Psychology of Human Relations Flashcards
(24 cards)
What are group dynamics?
How members of a group interact (intragroup dynamics) or how members of one group interact with members of another group (intergroup dynamics).
What is cooperation?
A form of pro-social behaviour, where people work together towards a commonly agreed upon goal.
What are cooperative styles characterised by?
- Effective communication - group members feel free to voice their opinions, and other listen and are influenced by these ideas
- Mutual help among group members
- Division of labour and clear setting of group goals
- A sense of basic similarity in beliefs and values
What factors influence the willingness to cooperate?
- Social norms
- The nature of situation
- Expectations about other’s behaviour
- Group size - cooperation often decreases in larger groups
- Culture
- Motivation
What role does cooperation play in intragroup dynamics?
- Cooperation within the group can lead to increased productivity as tasks can be divided effectively.
- Sense of trust and open communication fosters a positive environment where members support each other, enhancing overall group cohesion and performance.
What role does cooperation play in intergroup dynamics?
Cooperation between groups can reduce conflict and prejudice.
What is competition?
A form of behaviour where an individual or a group aims to benefit themselves, often at the expense of others.
What are competative styles characterised by?
- Reduced communication due to lack of trust within the group, members may withhold information to gain an advantage
- Suspicion of others’ intentions
- Lower productivity, the lack of trust makes it difficult to divide tasks effectively
- Rejection of others’ ideas
- Members perceiving other member’s success as a threat
What does Realistic Conflict Theory (RCT) state?
Argues that conflict between groups arises from competition for limited resources. RCT states that competition over scarce resources fosters hostility between groups, whereas cooperation towards shared goals reduces intergroup tensions.
What is negative interdependence and what can it cause?
One group can only succeed if the other fails. This fosters:
* ingroup favoritism;
* discriminatory behaviour;
* hostility towards the outgroup.
Which study investigates the formation and resolution of intergroup conflicts?
Sherif et al (1954): preteen boys and formation and resolution of intergroup conflicts
What is intrinstic motivation?
Engaging in an activity for its inherent satisfaction, without the expectation of external rewards, driven by personal fulfilment.
What in extrinsic motivation?
Engaging in an activity to obtain external rewards.
What is prejudice?
A pre-existing attitude towards any member of a particular group, it’s a combination of emotion and cognition.
What is discrimination?
A behaviour, where an individual treats someone differently based on their group membership, it’s considered the behavioural expression of prejudice.
What are explanations of prejudice and discrimination?
- Social Identity Theory (SIT)
- Stereotypes and Schema Theory
- Illusory correlation
- Amygdala and Threat response
What is implicit bias?
Biases that individuals may hold unconsciously and not openly admit to.
What is an implicit associations test (IST)?
A digital tool used to measure the strength of implicit associations, designed to look at how quickly people make associations between a group and an emotion.
Which study investigates prejudice and discrimination?
Levinson (2007): effect of implicit bias on memory recall
What is a conflict?
A disagreement or incompatibility between individuals or groups, ranging from prejudice to overt discriminatory behaviour.
What are the origins of conflict?
- Social Identity Theory (SIT) claims that conflict originates from social categorisation
- Realistic Group Conflict Theory (RGCT) proposes that conflict arises from negative interdependence and incompatible goals
- Group polarisation, where group decisions and opinions become more extreme than privately held beliefs, makes conflict more likely
What are conflict resolutions?
Strategies aimed at reducing or eliminating intergroup conflict.
What does Allport’s contact theory claims?
That intergroup contact under specific conditions can reduce conflict and prejudice.
What are the conditions for Allport contact theory?
- Social and institutional support
- High acquaintance potential
- Equal status between groups
- Cooperation
