Interpersonal and Group processes

Intro to Psych

what is social psychology?

the scientific attempt to understand and explain how the thoughts, feelings and behaviours of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined or implied presence of others

what are intrapersonal topics?

(those that apply to the individual) emotions and attitudes, the self and social cognition

what are interpersonal topics?

(those that apply to dyads and groups) helping behaviour, aggression, prejudice and discrimination, attraction and close relationships

what is social influence?

any change in an individual’s thoughts, feelings or behaviours caused by other people, who may be actually present or whose presence is imagined, expected or only implied

what are the 3 types of social influence?

conformity: a change in behaviour caused by the perception of others

compliance: a change in behaviour that is requested by another

obedience: a change in behaviour that is ordered by another

conformity?

the tendency for individuals to change their behaviour/ beliefs to align with the majority even when they personally disagree

Asch (1950): 76% conformed to group pressure at least once by indicating the incorrect line

why do people conform?

normative influence: public conformity to gain social approval

informational influence: believing the group know better

compliance?

a change in a person’s behaviour in response to a direct request

going along with a request/ demand even if you do not agree with the request

why do people comply?

reciprocity

liking

scarcity

social proof/ consensus

authority

consistency and commitment

consistency and commitment?

we are motivated to appear consistent in our words and actions

foot-in-the-door technique: get someone to agree to a small request, then they will agree to a larger one

Freedman and Fraser (1966): 112 California residents asked to display a drive carefully sign in their front garden, simply ask- 16% agreed, small sign first then ask- 55% agreed

liking?

we are more likely to comply when requesters are dressed similarly to us or physically attractive

Burger et al (2004): random similarity increases compliance, students who believed they shared a birthday/ first name/ fingerprint similarities were more likely to comply

heuristic processing

authority?

people comply more with requests made by individuals in a position of authority such as people who have power or expertise

clothes, titles etc give authority

Martin and Bull (2008): thematic analysis of midwives responses, junior wives completed a questionnaire on best practices and beliefs then later asked by senior midwife to perform actions they had previously opposed: 65% reflected obedience, 35% reflected conformity

obedience?

the change of an individual’s behaviour to comply with a demand by an authority figure

a tendency to follow orders from a person with a higher status within a defined hierarchical social system or chain of command

Milgram (1960s)- obedience?

40 male volunteers

Pps told to administer a shock whenever the learner got an answer wrong

shocks increased in 15 volt increments up to 450V

when experimenter instructed to continue, 65% shocked to the max voltage

location reduced obedience- 40% in run down office block

proximity reduced obedience- 40% same room, 30% placing hand on shock plate, 23% orders over phone

obedience reduced when victims humanity was made more clear and authority of experimenter was diminished

Hofling et al Hospital Study (1996)

nurses received a phone call from someone claiming to be a doctor asking them to administer 20mg of Astroten

a non approved drug, dosage was twice the label, instructions supposed to be given in person, doctor was unfamiliar

21/22 nurses who took the calls were ready to give the injection

no questions asked, just obeyed

group performance- social loafing?

exertion of less effort by a person working in aa group because individual performance cannot be evaluated separately from the group, thus causes performance to decline on easy tasks

Latane et al (1979): sat blindfolded pps in group of 6, had them put headphones on, pps asked to clap/cheer. 1/3 less noise when they thought others were also making noise

group performance- the bystander effect?

the tendency for individuals who witness someone in need to refrain from helping, instead remaining passive observers

feeling less personal responsibility to act

shaped by surrounding social context rather than personal traits

the case of Kitty Genovese

Latane and Darley (1968)- the bystander effect?

pps told they would discuss ‘problems faced by students in a high pressure urban environment’

discussion over intercoms: alone, with one or with four people

experimenter left the room

shortly after discussion began, one of the other “pps” on the intercom began to choke and appear to be having an epileptic seizure

what are the principles that can prevent helping?

evaluation apprehension: bystanders fear being negatively judged by others if they misinterpret the situation and there is no need for help

pluralistic ignorance: relying on others’ reactions to recognise the need for help in an ambiguous situation

diffusion of responsibility: the tendency to refrain from helping when others are present due to a reduced feeling of responsibility

encouraging intervention- Coker et al (2011)?

teaches to recognise red dots and to take action using green dpts

46% had attended a green dot talk on campus

14% had taken part in active bystander training in the past two years

trained students showed lower acceptance of rape myths, reported more active bystander behaviours and also observed more active bystander behaviours than untrained peers

what is social facilitation- Zajonc (1969)?

being in the presence of other improves individual task performance

what is social inhibition?

decreased performance in the presence of others

what is the dominant response?

the reaction elicited most quickly and easily by a given stimulus