Chapter 9: Group Processes

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture notes on group processes.

Group

Two or more people who interact and are interdependent in needs and goals.

Social Norms

Expectations about how group members should behave.

Social Roles

Expectations shared by group members regarding each other's behaviors.

Social Facilitation

The tendency for people to perform differently when in the presence of others compared to alone.

Social Loafing

The phenomenon where individuals exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone.

Deindividuation

The process of losing self-awareness and self-restraint in group situations, often leading to impulsive or deviant behavior.

Groupthink

A psychological phenomenon where the desire for group cohesion leads to poor decision-making.

Group Polarization

The tendency for a group to make decisions that are more extreme than the initial inclinations of individual members.

Great Person Theory

The idea that certain personality traits distinguish great leaders, though it is not universally true.

Task-oriented Leader

A leader whose primary focus is on achieving tasks and getting the job done.

Relationship-oriented Leader

A leader who prioritizes the feelings and relationships of group members.

Process Loss

The reduction in group effectiveness due to problems in communication or decision-making.

Evaluation Apprehension

The concern about being judged by others, which can affect performance.

Illusion of Invulnerability

A symptom of groupthink where members feel invincible and make poor decisions.

Mindguards

Group members who protect the leader from contrary viewpoints.

Stereotyping

Oversimplified and generalized views of an out-group.

Contingency Theory of Leadership

A theory suggesting that the effectiveness of a leader is based on the situation and context.