lecture 11 slides

Question 1

what is a group?

Answer 1

• a social unit consisting of 2 or more people who adhere to the following:
• membership
• interaction among members
• shared goals
• shared norms

Question 2

types of groups

Answer 2

• primary groups (strong attachments, emotional ties and bonds, smaller and longer endurance, ex, family or friend group)
• secondary groups (more impersonal , ex. class, work)

Question 3

group cohesion

Answer 3

• ultimately refers to the strength of the group
• characteristics of a cohesive group (strong ties, higher levels of commitment, higher levels of loyalty, “we”, positive ‘vibes’)

Question 4

group norms

Answer 4

• group specific, informal rules
• how group members are expected to act and behave
• help to define group identity (ex goth sub culture)

Question 5

group conformity

Answer 5

• the asch experiments
• groups can pressure members to change judgement through majority influence
• people more likely to conform when size of majority is significant and opinion is unanimous and when group is attractive to individual and they want to be a part of it

Question 6

why do we conform?

Answer 6

• interdependent relationship (dependence on group members)
• normative influence (when others conform to norms in order to receive rewards or avoid punishments)
• informational influence (when group members accept info about something as “fact” or “true”
• ex hazing in frats and conforming to this

Question 7

intergroup conflict

Answer 7

• conflict between one or more members of different groups
• organized groups
• social categories (unorganized groups, race, culture)

Question 8

sources of intergroup conflict

Answer 8

• social identity
• strong sense of attachment can lead to us vs them (strong identification with group, negative thoughts towards out group)
• inclination towards ethnocentrism (considering one’s own group as superior to others , in group as superior, out group as superior, can lead to dsicrimination )
• social identity theory of intergroup behaviour (we want to have a positive self concept, discriminate other groups to view your own group as better)

Question 9

groupthink

Answer 9

• irving janis (1972)
• striving for group consensus by setting aside personal opinions and beliefs (adopt opinion of group, due to fear you might impact harmony of group)
• failure to think critically (too focused on making sure group is unanimous)

Question 10

possible symptoms of groupthink

Answer 10

• illusions of invulnerability (you feel invulnerable as a part of that group)
• unquestioned beliefs
• self censorship
• direct pressure

Question 11

causes of group think

Answer 11

• high levels of group stress (mitigate stress to lessen groupthink)
• group members are very similar to each other (make more diverse group)
• the group is insulated from the rest of the environment (insulated from experts)
• high levels of cohesion