W6 Group processes

Question 1

Categorization

Answer 1

“Two or more individuals who perceive themselves to be members of the same social category” (Turner, 1982)

Question 2

Communication

Answer 2

“Two or more people who think of themselves as a group, are interdependent and communicate with one another” (Frey & Konieczka, 2010)

Question 3

Influence

Answer 3

“Two or more persons who are interacting with one another in such a manner that the person influences and is influenced by each other person (Shaw, 1981)

Question 4

shared identity

Answer 4

“Two or more people possessing a common social identification” (Brown, 2000)

Question 5

Shared tasks and goals

Answer 5

“Three or more people who work together interdependently on an agreed upon activity or goal” (Keyton, 2002)

Question 6

Interdependence

Answer 6

“A dynamic whole based on interdependence rather than similarity” (Lewin, 1948)

Question 7

definition of a group

Answer 7

A group is two or more individuals who are connected by and within social relationships

Question 8

Main characteristics of groups

Answer 8

Interaction, goals, interdependence, strucutre, cohesiveness

Question 9

Interactions

Answer 9

create, organize and sustain relationships and task interactions (focused on groups works, projects, plans, goals, ADV: goal achievement, facilitation DIS: social loafing)

Question 10

Goals

Answer 10

groups have instrumental purposes (common goals)

Question 11

Interdependence

Answer 11

members of a group depend on each other

Question 12

Structure

Answer 12

group members are connected to each other in organized and predictable patterns. (roles, norms)

Question 13

Cohesiveness

Answer 13

closeness and solidarity of a group as a result of the development of strong and mutual interpersonal bonds among members.

Question 14

social loafing

Answer 14

Presence of other people can result in reduced effort of individual members (clapping, shouting, cheering, brainstorming)

Question 15

Variables that influence tendency to loaf

Answer 15

identifiability, individual responsibilty, commitment to task performance.

Question 16

Identifiability

Answer 16

shout as loud as you can individually or in groups. Social loafing occurred when individual contribution could not be identifies. Lack of appropriate rewards.

Question 17

individal responsibility

Answer 17

individual responsibility manipulated: all focus on the same section of the screen vs each given a different section.

Question 18

Commitment to task performance

Answer 18

group interaction (internal pressures to conform to group performance norms), member who deviate from group norms may be punished, identifiability deters social loafing due to consequences for lack of effort.

Question 19

Collective effort model

Answer 19

Individuals will be willing to exert effort on a collective task only to the degree that they expect their efforts to be instrumental in obtaining valued outcomes.

Question 20

When does socail loafing occurs

Answer 20

people don’t believe their effort can result in achieving valued outcomes, outcome of group performance is viewed as trivial. Low task meaningfulness, personal involvement, low group cohesiveness, larger group size.

Question 21

Group polarisation

Answer 21

“A general tendency for group decision to be more extreme than the mean of its members’ position, in the direction favored by the mean” (Moscovici & Zavalloni, 1969) E.g. discussion among people who slightly favor restrictive immigration policies

Question 22

Normative influences

Answer 22

Desire for social approval and wish to avoid social censure.
Discussion reveals the socially desirable position and members of the group want to be seen to be adhering to this position.

Question 23

Group think

Answer 23

“Group decision making process that produces poor decisions, a mode of thinking in which the desire to reach unanimous agreement overrides the motivation to adopt proper rational decision-making procedures” (Janis, 1982; Janis & Mann, 1977)

Question 24

Symptoms of groupthink

Answer 24

Predictions only supported for the effect of self-censorship and self-appointed mind guards.

Question 25

Antecedent conditions

Answer 25

Group cohesiveness- direct relationship with symptoms of groupthink.
No support for other antecedent conditions in the predicted direction (Janis, 1982)