Chapter 8 - Social Processes, Attitudes, Behavior Flashcards
Social action
Actions and behaviours that individuals are conscious of and performing because others are around
Difference between social action and social interaction
Action: considers just the individual surrounded by others
Interaction: two or more individuals
Social facilitation
People tend to perform better on simple tasks when in presence of others
De-individuation
When individuals are in group settings:
- behavior can be dramatically different
- large groups provide anonymity
- can lead to antinormative behaviour
Bystander effect
Individuals don’t intervene to help victims when others are present
Social loafing
Tendency for individuals to put in less effor when in a group setting
Identity shift effect
An explanation behind peer pressure:
- when an individual changes to adopt standards of the group
Cognitive dissonance
Simultaneous presence of two opposing thoughts or opinions
*internal state of discomfort
Group polarization
Groups can make decisions that are more extreme than the individual ideas and inclinations of the members within the group
*leads to riskier or more cautious decisions
Group think
Desire for harmony or conformity results in a group of people coming to an incorrect or poor decision
Primary vs secondary socialization
Primary: during childhood, mainly parents
Secondary: learning from smaller sections within society
Anticipatory socialization
Preparing for future changes in occupation, living situation, relationships…
Differential association theory
Deviance can be learned through interactions with others
**he’s fallen into the wrong group of people
Strain theory
Explains deviance as a natural reaction to the disconnect between social goals and social structure
EX: American dream (desirable goal_)
Structure of society doesn’t guarantee good education, Job..etc.
- deviant behavior (like theft) happens
Social cognitive theory
People learn how to behave and shape attitudes by observing the behaviours of others
Internalization
The type of conformity in which an individual changes her outward opinion to match the group and also personally agrees with those ideas
4 functional areas of the functional attitudes theory
Knowledge, adaptability , ego expression, ego défense
