Groups Flashcards
What defines a group, and how does it differ from a collective?
A group is a set of individuals who interact over time and share common goals or identity. Unlike collectives, which involve little direct interaction, groups have more integrated and coherent interactions.
Why do people join groups?
People join groups for practical reasons like teamwork, to fulfill basic human needs like safety and social identity, and for benefits like role fulfillment, norms, and cohesiveness.
What are the roles in groups, and how do they impact group dynamics?
There are instrumental roles (task achievement) and expressive roles (emotional support). Proper role assignment aligns with members’ talents, while role uncertainty can cause group issues.
Define norms in groups and their impact on group behavior.
Norms are formal or informal rules of conduct for group members. Groups exert strong pressures to conform, with varying tolerance levels for norm violations.
What is cohesiveness in groups, and how does it relate to performance?
Cohesiveness is the degree of attraction between group members and their motivation to stay together, influenced by intimacy and goal commitment. It’s often linked to better performance.
How do tight and loose cultures affect group dynamics?
Tight cultures have strong norms and low tolerance for deviance, while loose cultures are more permissive. Different cultures value cohesiveness in groups differently.
What is social facilitation, and what are some key studies and theories?
Social facilitation is the change in performance when in the presence of others. Key studies include Triplett’s cyclist research and Zajonc’s model on arousal and performance, demonstrating that the presence of others can enhance or impair performance.
What is social loafing, and how can it be reduced?
social loafing is the reduction of individual effort in groups. It can be reduced by limiting project scope, keeping groups small, and implementing peer evaluation.
Define deindividuation and its contributing factors.
Deindividuation is the loss of self-awareness and individual accountability in groups, influenced by anonymity, arousal, and reduced feelings of responsibility.
Discuss the issues and solutions related to group performance.
Group performance can face process loss due to coordination and motivation problems, but also process gain. Issues like production blocking and free-riding can be mitigated with e-brainstorming and structured approaches.
Describe social dilemmas and strategies for cooperation.
Social dilemmas involve decisions between individual and collective benefits, like in the Prisoner’s Dilemma and Resource Dilemmas. Cooperation can be fostered through trust, communication, and group identification.
Explain negotiation and conflict resolution in group settings.
Integrative agreements aim for win-win resolutions. Cultural assumptions influence negotiation styles, with variations between Western and non-Western cultures.
Discuss the findings of Eftychia Stamkou’s 2019 study on cultural norms of strictness and tolerance.
The study found variation in norm strictness across cultures, correlating with societal factors like history of threats and governance style. It highlights how cultural norms shape group behavior and conformity.
What is the Triplett’s Cyclist Research and its significance in social psychology?
Triplett’s Cyclist Research, the first study on social facilitation, found that cyclists performed faster in the presence of others than when racing against a clock, highlighting the impact of social presence on performance.
Describe Zajonc’s Model in the context of social facilitation.
Zajonc’s Model explains how the presence of others increases arousal, which enhances performance on simple or well-learned tasks but impairs performance on complex or new tasks.
