Group Influence Flashcards
Textbook definition of a group
Two or more people who, for longer than a few moments, interact with and influence one another, and perceive one another as ‘us’
Two reasons why we join groups
1) Evolutionary advantage
2) The need to belong
Evolutionary advantage to joining groups
People who formed attachments with others were more likely to survive and also more likely to find a mate
The need to belong when joining groups
We need positive interactions and a stable bond. A fundamental need
Being rejected or ostracized by a group can not only be psychologically painful but can also…
mimic the experience of physical pain
A causal relationship was shown between the idea of exclusion and a host of different dependent measures such as…
Making healthy choices, engaging in cognitively effortful tasks, feeling psychologically undone, engaging in prosocial behaviours, and showing self-regulatory capacity
The 3 effects of groups on performance
- Social facilitation
- Social loafing
- Deindividuation
Social facilitation theory
The presence of others sometimes helps performance and sometimes hinders it
the presence of others increases arousal, which increases the…
dominant response tendencies of an individual (Zajonc)
On simple or well-learned tasks the dominant is response is the _______ response which ultimately _________ performance
correct, facilitates
On difficult or novel tasks the dominant response is the ________ response which ultimately _______ performance
incorrect, impaires
Mechanisms underlying social facilitation
- Mere presence (cause us to do better or worse when other people are present)
- Evaluation apprehension (need to worry about what others are thinking of us)
- Distraction (distraction can cause us to do better or worse)
Social loafing
In a task where many people work together, such as a tug-of-war, there is an inverse relationship between the number of people in the group, and the amount of work that every member does
Each person works less when there are more people in the group
Why does social loafing occur?
- Diffusion of responsibility
- Reduced evaluation apprehension
- Norms change; we don’t want to be the only one putting in all the work
Social facilitation and social loafing depends upon whether
Individual contributions can be identified
If individual contributions can be identified _______ occurs
social facilitation
If individual contributions CANNOT be identified ______ occurs
social loafing
What is an evidence based way to reduce social loafing?
Have team members’ work be identifiable
Deindividuation
The loss of a person’s sense of individuality and the reduction of normal constraints against deviant behaviour
What conditions does Zimbardo’s model of deindividuation cover?
Conditions that can lead to deindividuation, psychological state that accompanies deindividuation, and the outcomes and behavioural effects
Conditions that lead to deindividuation
Anonymity, diffusion of responsibility, arousal around others, stimulus overload
Psychological state of deindividuation
Decreased sense of self, less concern about evaluations, weaker inhibiting forces
Behavioural outcomes of deindividuation
Impulsivity, irrational, emotional, antisocial
What is a current real life example of deindividuation
Internet bullying
Group polarization
The process where the initial tendencies in the thinking of group members get exaggerated through group discussion
Why does group polarization occur?
Persuasive arguments and social comparison
Group polarization and persuasive arguments
Were exposed to more persuasive arguments than we would come up with on our own
Group polarization and social comparison
We see what the emerging consensus is and we assume it to be the best choice
Groupthink (Irving Janis)
The tendency for people to all think the same thing. This is because group members seek agreement and harmony
5 conditions associated with groupthink
1) High cohesiveness
2) Isolation from outsiders
3) Lack of procedures
4) Directive leadership
5) Stressful situation
Illusions of invulnerability
Symptom of groupthink. Convinced they are making the right decision
Collective rationalization
Symptom of groupthink
When members of the group are all making the same decision. Convince themselves they are doing the right thing
Direct pressure on dissenters
Symptom of groupthink
People who raise objectives in the group might get pressure from others
Self-censorship
Symptom of groupthink
People are afraid to raise objections because of social consequences
Illusion of uniformity
Symptom of groupthink
Pluralistic ignorance
4 outcomes of group think
1) Incomplete consideration of alternatives
2) Failure to consider risks of preferred choice
3) Failure to reconsider initially rejected options
4) Failure to develop contingency plans
How can groupthink be avoided?
Groups leader does not announce opinions at start of discussion
Have some members join the group discussion at a later stage, solicit outside opinions
Appoint a person specifically tasked to play “devil’s advocate”
