Group Processes Flashcards
What is a group?
Two or more people who share a common definition of evaluation of themselves. People behave in accordance with this definition
What dimensions can groups vary on?
Cohesiveness, structure, size, longevity, purpose, influence, etc.
What are some major characteristics of groups? (7)
Social unit of two or more individuals Influence Interaction Interdependence Seek to achieve group goals Try to satisfy a need through their association (belonging) Governed by group roles & norms
What is a need that is satisfied through group association?
Belonging
What are the functions of groups (which help an individual)? (3)
- belonging an purpose
- connection
- guide behaviour
What are the social functions of groups? (3)
- Social identity (define self)
- Source of social support
- Coping resource
What are pragmatic functions of groups? (2)
- Sense of security, safety. (Evolutionary)
- Coordination, performance, divide labour. (Useful)
Based on the type of association, what are the 3 types of groups?
Common-bond
Common-identity
Social aggregates
What are common-bond groups based on?
Attached interpersonally to members, like the people (eg friends)
What are common-identity groups based on?
Attached to group itself, the idea that they represent (eg feminists)
What goals are salient in the two types of groups?
Common-bond = personal goals
Common-identity = group goals
Social aggregate = no shared goals
Explain a social aggregate.
A gathering of unrelated individuals, in proximity for short periods. No shared goals/purpose or influence. Not cohesive.
Tuckman’s (1965) Developmental Sequence for Small Groups (5phases)
Forming - orientation & familiarisation Storming - conflict Norming - consensus, cohesion, Performing - group world smoothly Adjourning - dissolution
When do groups benefit from group roles? (2)
- Little role ambiguity
- Roles matched to member’s abilities
What do group roles do?
Describe and proscribe group behaviour
Define group norms.
Attitudinal and behavioural uniformities that define group membership and differentiate groups
What are examples of informal and formal norms?
Family rules vs. workplace conduct
What happens when group identities are made salient?
Norms guide behaviour and conduct (eg less likely to smoke when thinking about family)
What did Siegel & Siegel (1957) measure and find in their conservatives vs liberals study?
Measured sorority vs dormitory.
Findings; peoples’ political orientation shifted due to their environment
What is group polarisation?
A tendency for group discussion to produce more extreme opinions than individuals had pre-discussion
Myers & Bishop (1970); what changes to levels of prejudice occurred when people were put into discussion with like minded others?
Intensification of prejudice: group polarisation.
What are the explanations of group polarisation? (3 theories)
Persuasive Arguments Theory - groups allow exposure to novel arguments/positions
Social Comparison Theory - Feel the need to compare stance to ingroup members and ‘stack up’
Conformity to Group Norms - polarisation is a method of conformity
What is groupthink?
When highly cohesive groups desire to reach unanimous agreements and override proper rational thinking.
What are the antecedents to group think? (5)
- Excessive group cohesiveness
- Insulation from external information/influence
- Lack of systematic procedures for decision making
- Ideological homogeneity of group membership
- High pressure
What are the symptoms of groupthink? (5)
Illusion of invulnerability Illusion of unanimity Unquestioning belief that group is right Direct pressure on dissenters Stereotyping of outgroup
What is social loafing?
Reduction in individual effort when people work collectively.
What is the necessary condition for social loafing?
The task is collective not co-active. (Performance pooled vs not pooled)
What are possible explanations for social loafing? (2)
- Coordination loss
- motivation loss
Social loafing study (Ingham et al, 1974);
Increase in group size led to decrease in individual output.
What is the formula for coordination loss?
Tota reduction in output minus motivation loss (pseudo group/confederates)
What are 4 reasons for motivation loss?
Output equity
Evaluation apprehension not present (anonymous)
Matching to standard (no clear norm)
Task attractiveness (low)
What has social loafing been studied in relation to? (And is it a robust effect?)
Cognitive tasks
Workplace groups
Team sports
University assignments
Yes robust effect across situations.
What is social compensation?
When individuals work harder in a group than they would alone. (Opposite of social loafing)
Which two factors are needed for social compensation?
Expectations that other members will loaf
Group performance is important to the individual
In social compensation, what factors contribute to the importance of group performance?
High identification with group
Inter group competition
Loafing vs compensation study (worchel et al., 1998); measures and findings?
Tested the presence of outgroup; found that people need to perceive outgroup to engage in social compensation. Uniforms only increased productivity when outgroup present.
Do we punish ingroup or outgroup members more harshly for transgression?
Ingroup; because they reflect back on us
What is the black sheep effect (Marquez & Paez, 1994)?
Ingroup members are judged more extremely than outgroup members. Can be either negatively or positively.
What is the relationship between social groups and social support?
More groups, more social support, greater wellbeing
What is the main effects hypothesis? (In social support)
Social support has a direct effect on health; social isolation directly influences mortality.
What is the stress buffering hypothesis (in social support)?
Social support only helps when stress is high; weakens the effect of stress on health.
What are two examples of groups being a coping resource?
Racial minorities (cope with discrimination) People with mental illness (cope with stigma)
What was tested in the The Pain Endurance Study? (Jones & Jetten, 2010)
They found that thinking about more group memberships increased pain tolerance (using a cold-pressor task).
