Social Groups

Question 1

What is a group?

Answer 1

A group is two or more individuals in face-to-face interaction, each aware of his or her membership of the group, each aware of the others who belong to the group, and each aware of their positive interdependence as they strive to achieve mutual goals (Johnson and Johnson, 1987, p. 8)

Question 2

Entitativity

Answer 2

“The property of a group that makes it seem like a coherent, distinct, and unitary entity” (Hogg and Vaughan, 2013, p272)

Question 3

Highly entitative groups are:

Answer 3

homogeneous, with a clear structure, purpose or boundaries

Question 4

Less entitative groups are:

Answer 4

more heterogeneous and unstructured

Question 5

Similarity vs Interaction examples

Answer 5

Ethnic Groups & Study Groups

Question 6

Common Bond vs Identity examples

Answer 6

Close bonds:
e.g. Group of friends

Formal rules:
e.g. Political Party

Question 7

How are groups formed?

Answer 7

Born into & Choose to join/leave

Question 8

Group formation phases

Answer 8

Forming - accepting, avoiding conflict, organization, orientation, gathering info

Storming - Address issues, conflict, questioning organisation, strive for mutual harmony

Norming - Agreement on rules, foster understanding, listening & support, common sense of ID

Performing - Interdependence and flexibility, task orientated, not all groups reach this phase.

Adjourning - Group ends: task completed, interest/motivation lost.

Question 9

Group socialisation

Answer 9

The process of groups as a whole and group members coming together to meet each other’s needs and accomplish goals over time (Levine and Moreland, 1994)

Question 10

Evaluation

Answer 10

• Individuals evaluate the benefits of the group

- The group evaluates the contribution of the individual members

Question 11

Commitment

Answer 11

Outcome of evaluation determines level of commitment to the group

Question 12

Role transition

Answer 12

Non-member, quasi-member, full-member

Question 13

Socialisation Outcomes

Answer 13

Feelings of members and the group as a whole about how they functioned to reach the group objective.

Group cohesion.The degree to which the group holds
together as an entity.

Mutual
support

Consistency of conduct
or behaviour

Question 14

NORMS

Answer 14

Uniformities of behaviour and attitudes that determine, organize and differentiate groups from other groups.

Question 15

Ethnomethodology - Garfunkel (1967)

Answer 15

Technique to uncover and understand hidden norms by documenting the methods and practices through which people make sense of their social world.

Breaching experiment:

Question 16

enforced norms -

Answer 16

Receive rewards/avoid punishments

Question 17

Internalised norms -

Answer 17

We believe that they are right

Question 18

Socialised norms -

Answer 18

as part of a group

Question 19

Consensus -

Answer 19

on norms

Question 20

Activated norms -

Answer 20

through interactions

Question 21

Norms as heuristics -

Answer 21

make out lives easier

Question 22

Functions of Roles

Answer 22

Good for us: Specified behaviour & place. Increased satisfaction & performance.

Question 23

Marginal group members (‘deviants’)

Answer 23

People who deviate too far from prototypical group members and group norms

Question 24

What do groups do for us?

Answer 24

Interdependence

Similarity, support & the need
for affiliation

Terror management

The need for social identity

Optimal distinctiveness

Question 25

Interdependence

Answer 25

Coordinated group action allows people to achieve things that would not be possible by an individual acting alone

Question 26

Similarity, support & the need for affiliation

Answer 26

Groups give social support, self-esteem (Sociometer theory), foundation for individuals and insulate them from the harmful effects of stress (Cohen and Wills, 1985).

Question 27

Terror management

Answer 27

We feel good (and sometimes even immortal) when we affiliate with others - manage the idea that our lives are finite.

Question 28

The need for social identity

Answer 28

Social identity theory (Tajfel and Turner, 1979; Turner, Hogg, Oakes et al., 1987) Personal identities and groups memberships complete people’s sense of self.

Self-categorization of oneself as a group member (Turner et al., 1987)

Subjective uncertainty - uncertainty about who we are and what we are supposed to do

Question 29

Optimal distinctiveness and state the 8 points

Answer 29

People generally like to distinguish themselves from others and feel unique while also feel the need to affiliate with others. (Hornsey and Jetten 2004)

1 Identify with a numerically distinct group
2 Identify with a subgroup
3 Identify with a ‘non-mainstream’ group
4 Enhance the distinctiveness of one’s group (SIT)
5 Differentiate oneself within a group through roles
6 Identify with a group that prescribes individualism
7 See oneself as loyal but not conformist
8 See oneself as more normative than other group members