Lecture 10 - Psychology Of Groups Flashcards
What is a “group”?
A group has been described as a collection of individuals who have relations to one another that make them interdependent to some significant degree.
What were the findings of the Triplett study in performance in social situations?
- Observed that cyclists recorded faster times when competing against others than when racing alone.
Study;
- Asked children to wind fishing wheel as fast as possible. Children completed toast fast when they were co-acting with another child
Name the concept:
- The enhancing effect of co-actors on performance
Social facilitation
What were the findings of Zajonc about social facilitation?
1) the presence of others increases arousal
2) Arousal makes us more incline to do what we’re already inclined to do (dominant response)
3) Performance will depend on what the dominant response is in a given situation
Study findings:
- The presence of others is predicted to facilitate performance of easy tasks but may impair performance of difficult tasks
What is the dominant response?
-For an easy or well-practiced toast, the dominant response is often correct
- For a difficult or novel task, the dominant response is often incorrect
What is the updated definition of social facilitation?
The effect, positive or negative, of the presence of others on performance
What is social loafing?
Tendency to exert less effort when performing as part of a group than when performing as an individual.
What were the findings of Ringelmann’s Rope-Pulling experiment?
People’s efforts when pulling a rope by themselves was more important than when they were pulling ropes as a group. The group performance increased as the group grew bigger, but not as much as it should have if we took individual performances together.
How do we minimize social loafing?
- Have people work on an interesting project
- Make the project personally relevant to the group
- Hold individuals accountable for contributions (clear expectations for who does what)
What is groupthink?
Groups that are highly cohesive can produce poor group decisions because striving for unanimity may override motivation to evaluate alternative courses of action and make an accurate judgment
- Solidarity holds the group together, but can cause group members’ thinking to get stuck
What are the symptoms of groupthink?
- Illusion of invulnerability
- Belief in inherent morality of the group
- Self-censorship
- Self-appointed mindguards
What is the illusion of invulnerability in groupthink?
- Everything is going to work out all right because we are a special group
What is the belief in inherent morality of the group in groupthink?
- Members automatically assume the rightness of their cause
What is self-censorship in groupthink?
- Withholding information or opinions in group discussions
What are self-appointed mindguards in groupthink?
Members of the group appoint themselves to protect a leader from assault by troublesome ideas that might threaten group complacency
What are the factors that make groupthink more likely?
- high-cohesiveness
- Homogeneity in group members’ social backgrounds and ideology
- Directive leadership
- Lack of procedures for information search and appraisal
- Insularity of the group
- High stress from external threats combined with low hope of finding a better solution than the leader’s
How to prevent groupthink?
- Group leaders should refrain from making their opinions known at first and periodically leave the group is group members can discuss their views without constraint
- Bring in outside opinions
- Assign people to play “devil’s advocate”
Name the concept:
- The tendency for people to become more extreme in their positions after discussion with like-minded others
Group polarization
What is the “persuasive arguments” explanation?
-Exposure to additional arguments in favour of one’s preexisting opinion strengthens that opinion
What is the social comparison interpretation?
- Compare self to others, with the drive to outdo others
- If others express similar opinions, we may take a more extreme position to differentiate ourselves
What are hierarchies?
- Groups tend to evolve into hierarchies and to select leaders
- Generally adaptive because it helps to avoid conflict, gives structure to discussion and decision making, helps coordinate group actions, provides impetus for action
What are the characteristics of leaders?
- Expertise, knowledge, technical skill
- Social skills
- Those who share resources with others more likely to rise to a leadership role
What is the definition of power?
The ability to control one’s own outcomes and those of others, the freedom to act
What is status?
- Refers to respect and prominence
