Important Dates
Last 3 papers due are from blue book
November 16 Exam 3 (chapters 8, 9, 10). Reading assignment on close relationships is due
November 23: Term paper due, reading assignment on prosocial behavior due, last day to turn in extra credit.
December 7: Reading assignment on Intergroup Conflict and Prejudice is due.
December 14 FINAL EXAM 8:30 AM!!
Chapter 9: Group Processes
Group
two or more people who are interacting with each other and are interdependent
Interdependent = to fulfill their needs and goals they must rely upon each other.
Why do we join groups?
Important to survival
Provide information
Help us define our identity
Establish social norms
Composition of Groups
most groups are 2-6 members
tend to be similar in age, sex, beliefs, opinions
people are attracted to similar others
groups operate in ways that encourage similarity among its members
Functions of Groups
Social Norms: shared expectations about how to behave, facilitate social interaction.
But, ...if you violate the norms there is pressure to conform....if not, rejection
Social Roles: also facilitate social interaction
But, costs = losing personal identity, or acting inconsistently with the role.
Functions (con’t)
Gender Roles
Group Cohesiveness
qualities of a group that bind members together and promote liking
helps people to stay in a group, participate in the group, may interfere with group decision making
Social Facilitation
Zajonc (1969) study with cockroaches...they ran faster through a maze when in the presence of other cockroaches!
“Mere presence of others” improves performance on simple, well-learned tasks, but hinders performance on complex tasks
Theory of Social Facilitation
Zajonc
Presence of others increases physiological arousal, which facilitates dominant, well-learned responses
Physiological arousal inhibits difficult tasks
Why?
Presence of others makes us more alert (can explain cockroach behavior too)
Concerns about evaluation (evaluation apprehension)
Distraction
Social LoafingWhen we are around others our individual efforts are less easily observed
Performance is impaired on simple tasks but enhanced on complex ones when individual performance cannot be evaluated
Focus on the first example
Tendency to loaf is stronger in men and in individualistic cultures (more emphasis on individualistic behavior)
Deindividuation
Exercise
The feeling of anonymity
Loosening of normal constraints on behavior
Increase in impulsive and deviant acts
examples
Uniforms, costumes, masks...hides identity
mob behavior, reduced likelihood of being singled out
whether behavior is positive or negative depends on group norms
Group Decision Making
Process Loss
When group interactions inhibits good problem solving
Groupthink
Groupthink
when group cohesiveness and solidarity interrupts good decision making
Occurs when
group is highly cohesive, isolated from contrary opinions, ruled by a directive leader, using poor decision-making procedures in high stress situations
Symptoms of GroupthinkIllusion of invulnerability
Belief in moral correctness of the group
Stereotyped views of the outgroup
Self-censorship
Direct pressure on dissenters
Mindguards (keep opposing views out)
Illusion of unanimity
How to avoid
Leaders need to strive to be impartial
Solicit outside (unpopular) information
Use of subgroups
Secret ballots
film
11:00 and 7:30 on channel 37
Group Polarization
Called “risky shift” in earlier research
groups make more extreme decisions that individuals’ initial judgments
Persuasive arguments interpretation
Social comparison interpretation
Social Dilemmas
Conflicts in which the most beneficial action for an individual will, if chosen by most people, will have harmful effects on everyone.
Prisoner’s Dilemma
Try it!
People must decide to independently decide whether to cooperate or compete, when participants don’t trust each other, leads to poor outcomes for both. This can lead to an escalation of conflict
Other kinds of dilemmas Public goods dilemma
individuals must contribute to a common pool in order to maintain the public good (taxes, blood supply)
Commons dilemma (tragedy of the commons)
everyone takes from a common pool of good that will replenish itself if used in moderation (water, energy)
