Week Twelve Group Processes Flashcards
Define conformity as according to textbook
Tendency to change one’s perceptions, opinions or behaviour to conform w/group norms
How does Meyer, 2005 define conformity?
Change of behaviour in accordance with others
How does Kiesler and Kiesler define conformity?
Change in the behaviour or belief toward a group as a result of real or imagined group pressure
Outline informational influence
Conforming when things are HARDER to decipher on our own because we want to be correct in our judgements and we see other people are more correct
Outline normative influence
Shared set of beliefs held by the in-group about things that are easier to decipher on our own cause us to conform more readily because we fear the consequences of deviating from group norm
What were the findings of Sherif’s (1936) study?
When we find tasks difficult we turn to others as source of info so we can agree on something. Individually ability to estimate how much light moved occurred varied drastically but in group estimates came together to produce group mean
Which type of influence was demonstrated by Sherif’s study?
Informational influence - - > conforming because we want to be correct in our judgements about tasks which are more difficult
Outline the findings of Asch’s conformity experiment (1951)
Reasons for conformity included:
1. Going along w/crowd
2. Having others question answers
Which type of influence was demonstrated in Asch’s study?
Normative influence
What were the findings of Asch’s (1955) study of group size?
As group got larger, group conformity increased
What happened when Asch manipulated unanimity? What was the finding?
Level of conformity went down to 1/4 of original study. Having just one person challenge group is enough for others to re-evaluate their original conforming opinion
Define compliance
Subtype of conformity where there is superficial change in behaviour in response to direct requests or coercion
What is obedience a form of?
Compliance
What is compliance a subtype of?
Conformity
What were the findings of Milligram’s (1963) study?to do with voltage?
Up to 120v participants happy to give electric shocks to learner
130v learner complains of pain
140v learner doesn’t want to be part of study anymore
300v-450v person in booth no longer responding
What was the most significant finding of the Milgram’s study?
65% administered most lethal shocks possible on generator (450v) whereas prior pane of experts predicted only 10% would exceed 180v
What was the study that replicated Milgram?
Burger (2009)
What ethical considerations did Burger (2009) make that Milgram did not?
Screened for vulnerable participants
Went up to 150v instead of 450v as this was most crucial part of experiment when person said they don’t want to be part of study anymore
Was there anything significant about Burgers results in comparison to Milgram’s?
Milgram’s 82.5% passed 150v
Burgers 70% passed 150v
- not statistically significant
What did the Derren Brown show say about participants willing to administer most lethal shock?
50% willing to do so
What was the name of the study that conducted its research in Stanford uni?
Zimbaro prison experiment (1973)
What was the impact on prisoners and guards from day two onwards?
Prisoners staged revolt
- none started acting crazy and was removed
- guards response was punishment of prisoners
What does group thinking lead to?
Suspension of critical thinking
What did Janis (1972) find in relation to governmental decisions on foreign policy?
Long-standing groups maintain cohesion
Decisions made through consensus impair decision making e.g. Bay of Pigs decisions responded to by vote
What were the key features of the bay of pigs invasion that lead to its failure?
Illusion of invulnerability
Consensus
Stereotyped thinking
Protection from criticism
What are the outcomes of groupthink?
Poor planning
- failure to think through alternatives
- risks of plan being given insufficient attention
- more time spent considering plans consistent w/group consensus
- over-confidence
Outline Latane & Darley’s Bystander Effect Model
Decreased likelihood in receiving help from multiple onlookers due to…
1. social comparison
- seeking guidance from others because it was unusual (informational influence)
2. reduction in responsibility
- more people, less onus
Outline how Darley and Latane’s final study was conducted?
Differing group sizes e.g. 2, 3, 6 people
DV: time taken for participant to leave booth to help confederate
Were were the key findings of Latane & Darley’s study?
As group size increased, percentage who helped decreased and how long it took them increased
What were the results of Fischer et al. (meta-analysis)?
Bystander effect weakened when situations perceived as dangerous, perpetrators were present, costs of intervention were physical, other bystanders not strangers and were all male
