Chapter 8: Group Processes

Question 1

What is the difference between an Ingroup vs Outgroup?

Answer 1

Ingroup - everyone you are personally close with/know
Outgroup - everyone else

Question 2

What two social factors influence how a group operates:

Answer 2

social norms and social roles

Question 3

What are Social Norms?

Answer 3

powerful determinants of our behavior & usually breaking social norms will result in outcasting

Question 4

What are Social Roles?

Answer 4

shared expectations by group members about how particular ppl in the group are supposed to behave

Question 5

What is Group Cohesiveness?

Answer 5

qualities of a group that bind members together & promote liking among them

Question 6

What is Social Facilitation?

Answer 6

a change in behavior when ppl are in the presence of others –> tendency for ppl to do better on simple tasks but worse on complex ones

Question 7

Why do we do better on simple tasks & worse on complex tasks?

Answer 7

• the presence of others makes us concerned for what they think of us
• the presence of others distracts us

Question 8

What is Social Loafing?

Answer 8

tendency for ppl to do worse on simple tasks, but better on complex ones when in the presence of others & their performance can’t be evaluated

Question 9

When does Social Loafing decrease?

Answer 9

• when the task is attractive
• the whole group is committed to reaching a goal
• the group is small
• there’s chances individual performance may be evaluated
• members know each other well

Question 10

What is Deindividuation?

Answer 10

loss of self-awareness & distinctive personality in a group that leads to abnormal or inappropriate behavior

Question 11

When does Deindividuation occur?

Answer 11

when the presence of others:
- makes us feel less accountable
- lowers self-awareness
- increases the chances we’ll follow group norms

Question 12

What is Process Loss?

Answer 12

any aspect of group interaction that inhibits good problem solving

Question 13

What is Groupthink?

Answer 13

a kind of thinking in which maintaining group cohesiveness & solidarity is more important than considering the facts in a realistic manner

Question 14

What are the 4 ways to avoid Groupthink?

Answer 14

• leaders should remain impartial
• get outside opinions
• break into subgroups
• use secret ballots

Question 15

What is Group Polarization?

Answer 15

the tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the initial inclinations of their members

Question 16

What is the Great Person Theory?

Answer 16

theory that states a key personality trait makes a person a good leader

Question 17

What are Transactional Leaders?

Answer 17

leaders who set clear, short-term goals & reward ppl who meet them

Question 18

What are Transformational Leaders?

Answer 18

leaders who inspire followers to focus on common, long term goals

Question 19

What is the Contingency Theory of Leadership?

Answer 19

states that leadership effectiveness depends on how task-oriented or relationship-oriented the leader is, & on the amount of control & influence the leader has over the group

Question 20

What is a Social Dilemma?

Answer 20

a conflict in which the most beneficial action for the individual, if chosen by most ppl, will have harmful effects on everyone

Question 21

What are the advantages of Group decision making?

Answer 21

• resources
• accuracy
• commitment
• division of labor
• creativity