Social summary

Question 1

Summarise groupthink

Answer 1

Maintaining group solidarity is more important than considering facts realistically

Question 2

Name an example of when groupthink has occurred

Answer 2

JFK Bay of Pigs. Advisor went along with JFK and caused lots of deaths

Question 3

When will groupthink occur?

Answer 3

Highly cohesive group, directive leader, group isolated from other opinions

Question 4

Describe antecedent conditions

Answer 4

Highly cohesive. insulated, directive leadership, high stress

Question 5

List the symptoms of groupthink (7)

Answer 5

Urge each other to conform, feel group is invulnerable/morally correct. Illusion of invulnerability, rationalisation, outgroup stereotypes, self-censorship, illusion of unanimity

Question 6

Describe defective decision making (4)

Answer 6

Incomplete survey of objectives/alternatives, poor info search, failure to examine risks, selective bias

Question 7

How can groupthink be prevented? (4)

Answer 7

Leaders remain impartial, seek divergent opinions, create subgroups to meet separately beforehand, seek anonymous opinions

Question 8

Define group polarisation

Answer 8

Group decisions to be more extreme than those made by individuals

Question 9

State the 3 examples of group polarisation

Answer 9

Persuasive arguments account, social comparison account, risk as valued traits

Question 10

Define persuasive arguments account

Answer 10

When people share ideas, everyone gets exposed to new ideas, pushing you further in that direction

Question 11

Explain social comparison account

Answer 11

When making a decision, motivated to think it’s good, if it’s riskier, you want it to be more risky. If safe, want it to be more safe

Question 12

Define risk as valued trait

Answer 12

Americans value risk seeking - elicits halo effect. Influences in one area influence other areas

Question 13

List external influences on aggression (5)

Answer 13

Heat, media/video games, weapon presence, social rejection, income inequality

Question 14

State reasons for income inequality (3)

Answer 14

Social rejection, lack of cohesion, violent competition

Question 15

Name the 3 theories of aggression

Answer 15

Frustration-aggression theory, neo-associationistic account

Question 16

Describe the neo-associationistic account of aggression

Answer 16

All about construal. heat, goals blocked. Anger - perceived justice, thoughts of attack, arousal. Aggression - physically/emotionally

Question 17

Culture of dignity

Answer 17

Strong sense of self-worth, independent. US North, parts of Europe

Question 18

Culture of honour

Answer 18

Respect, focus on competition. Individualistic. US South, Latin America

Question 19

Culture of face

Answer 19

Appearance, status and hierarchy, Asia

Question 20

List 3 motives for prosocial behaviour

Answer 20

Personal distress, empathic concern, social rewards

Question 21

State situational determinants of helping others (4)

Answer 21

Being busy, victim characteristics, presence of others, ambiguous situation

Question 22

Define pluralistic influence

Answer 22

If no one else seems concerned or helps, you use that information to assume everything is ok

Question 23

Name the 2 evolutionary theories of altruism

Answer 23

Kin selection and reciprocity

Question 24

Name the 3 cooperation determinants of altruism

Answer 24

Situation construal, partner construal, culture

Question 25

Define situation construal

Answer 25

If people construe a situation as cooperative, may act more cooperatively. If construed as more competitive, may act more competitively.

Question 26

What is partner construal?

Answer 26

Beliefs, evaluations and impressions people hold about others in their social network.

Question 27

Name cultural determinants

Answer 27

Rural areas more altruistic, those of lower class, smaller communities. Stimulus overload, diversity, diffusion of responsibility