feelings, beliefs, or actions toward an object, idea, or person
attititudes
feelings or emotions associated with belief
affective attitude
rational thoughts and beliefs
cognitive attitude
motive to act in a particular way
behavior attitude
act of attempting to change opinions, beliefs, or choices of others by explanation or argument
persuasion
focus on arguments and respond with favorable thoughts
central route to persuasion
influenced by incidental cues (ex: speakers attractiveness)
peripheral route to persuasion
feeling of discomfort caused by information that is different from a person’s conception of themselves and sensible person
cognitive dissonance
violent behavior that is intended to cause psychological or physical harm, or both, to another being
aggression
stemming from anger
hostile aggression
aggression meant to achieve goal (ex: bad mouthing someone up for the same promotion as you)
instrumental aggression
4 characteristics that make a murderer
- male
- raised in a neglectful/abusive home
- psychological disorder
- brain/head injury
action that is beneficial to others
prosocial behavior
the greater the number of bystanders who witness an emergency, the less likely any one of them is to help
bystander effect
responsibility is shared among individuals –> everyone else thinks someone is going to step into help
diffusion of responsibility
