Social Psychology - Lecture Six Flashcards
Social Influence
Social facilitation
How the physical presence of others influences our behaviour e.g. we are more likely to laugh if others laugh or the learner the crowd the more we eat
Schmitt (1986) study
Respondents completed simple and complex takes. Results showed that when others are present, simple task ability improved and complex task ability decreased
Zajonc (1980) study
Drive Theory of Facilitation where the presence of others leads to increased arousal. Arousal strengthens the display of our dominant response
If you’re good at something
The presence of others improves our performance
If you’re bad at something
The presence of others impairs our performance
Michaels et al (1982) study
Investigated pool player’s accuracy in the presence of others. The accuracy of good players increased from 71% to 80%, the accuracy of poor players decreased 35% to 25%
Diffusion of responsibility
As group size increases individual responsibility decreases
Mann (1981) study
Discusses instances where a potential suicide victim is abused and taunted
Deindividuation
When people are surrounded by others they lose self-awareness and begin to feel anonymous
When individuals are aroused
The loss in self-awareness works to disinhibit those impulses which are normally kept under check
Decrease in self-awareness
Leads to an increase in anti-social behaviour
Anonymity
Leads to aggression
Increase in self-awareness
Decreases anti-social behaviour
Beaman et al (1979) study
In a Halloween study 34% took extra sweets only 12% of those presented with mirror took extra sweets
Solomon Asch study
Brought 10-12 people into a lab and showed pairs of cards (6’ long and 4’, 6’ & 8’ long). Respondents guessed which were of equal size. Preferences were given out loud, and only one person bonafide and the rest were confederates of the experimenter. Confederates gave their answers first and constantly the incorrect answers. Results showed that 75% went along with majority
