Group Processes Flashcards
GROUP
3 or more people who interact and are interdependent (their needs and goals cause them to influence each other)
GROUP NORMS
Implicit or explicit rules a group has for the acceptable behaviors, values, and beliefs of its members
SOCIAL ROLES
Shared expectations in a group about how particular people are supposed to behave
GROUP STUDY
Evolutionary and social benefits (Baumeister & Leary, 1995) Evolved biologically apart of us genetics passed on “group genes”
Groups are used as indications of social desirability and of positive feedback across cultures (Gardner, Pickett, & Brewer, 2000)
Helps us define ourselves as an individual (Hogg, Hohman, & Rivera, 2008)
GROUP COHESIVENESS
Theoretical increase in the binding of members and increased liking of fellow members due to being in a group
-Group operates faster and a connection with people,
DEINDIVIDUALIZATION
The loosening of normal constraints on behavior when people can’t be identified as an individual
Loss of accountability
Increase in obedience
to one or a handful of
individuals
Reduced controlled
processing
PROCESS LOSS
The increased likelihood of a group reducing good problem solving because of specific dynamics of the group
- Dominant figures
- Focus on common knowledge instead of individual knowledge
CHALLENGER EXAMPLE - a space aircraft launch exploded with no evidence of what happened. Freeze caused the accident scientists explained but leaders did not want to stop because they are a UNIFORM group
GROUPTHINK
A tendency to focus on cohesiveness and solidarity instead of logic
Candidate Study (Stasser & Titus, 1985)
Created a election in a group of three each group received different information. Found those who had the same information were positive and desirable than negative information. Not considering all option can create process loss.
Schacter’s “Johnny Rocco Case” punishment study (1951)
A group of 9 and confederate and that confederate went against the group. As a group they would exclude the individual
Conflict
Assigned Poor Tasks
Removal
Ostracism-ignoring the person going against the group.
Kipling D William’s Work study on Ostracism
At random he played freeze-bee with two other people all of sudden they stop tossing it to him.
Long term effects of ostracism
SOCIAL FACILITATION TASK
When others are watching – high arousal
Task 2: verbally identifying movies
difficult = worse (evaluation apprehension)
Task 4: counting to 20 as fast as you can
easy = better (better motivated
SOCIAL LOAFING TASK
When others aren’t watching – low arousal
Task 1: writing down social psychology terms
difficult =better (no apprehension)
Task 3: drawing as many stars as you can in 1 minute
easy = worse (unmotivated)
GROUP POLARIZATION
A group’s tendency to take a stronger stance on a situation that all of the group members are in support of initially
Note: this could include the strength of beliefs, or the actions taken by the group
Sports, businesses, investment firms (stock market crashes)
SOCIAL ROLES
Shared expectations in a group about how particular people are supposed to behave
Zimbardo-Stanford prison experiment
