Group processes

Question 1

define entitativity

Answer 1

degree to which a collection of people feels cohesive

Question 2

define common bond

Answer 2

The degree to which members interact and depend on one another

Question 3

define common identity

Answer 3

The degree to which groups share similar characteristics

Question 4

reasons people may join a group

Answer 4

-enhance survival and achieve goals

Question 5

group processes in relation to evolution

Answer 5

adaptive tendency to identify with kinship groups

Question 6

define uncertainty identity theory

Answer 6

People join and identify with groups to reduce negative feelings of uncertainty about themselves and others

Question 7

how does group membership reduce anxiety

Answer 7

-provides templates for thoughts and behaviour
-less uncertainty

Question 8

what is social identity theory

Answer 8

Group identities are an important part of self-definition and a key source of self-esteem

Question 9

what is terror management theory

Answer 9

managing mentality concerns

Question 10

how is terror management theory related to group membership

Answer 10

helps to feel connectedness to something bigger

Question 11

what is a social dilemma

Answer 11

put self-interest against a larger social goal e.g. the prisoner dilemma

Question 12

what is a resource dilemma

Answer 12

involves distribution of scarce or valued resources

Question 13

what may influence cooperation in groups

Answer 13

situational factors
personality traits
cultural influences

Question 14

what is the biological basis for cooperation in groups

Answer 14

oxytocin

Question 15

what is oxytocin also known as and why

Answer 15

the “love” chemical
-released during sexual activity
-stimulation of skin to skin contact

Question 16

what is the function of oxytocin

Answer 16

-reproductive functions
-assists in social recognitions and interactions

Question 17

explain the oxytocin affecting trust experiment

Answer 17

-participants decide how much money to invest in someone
-participants who received a dose of oxytocin were more trusting- twice as likely to invest all their money

Question 18

what is social facilitation theory

Answer 18

Presence of others can boost a person’s performance

Question 19

what is drive theory

Answer 19

Presence of others heightens arousal, improving performance

Question 20

who was thought to have run the social experiment

Answer 20

Norman Triplett

Question 21

what was Norman Triplett’s study

Answer 21

-found cyclists perform better when in a group environment
-Fishing rod tasks - individuals are much slower at performing a task in isolation then when in front of others

Question 22

what is revised social facilitation

Answer 22

• If task is simple or practiced, audience improves performance
  -If task is complex or newly learned, performance impaired

Question 23

the importance of physiology - challenge response

Answer 23

• Heart pumps faster, blood flows to extremities
  Social facilitation

Question 24

importance of physiology - threatened response

Answer 24

• Heart pumps faster, artery constriction
  Social inhibition

Question 25

how does evaluation play a role

Answer 25

-potential for social judgement
-brings distracting thoughts to mind

Question 26

what is social loafing

Answer 26

• Effort reduced when performing in a group rather than alone
• Low accountability
  -High expectations from others

Question 27

evidence of social loafing

Answer 27

-blindfolded ppts - earphones playing voices
-told to shout as loud as possible
-ppts told in a group shouted less than those who were told they were alone

Question 28

what does diffusion of responsibility refer to

Answer 28

People in a group feel personally less responsible for any task at hand

Question 29

what is deindividuation

Answer 29

Tendency to lose individuality in a group (opposite of self-awareness)

Question 30

what conditions can make deindividuation more likely

Answer 30

○ Overstimulation
○ High cognitive load
Larger group size

Question 31

summarise the Stanford prison experiment

Answer 31

• Participant assigned to be a prisoner or guard
  -Each group had individuality removed (guards= aggressive prisoners=submissive)

Question 32

what is group polarisation

Answer 32

The tendency for group discussion to shift group members toward an extreme position
make riskier decisions as a group than they do on their own

Question 33

what is group think

Answer 33

The tendency toward flawed group decision-making when group members are so intent on preserving group harmony they fail to analyse a problem completely

Question 34

why may groupthink occur

Answer 34

• Remain silent and censor doubts, illusion of group agreement
• Motivated to be liked by the group or by group leader
  Want to keep the group together, fear that group will break apart

Question 35

how can we improve group decision making

Answer 35

• Increase group diversity
• Reinterpret group cohesion
• Encourage individuality
  -Plan to be objective

Question 36

disidentifying with a group

Answer 36

• Promoting survival
  Reducing uncertainty/increasing self esteem

Question 37

what is collective action

Answer 37

• Attitude change more difficult in groups
  mobilise majority of group members for change

Question 38

what is pluralistic injustice

Answer 38

• Inaccurate perceptions of social or cultural norms
  Assumption others in group hold different opinion