Chapter 8: Social Processes, Attitudes, and Behavior

Question 1

Social Facilitation

Answer 1

Describes the tendency of people to perform at a different level based on the fact that others are around.

Question 2

Yerkes–Dodson law of social facilitation

Answer 2

Being in the presence of others will significantly raise arousal, which enhances the ability to perform tasks one is already good at (or simple tasks), and hinders the performance of less familiar tasks (or complex tasks).

Question 3

Deindividuation

Answer 3

A loss of self-awareness in large groups, which can lead to drastic changes in behavior.

Question 4

Bystander Effect

Answer 4

Describes the observation that when in a group, individuals are less likely to respond to a person in need.

The more people standing by, the less likely anyone is to help.

Question 5

Peer Pressure

Answer 5

Refers to the social influence placed on individuals by others they consider equals.

Question 6

Group Polarization

Answer 6

The tendency toward making decisions in a group that are more extreme then the thoughts of the individual group members.

Question 7

Groupthink

Answer 7

The tendency for groups to make decisions based on ideas and solutions that arise within the group without considering outside ideas.

Ethics may be disturbed as pressure is created to conform and remain loyal to the group.

Question 8

Identity Shift Effect

Answer 8

When an individual’s state of harmony is disrupted by a threat of social rejection, the individual will often conform to the norms of the group. Upon doing so, however, the individual will begin to experience internal conflict because the behavior is outside the normal character of the individual.

To eliminate the sense of internal conflict, the individual experiences an identify shift wherein the individual adopts the standards of the group as her own.

Question 9

Cognitive Dissonance

Answer 9

The simultaneous presence of two opposing thoughts or opinions. This generally leads to an internal state of discomfort, which may manifest as anxiety, fear, anger, or confusion. Individuals will try to reduce this discomfort by changing, adding to, or minimizing one of these dissonant thoughts.

Question 10

Social Loafing

Answer 10

Social loafing refers to the tendency of individuals to put in less effort when in a group setting than individually.

Question 11

Risky Shift vs. Choice Shift

Answer 11

Risky Shift = Groups tend to make riskier decisions than individuals.

Choice Shift = Shift towards caution.

Question 12

Groupthink

Answer 12

Refers to a social phenomenon in which desire for harmony or conformity results in a group of people coming to an incorrect or poor decision.

In an attempt to eliminate or minimize conflict among the group members, consensus decisions are reached without alternate ideas being assessed.

In these cases, the desire to agree with the group causes a loss of independent critical thinking. The group also begins to isolate and ignore external viewpoints, seeing their own ideas as correct without question.

Question 13

Culture

Answer 13

Describes the beliefs, ideas, behaviors, actions, and characteristics of a group or society of people.

Question 14

Assimilation

Answer 14

Assimilation is the process by which a group or individual’s culture begins to melt into another culture.

Question 15

How can assimilation be slowed?

Answer 15

By the creation of ethnic enclaves, which are locations (usually neighborhoods) with a high concentration of one specific ethnicity.

Question 16

Multiculturalism vs. Assimilation

Answer 16

While multiculturalism is often described as a creating a cultural mosaic, or mixture of cultures and ethnic groups that coexist in society, assimilationism is described as creating a melting pot, or melting together of different elements of culture into one homogenous culture.

Question 17

Socialization

Answer 17

The process of developing and spreading norms, customs, and beliefs.

Question 18

Primary Socialization

Answer 18

Occurs during childhood when we initially learn acceptable actions and attitudes in our society, primarily through observation of our parents and other adults in close proximity.

Question 19

Secondary Socialization

Answer 19

The process of learning appropriate behavior within smaller sections of the larger society. This type of socialization occurs outside of the home and is based on learning the rules of specific social environments.

Question 20

Anticipatory Socialization

Answer 20

The process by which a person prepares for future changes in occupations, living situations, or relationships.

Question 21

Resocialization

Answer 21

Process by which one discards old behaviors in favor of new ones to make a life change, and can have positive or negative connotations.

Question 22

Norms

Answer 22

Norms are societal rules that define the boundaries of acceptable behavior. Mores are widely observed social norms.

While norms are not laws, they do govern the behavior of society and provide a sense of social control.

Question 23

Folkways

Answer 23

Norms that refer to behavior that is considered polite in particular contexts, such as shaking hands after a sports match.

Question 24

Stigma

Answer 24

The extreme disapproval or dislike of a person or group based on perceived differences from the rest of society.

Question 25

Deviance

Answer 25

Refers to any violation of norms, rules, or expectations within a society.

Question 26

Labeling Theory

Answer 26

This theory posits that the labels given to people affect not only how others respond to that person, but also the person’s self-image. This can lead to channeling of behavior into deviance or conformity.

For example, if members of society label a woman as promiscuous, this could either lead to further promiscuity or to a change in behavior toward something more in line with what is accepted in that society.

Question 27

Conformity

Answer 27

Changing beliefs or behaviors in order to fit into a group or society.

Question 28

Internalization vs. Identification

Answer 28

Internalization involves changing one’s behavior to fit with a group while also privately agreeing with the ideas of the group.

Identification refers to the acceptance of others’ ideas without questioning them (not internalized).

Question 29

Stanford Prison Experiment

Answer 29

Classic experiment looking at internalization.

As the guards became more aggressive, the prisoners became more submissive, although they also attempted to mount a revolt. The study had to be ended after six days because the guards had begun to physically abuse the prisoners so severely that ethical concerns were raised.

Question 30

Compliance vs. Obedience

Answer 30

Compliance occurs when individuals change their behavior based on the request of others.

Obedience is a change in behavior based on a command from someone seen as an authority figure.

Question 31

Foot-in-the-door Technique

Answer 31

A small request is made, and after gaining compliance, a larger request is made.

Question 32

Door-in-the-face Technique

Answer 32

This is the opposite of the foot-in-the-door technique, wherein a large request is made at first and, if refused, a second, smaller request is made.

Often, this smaller request is the actual goal of the requester.

Question 33

Lowball Technique

Answer 33

In this technique, the requestor will get an initial commitment from an individual, and then raise the cost of the commitment. It is important to note that cost need not only include money, but can also include effort and time.

Question 34

That’s-not-all Technique

Answer 34

An individual is made an offer, but before making a decision, is told the deal is even better than she expected.

Question 35

Social Cognition

Answer 35

Focuses on the ways in which people think about others and how these ideas impact behavior.

Question 36

What are the components of Attitude?

Answer 36

ABC

Affective (Emotion)

Behavioral

Cognitive (Background knowledge)

Question 37

Ego-expressive vs. Ego-defensive

Answer 37

Ego-expressive allows us to communicate and solidify our self-identity.

Ego-defensive protects our self-esteem or justify actions that we know are wrong.

Question 38

Central vs. Peripheral route processing

Answer 38

Central route processing (high elaboration)—scrutinizing and analyzing the content of persuasive information

Peripheral route processing (low elaboration)—focusing on superficial details of persuasive information, such as appearances, catchphrases and slogans, and credibility.

Question 39

Social cognitive theory

Answer 39

Postulates that people learn how to behave and shape attitudes by observing the behaviors of others.