Social Topic 6 Flashcards
Social Facilitation
The tendency to perform better on simple or well-practised tasks and worse on complex tasks in the presence of others.
Zajonc’s Drive Theory (1965)
Presence of others increases arousal, enhancing dominant responses.
Evaluation Apprehension Model (Cottrell, 1972)
Worry about being judged affects performance.
Distraction-Conflict Theory (Sanders et al., 1978)
Attention is split between task and audience, affecting performance.
Social Loafing
The tendency for individuals to exert less effort in a group than when working alone.
Causes of Social Loafing
- Diffusion of Responsibility: Individuals feel less accountable.
- Motivation Loss: People believe their effort is not crucial.
- Coordination Loss: Group inefficiencies prevent full potential.
Reducing Social Loafing:
- Assign individual responsibilities.
- Encourage group cohesion.
- Increase task significance.
Groupthink
A psychological phenomenon where the desire for harmony and consensus leads to poor decision-making and suppression of dissent.
Signs of Groupthink
- Illusion of Invulnerability: Overconfidence in decisions.
- Self-Censorship: Individuals avoid expressing dissent.
- Stereotyping Outsiders: Negative views of opposing opinions.
Preventing Groupthink
- Assign a devil’s advocate.
- Encourage open discussions.
- Seek external perspectives.
Group Polarisation
The tendency for group discussions to lead to more extreme opinions than initially held by individuals.
Mechanisms of Group Polarisation
- Normative Influence: Seeking social approval strengthens extreme views.
- Informational Influence: Exposure to arguments reinforces existing beliefs.
- Diffusion of Responsibility: Shared decisions feel less risky.
Real-World Examples of Group Polarisation
- Jury Decisions: Research shows juries tend to adopt stronger stances post-deliberation.
- Social Media Echo Chambers: Users are exposed only to views similar to their own.
Deindividuation
A psychological state where individuals in a group lose self-awareness, leading to reduced accountability and increased impulsive behaviour.
Deindividuation Key Findings
- Zimbardo (1969): Anonymity leads to greater aggression.
- Mann (1981): People in crowds encourage suicide jumpers.
- Abu Ghraib Prison Scandal: Guards engaged in inhumane treatment due to deindividuation.
Deindividuation Limitations
- Not Always Negative: Can lead to prosocial behaviour in some contexts.
- Dependent on Group Norms: If norms are positive, behaviour is positive.
Stanford Prison Experiment
Zimbardo (1971): Simulated prison environment to explore how roles and situational factors influence behaviour.
Findings:
Participants conformed to roles as guards or prisoners.
Guards became abusive, prisoners showed distress.
The ‘Power of the Situation’: Environment dictates behaviour.
Ethical Issues Zimbardo Experiment
- Lack of Informed Consent: Participants were unprepared for distress.
- Psychological Harm: Severe emotional trauma experienced.
- Failure to Intervene: The study continued despite clear suffering
Emergent Norm Theory
Theory that suggests crowds develop temporary norms which guide behaviour.
- Behaviour is not random – new norms emerge that influence how people act.
Limitations Emergent Norm Theory
- Does Not Explain Pre-existing Norms: Assumes norms emerge spontaneously.
- Fails to Predict Crowd Violence: Some crowds remain peaceful, others turn aggressive.
- Neglects Individual Differences: Ignores personal motives in crowd behaviour.
