Week 8 Group Processes Flashcards
What is the interdependent analysis of a group?
if you are mutually affecting one another through shared needs and values you are in a group, if you are mutually exchanging these resources, you are in a group
Regardless of your psychological perception of what being in a group is, you are objectively interdependent with others = in a group
What is the social structure approach of a group?
Groups are defined by particular namable structures such as roles and status
Can be informal (co-op, family roles) or formal settings (organisations)
What is the shared norms approach of a group?
How to behave, expectations, level of agreement between members
Members define the reality of the group
Can mere categorisation produce group norms? (Social Cognitive Approach, Sherieff)
Yes! In the absence of interdependence, social structures
and group norms… and despite that, produced group behaviours!
(shows how easy it is to cause discrimination between groups, even when the discrimination has nothing to do with the interests of the individual doing the discriminating)
What are the 2 factors by which we categorise objects?
- Shared characteristics
- Category prototypes = idealised image of what it should be, we don’t individuate every object we see but rather we treat objects as a function of our expectations of how it should be/look/act/react
What is the social identity theory approach to a group?
a part of an individual’s self concept which derives from one’s membership of social groups with value and emotional significance.
Do we lose personal identity in groups?
We have both personal and social identities
Thinking of oneself in a group ≠ a loss of identity, rather = a shift in identity
Does categorisation always lead to in-group favouritism?
No - it does not necessarily lead to in-group favouritism in real-life situations
it also depends on:
1. self perception of the group
2. the perceived legitimacy of group differences
3. the permeability between group-boundaries
What does in-group favouritism depend on? (5)
- Group identification
- Salience of social categorisation
- Personal relevance
- Comparability with other groups
- The relative status of the group
What are the main differences between the social cognitive and social identity approaches to groups?
Inevitability vs. identity factors
SCT thinks that minimal categorisation directly and inevitably produces discrimination, but SIT acknowledges how other personal factors influence the formation of in-group favouritism and discrimination
Hardwired vs. competition
SCT thinks discrimination is an automatic and hardwired cognitive bias of social categorisation, while SIT thinks social categorisation and discrimination is the rational outcome of the competitive environment between groups
Saves cognition vs. personal relevance
Categorisation limits information input/saves cognitive energy due to cognitive capacity, while SIT thinks we interact with people on a spectrum from interperson to intergroup processes:
What is a social dilemma + example?
Social dilemmas are interdependent relationships where the pursuit of one’s rational and individualistic behaviour is collectively irrational and unhelpful
Example = ie. wanting to drive in your own car causes mass traffic.
What 2 things reduce social dilemmas and enhances cooperation?
Trust and shared group membership
What are 3 examples of how group membership enhances trust and cooperation?
- canned laughter is a social influence that asks you to act in the same way
- Donation to charity: people donate to people wearing the same football scarf as their team compared to the opposite team
- Pain - if we are told the pain is ok by an ingroup member, we are physiologically calmer than if we were told the same information by an out-group member
Is a leader a legitimate social role?
No - Leadership is an outcome of shared group membership, because leadership is not about legitimate roles, but about perceived social influence from followers
Is the leader part of the group?
Yes - A key leader is in the ingroup: a “one of us” rather than “above us”
- represents the group, creates shared identity and advances the interests of the group
