Group processes Flashcards
define entitativity
degree to which a collection of people feels cohesive
define common bond
The degree to which members interact and depend on one another
define common identity
The degree to which groups share similar characteristics
reasons people may join a group
-enhance survival and achieve goals
group processes in relation to evolution
adaptive tendency to identify with kinship groups
define uncertainty identity theory
People join and identify with groups to reduce negative feelings of uncertainty about themselves and others
how does group membership reduce anxiety
-provides templates for thoughts and behaviour
-less uncertainty
what is social identity theory
Group identities are an important part of self-definition and a key source of self-esteem
what is terror management theory
managing mentality concerns
how is terror management theory related to group membership
helps to feel connectedness to something bigger
what is a social dilemma
put self-interest against a larger social goal e.g. the prisoner dilemma
what is a resource dilemma
involves distribution of scarce or valued resources
what may influence cooperation in groups
situational factors
personality traits
cultural influences
what is the biological basis for cooperation in groups
oxytocin
what is oxytocin also known as and why
the “love” chemical
-released during sexual activity
-stimulation of skin to skin contact
what is the function of oxytocin
-reproductive functions
-assists in social recognitions and interactions
explain the oxytocin affecting trust experiment
-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
what is social facilitation theory
Presence of others can boost a person’s performance
what is drive theory
Presence of others heightens arousal, improving performance
who was thought to have run the social experiment
Norman Triplett
what was Norman Triplett’s study
-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
what is revised social facilitation
- If task is simple or practiced, audience improves performance
-If task is complex or newly learned, performance impaired
the importance of physiology - challenge response
- Heart pumps faster, blood flows to extremities
Social facilitation
importance of physiology - threatened response
- Heart pumps faster, artery constriction
Social inhibition
how does evaluation play a role
-potential for social judgement
-brings distracting thoughts to mind
what is social loafing
- Effort reduced when performing in a group rather than alone
- Low accountability
-High expectations from others
evidence of social loafing
-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
what does diffusion of responsibility refer to
People in a group feel personally less responsible for any task at hand
what is deindividuation
Tendency to lose individuality in a group (opposite of self-awareness)
what conditions can make deindividuation more likely
○ Overstimulation
○ High cognitive load
Larger group size
summarise the Stanford prison experiment
- Participant assigned to be a prisoner or guard
-Each group had individuality removed (guards= aggressive prisoners=submissive)
what is group polarisation
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
what is group think
The tendency toward flawed group decision-making when group members are so intent on preserving group harmony they fail to analyse a problem completely
why may groupthink occur
- 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
how can we improve group decision making
- Increase group diversity
- Reinterpret group cohesion
- Encourage individuality
-Plan to be objective
disidentifying with a group
- Promoting survival
Reducing uncertainty/increasing self esteem
what is collective action
- Attitude change more difficult in groups
mobilise majority of group members for change
what is pluralistic injustice
- Inaccurate perceptions of social or cultural norms
Assumption others in group hold different opinion
