7A - Social Groups and Culture

Question 1

What is a social group?

Answer 1

Social groups are essentially any group you are a part of.
- could be sporting teams, online communities, your colleagues at work or even your peers at school.

Question 2

In-group definition

Answer 2

A group that an individual identifies with or belongs to.

Question 3

Out-group definition

Answer 3

A group that an individual does not identify with or belong to.

Question 4

Example of in-group and out-group

Answer 4

Sporting teams
Competitive sports is where you can see the idea of in-groups and out-groups really come to life.
- disliking the opposing team just because they’re not on your team.

Question 5

Social norms definition

Answer 5

Spoken or unspoken rules or values that define or outline appropriate behaviour or experience within a group.

Question 6

Example of spoken rules

Answer 6

A spoken rule or value within a sporting team could be “if you don’t turn up to training you don’t get any game time.”
- social norm within that group

Question 7

Example of unspoken rules

Answer 7

An unspoken rule or value is that you and your friends are online every night at the same time to play games.

Question 8

What three things individual behaviour is impacted by?

Answer 8

1. Group norms
2. Social loafing
3. Social identity theory

Question 9

Group norms definition

Answer 9

A norm is a standard, value, or rule that outlines an appropriate behaviour or experience.
- can be contained within a society, or it can be exclusive to a smaller group.

Question 10

Group norm example

Answer 10

Formal - arriving at work on time
Informal - knocking on a door before you open it.

Question 11

Social loafing definition

Answer 11

An individual’s reduction in effort when work is performed in a group as compared to individually, due to the belief that others will put in the effort.

Question 12

Social loafing example

Answer 12

A student not contributing to the group task as they know the other students will do it for them and the teacher is not checking contributions

Question 13

Social identity theory definition

Answer 13

The social identity theory outlines the tendency for people to favour their in-group over an out-group in order to enhance their sense of self-esteem.

Question 14

Social identity theory example

Answer 14

Believing our psychology class is smarter than all the others (when we have no evidence of this).

Question 15

Individualistic cultures definition

Answer 15

A culture that prioritises the needs and goals of individuals and values independence.

Question 16

Collectivist cultures definition

Answer 16

A culture that prioritises the needs and goals of the group.

Question 17

Individualistic cultures - Values

Answer 17

Uniqueness and independence
- Them as an individual

Question 18

Individualistic cultures - The individual and individual needs

Answer 18

Come before group needs

Question 19

Individualistic cultures - Relationships with others / when part of a group

Answer 19

• Competition occurs between individuals
• Dependence on others is discouraged

Question 20

Collectivist cultures - Values

Answer 20

Interdependence
- How you communicate with other people
- How you work within a group

Question 21

Collectivist cultures - The individual and individual needs

Answer 21

Are viewed as smaller parts of a larger whole

Question 22

Collectivist cultures - Relationships with others / when part of a group

Answer 22

• Social harmony and group needs are seen as more important
• Individuals are more likely to act in ways that benefits the whole group

Question 23

Example: culture and your job

Answer 23

• Consider an individual who has grown up in an individualistic culture. If that individual is offered a better paying job at a different company, even if it disrupts their current company they may be more likely to take up this offer.
• Whereas, consider someone who has grown up in a collectivist culture. They may choose to pursue a stable career in medicine or accounting to support their family rather than something they are personally interested in.