Week 7 Flashcards
Group
Two or more people who, for longer than a few moments, interact with and influence one another and perceive one another as “us.”
Co-Actors
A group of people working simultaneously and individually on a noncompetitive task.
Social Facilitation (Original Meaning)
The tendency of people to perform simple or well-learned tasks better when others are present.
Social Facilitation (Current Meaning)
The strengthening of dominant responses owing to the presence of others.
Evaluation Apprehension
Concern for how others are evaluating us.
Social Loafing
The tendency for people to exert less effort when they pool their efforts toward a common goal than when they are individually accountable.
Free-Ride
Benefitting from the group, but giving little in return.
Deindividuation
Loss of self-awareness and evaluation apprehension; occurs in group situations that foster anonymity and draw attention away from the individual.
Group Polarization
Group-produced enhancement of members’ pre-existing tendencies; a strengthening of the members’ average tendency, not a split within the group.
Pluralistic Ignorance
A false impression of how other people are thinking, feeling, or responding. (ex: confusing class and no questions example).
Groupthink
The mode of thinking that persons engage in when concurrence seeking becomes so dominant in a cohesive in-group that it tends to over-ride realistic appraisal of alternative courses of action.
Ex: Titanic.
Leadership
The process by which certain group members motivate and guide the group.
How are we affected by the mere presence of others?
Others increase our arousal which increases dominant behaviours and decreases nondominant behaviours.
How are we affected by crowds?
Effect of presence will increase with number of people.
Crowding enhances arousal and intensifies negative and positive reactions.
Why are we aroused in the presence of others?
Evaluation apprehension, distraction, and mere presence.
What are some factors that contribute to deindividuation?
Group size, physical anonymity, arousing and distracting activities, diminished self-awareness.
Informational influence and group polarization
Active participation produces more attitude change, repeating ideas is equal to rehearsing and validating them.
Normative influence and group polarization
Social comparison, and pluralistic ignorance.
Symptoms of groupthink
Overestimate might and right, close mindedness, pressures towards uniformity.
Overestimate might and right: (2)
An illusion of invulnerability, and unquestioned belief in the group’s morality.
Close-Mindedness
Rationalization, and stereotyped view of opposition.
Pressures towards conformity (4)
Conformity pressure, self-censorship, illusion of unanimity, mindguards.
Critiques of groupthink
Friends dont breed it, first research based on retrospective evidence, and group norms can favour critical analysis.
How to prevent groupthink
Devils advocate, be impartial, subdivide group, welcome critiques from outside, call “second-chance” meeting.
Transactional Leadership
Mix of task and social.
Fulfill needs while maintaining high standards.
Transformational Leadership
Charismatic and confident leader.
Sticking with goals.
Communication. vision, inspiration.
How can a minority influence the group
Consisteny and confidence which will puncture the illusion of unanimity allowing members to be freer.
