Group Processes: Influence in Social Groups

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on group processes and their influence in social groups.

What defines a group in social psychology?

A group is a collection of three or more people who interact and are interdependent.

What are basic human needs that form relationships with others?

Forming relationships helps fulfill social needs and fosters individual identity.

What are social norms?

Social norms specify how group members should behave.

What are social roles in a group context?

Social roles are shared expectations on how particular people in the group should behave.

What was Zimbardo's classic prison experiment about?

It demonstrated how role playing can cause extreme behaviors.

What do gender roles dictate according to the lecture notes?

They dictate expectations about how men and women should behave and what professions they should pursue.

What is group cohesiveness?

Qualities that bind group members together and promote liking among them.

How does group diversity affect decision-making?

More diverse groups tend to make better decisions.

What does social facilitation refer to?

The tendency for people to perform better on simple tasks in the presence of others.

What happens to performance on complex tasks in social settings?

Performance on complex tasks tends to suffer in the presence of others.

What causes social facilitation according to the theories presented?

Social facilitation arises from increased alertness, evaluation apprehension, or distraction.

What is social loafing?

The tendency for individuals to perform worse on simple tasks when in a group, as their performance cannot be evaluated.

How does social loafing differ between cultures?

It is stronger in individualist cultures than in collectivist cultures.

What is deindividuation?

The loosening of normal constraints on behavior when people are in a group.

What psychological effect does anonymity in a group have?

It tends to decrease self-awareness and accountability, leading to impulsive behavior.

What is process loss in group decisions?

Any aspect of group interaction that inhibits good problem solving.

What is groupthink?

A type of thinking where maintaining group cohesiveness overshadows realistically considering facts.

What is group polarization?

The tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the initial inclinations of their members.

What is the Great Person Theory in leadership?

It asserts that certain personality traits make someone a good leader, regardless of the situation.

What is the difference between transactional and transformational leaders?

Transactional leaders focus on clear, short-term goals, while transformational leaders inspire long-term goals.

What does the Contingency Theory of Leadership state?

Leadership effectiveness depends on task and relationship orientation and the control the leader has over the group.

What challenges do women face in leadership roles according to the lecture notes?

Women can be seen as having less potential when acting communal and are criticized for acting agentic.

What is a social dilemma?

A conflict where individual benefit actions may harm group outcomes.

What is the Prisoner’s Dilemma?

A game where two players must choose options that pit individual gain against group gain.

How can cooperation in the Prisoner’s Dilemma be increased?

By playing against a friend or expecting future interactions.

What is the Tit-For-Tat strategy?

Encouraging cooperation by first acting cooperatively and mirroring the opponent's actions.

What does research suggest about using threats to resolve conflict?

Threats are not effective; communication that facilitates solutions is necessary.

What role do mediators play in negotiation?

Mediators help find mutually agreeable solutions by facilitating communication.

What is an integrative solution in negotiation?

A solution where both parties make trade-offs based on their interests.