group stuff Flashcards
group members encouraged to produce as many ideas as possible in an uninhibited way
brainstorming
direct influences on brainstorming are
negative
failure of members to express ideas due to norm that only 1 person can talk at a time
production blocking
indirect influences on brainstorming are
positive in the long run due to increase in enjoyment and group cohesiveness
a group produced exaggeration of member’s pre-existing tendencies
group polarization
three features of group polarization
refers to average tendency, not split in group
whole group becomes more extreme in initial direction
doesn’t work if a dissenter present
group polarization occurs via two processes
social comparison and mutual persuasion
extreme positions in favorable direction viewed as better (normative influence)
social comparison
members bring new, persuasive information and arguments (informational influence)
mutual persuasion
groups members share such strong motivation to achieve consensus that they lose the ability to evaluate alternative points of view critically
groupthink
conditions leading to groupthink
highly cohesive group
group isolated from contrary opinions
group led by dominant leader who makes his/her wishes known
symptoms of grouplink
group begins to feel invulnerable
group becoming close-minded
group feels increased pressure toward unanimity
tendency for people to exert less effort when they pool resources toward a common goal (than when they are individually accountable)
social loafing
task in which each member performs the same duties and the final product is the sum of all contributions
additive task
factors that reduce social loafing
contribution of each member is identifiable
task is challenging, interesting, or meaningful
group performance rewarded/punished
other group members are one’s friends
