Lecture 9 p2: behaviour in a social context Flashcards
how u react w/ ur friends vs parents
Social Behavior
The intricate array of actions and reactions exhibited by individuals in response to the presence or actions of others.
Social Behaviour facts
● In groups, humans naturally engage in the creation of explicit rules and unspoken agreements, establishing a framework for interaction.
■ This phenomenon is evident in the development of cultural norms and societal structures.
Norms
Socially accepted standards of behavior often lack a transparent rationale for their existence.
norms example
● Take, for instance, traffic laws; the choice of driving on the left or right appears arbitrary, yet it becomes a universally accepted standard.
■ The seemingly arbitrary nature of norms prompts reflection on why certain behaviors are considered socially acceptable.
Cultural Evolution
The gradual development and modification of culture over time as a result of collective agreement
cultural evolution facts
● Social norms, including those surrounding gender roles, sexual practices, and personal space, evolve over time through a continuous process of negotiation within communities.
■ Changes in societal perspectives on love and marriage reflect the dynamic nature of cultural evolution.
Subjectivity of Normalcy
The concept of “normal” is subjectively shaped by an individual’s cultural upbringing and environment.
cope
Psychological Tension
The mental discomfort stems from conflicting thoughts or beliefs when deviating from learned norms
Conformity
The adjustment of one’s behavior or thinking to align with the established standards of a group.
conformity facts
○ Adherence to rules becomes meaningful in a social context as individuals naturally seek acceptance within groups.
○ Even when individuals are aware of a conflict between personal beliefs and group norms, the desire for social acceptance often prevails.
types of Social Influence
Informational social influence
Normative social influence
ill do anything for u pls dont leave me
Normative social influence
driven by the desire for social acceptance and the avoidance of rejection.
■ These influences are crucial for navigating the intricate dynamics of group behavior.
ur all sheep
Informational social influence
following others due to perceived knowledge.
bar experiment
Solomon Asch’s Conformity Study: core settings
○ A visual perception task often conformed to incorrect answers provided by confederates.
○ Normative Social Influence
○ The study shows the prevalence of conformity, even when individuals are cognizant of the correct answer.
Social Conformity and Influencing Factors
- Individual Responses to Conformity
- Comfort Levels in Conforming
- Influence of Group Size
- Presence of a Dissenter
- Cost of Conformity
- Ambiguity and Conformity
Individual Responses to Conformity
The inherent inclination of an individual to align with or resist group behavior.
■ Individuals may embrace or reject conformity based on their personal disposition.
○ A commitment to avoiding passivity, showing potential awkwardness in non-conformity.
Comfort Levels in Conforming
The varied degrees of comfort individuals experience when conforming to or deviating from group norms.
■ Comfort levels differ, influencing whether one chooses to be an outlier or adhere to the group.
○ People’s diverse comfort levels show the spectrum in embracing or rejecting group behavior.
Influence of Group Size
The impact of a group’s size on an individual’s likelihood to conform.
○ Group size plays a pivotal role in the pressure individuals feel to align with the majority.
■ Example
● Larger groups intensify conformity pressure.
● Smaller groups heighten conformity likelihood due to increased individual scrutiny.
the rebel
Presence of a Dissenter
The effect of an individual within a group who dissents from the majority.
■ Dissenters hold a significant influence, reducing overall group conformity.
○ A lone dissenter encourages others to resist conformity.
■ Dissenters serve as role models, empowering non-conforming behavior.
if everyone jumped off a bridge would you???
Cost of Conformity
The perceived expense, whether financial or psychological, is associated with conforming to group behavior.
■ Individuals weigh the costs before deciding to conform or deviate.
○ Conforming is less likely when costs, be it financial or psychological, are high.
■ Ambiguity and uncertainty may drive individuals to conform to avoid potential costs.
not thinker look at other ppl to be
Ambiguity and Conformity
The tendency to conform in situations where uncertainty or lack of clarity prevails.
■ Ambiguous scenarios prompt individuals to seek cues from others for guidance.
○ In unfamiliar situations, people observe others to understand appropriate behavior.
■ Ambiguity leads individuals to look around and align with the majority
Experiment and Examples
A Hidden Camera Experiment Illustrating Social Conformity
■ Class conforming to arbitrary group behavior without understanding the rationale.
■ Social influence persists even in the absence of immediate peer pressure.
○ The addition of an outsider unfamiliar with group rules results in the individual adopting group behavior.
Power in Numbers
The intrinsic inclination of the brain to seek conformity for efficiency and comfort.
■ The brain finds comfort and efficiency in aligning with the group’s decisions.
○ Individuals naturally gravitate towards group decisions for daily activities, finding power in collective choices
Inherent Social Nature
The fundamental characteristic of humans as social beings who derive satisfaction from group inclusion.
■ Humans naturally crave social connections and prefer being part of a larger entity.
○ The intrinsic desire for social belonging, showing the importance of group participation
