Social Influence and Group Dynamics

Flashcards covering vocabulary related to social influence, group dynamics, and related psychological concepts.

Social Influence

The effect of the presence or actions of others (real or imagined) on people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Social Groups

Two or more people who interact and influence each other while sharing a common objective.

Aggregation

A collection of people in one location with minimal shared purpose or direct interaction.

Ingroups

Groups in which an individual identifies or belongs.

Outgroups

Groups in which an individual does not identify or belong.

Group Norms

Standards or rules that outline appropriate behaviors within a group.

Formal Group Norms

Explicitly outlined rules or regulations within a group.

Informal Group Norms

Unwritten expectations inferred from group behavior and consequences.

Social Identity Theory

Links to the tendency for people to favor their ingroup over outgroups to enhance self-esteem.

Social Loafing

Reduction in effort by individuals when working in a group compared to performing alone.

Cultural Norms

Shared rules or expectations about how people should behave within a society or group.

Individualist Cultures

Cultures that prioritize individual needs and goals over those of the group.

Collectivist Cultures

Cultures that prioritize the needs and goals of the group over those of the individual.

Obedience

Complying with commands from an authority figure.

Constructive Obedience

Compliance with orders that leads to a positive outcome.

Destructive Obedience

Compliance with orders that result in a negative outcome.

Deindividuation

A psychological state that can lead to extreme behavior in groups due to anonymity.

Groupthink

A way of thinking characterized by a strong tendency to seek agreement in decision-making, often at the expense of realistic alternatives.

Group Polarization

The tendency for group discussion to amplify the initial leanings of group members.

Anti-Conformity

Deliberate refusal to comply with accepted societal standards.

Independence

Experience of freedom from the influence or control of others.

Prejudice

A negative emotional attitude held towards a member of a specific social group.

Discrimination

Unequal treatment of individuals based on their group characteristics.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to interpret information in a way that confirms existing beliefs.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to attribute others' behaviors to internal factors while attributing our own behaviors to situational factors.