Social Processes, Attitudes, & Behavior Flashcards
Michelangelo Phenomenon
The concept of self is made up of both the intrapersonal self, the ideas an individual has regarding his own abilities, traits, and beliefs; AND, the interpersonal self, the manner in which others influence creation of the ideal self.
Social Action
Actions and behaviors that individuals are conscious of and performing because others are around.
Social Facilitation
People tend perform better on simple tasks when in the presence of other. People naturally exhibit a performance response when they know they are being watched.
Yerkes-Dodson Law of Social Facilitation
Being in the presence of others will significantly raise arousal, which enhances the ability to perform tasks one is already good at (simple tasks) and hinders performance of less familiar tasks (complex tasks).
Deindividuation
Social phenomenon that occurs when individuals are in group settings. The presence of a large group that provides anonymity and causes a loss off individual identity.
Antinormative behavior (behavior against the norm)
With anonymity, more likely to act in a manner that is inconsistent with his normal self.
Social Loafing
The tendency of individuals to put less effort when in a group setting individually.
Identity Shift Effect
When an individual’s state of harmony is disrupted by a threat of social rejection, the individual will often conform to the norms of the group.
Upon doing so, the individual will begin to experience internal conflict because the behavior is outside the normal character of the individual. To eliminate the sense of conflict, the individual experiences an identity shift wherein the individuals adopts the standards of the group as her own.
Cognitive Dissonance
The simultaneous presence presence of two opposing thoughts or opinions.
Individuals will often conform to an opinion held by the group.
Social Interaction
Explores the ways in which two or more individuals can both shape each other’s behavior. These include group processes and establishment of cultures.
Group Polarization
The tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the individual ideas and inclinations of the members within the group. Polarization can lead to riskier decisions–known as a risky shift.
HOWEVER, realized that groups can also shift toward caution so the term changed to choice shift
Polarization is used to describe the behavior at the individual level.
Choice Shift is used to describe the behavior of the group as a whole.
Group Think
A phenomenon in which a desire for harmony results in a group of people coming to an incorrect or poor decision.
Eight Factors Indicative of Group Think
- Illusion of Invulnerability–the creation of optimism and encouragement of risk-taking
- Collective Rationalization–ignoring warnings against the idea of the group
- Illusion of Morality–the belief that the group’s decisions are morally correct
- Excessive Stereotyping–the construction of stereotypes against outside opinions
- Pressure for Conformity–self-censorship
- Self-Censorship–the withholding of opposing views
- Illusion of Unanimity–the false sense of agreement within the group
- Mindguards–the appointment of members to the role of protecting against opposing views.
Cultural Assimilation
Melting pot
Integrates new aspects of a society and culture with old ones. Typically not an even blend. The process by which an individual’s or group’s behavior and culture begin to resemble that of another group.
Four Primary Factors Two Access Completeness of Migrant Assimilation
- Socioeconomic Status
- Geographic Distribution
- Language Attainment
- Intermarriage
Ethnic Enclaves
Locations with a high concentration of one specific ethnicity
Multiculturalism
Cultural Mosaic
Communities or societies containing multiple cultures. Encourages, respects, and celebrates cultural diversity.
What are the similarities between group polarization and group think?
Group polarization and group thing are both social processes that occur when groups makes decisions. Group polarization is the tendency toward extreme decisions in a group. Group think is the tendency for groups to make decisions based on ideas and solutions that arise within the group without considering outside ideas, given the pressure to conform and remain loyal to the group.
Socialization
The process of developing, inheriting, and spreading norms, customs, and beliefs.
Primary Socialization
Occurs during childhood when we initially learn acceptable actions and attitudes in our society, primarily through observation of our parents and other adults in close proximity.
Secondary Socialization
The process of learning appropriate behavior within smaller sections of the larger society. Occurs outside of the home and is based on learning the rules of specific social environments.
