Chapter 8 - Social Processes, Altitudes, and Behavior

Social Facilitation

describes the tendency of people to perform different level based on the fact that other are around

deindividuation

a loss of self-awarness in large groups, which can lead to drastic changes in behavior

bystander effect

describes the observation that when in a group, individuals are less likely to respond to a person in need

peer pressure

refers to the social influence placed on individual by others they consider equals

group polarization

tendency toward making decisions in a group that are more extreme than the thoughts of the individual group members

groupthink

tendency for groups to make decisions based on ideas and solutions that arise within the group without considering outside ideas

culture

describes the beliefs, ideas, behaviors, actions, and characteristics of a group or society of people

assimilation

describes th ebeliefs by which a group or individuals culture begins to melt into another

mutliculturalism

refers to the encouragement of multiple cultures within a community to enhance diversity

subcultures

refer to a group of people within a culture that distinguish themselves form the primary culture to which they belong

socialization

process of developing and spreading norms, customs, and beliefs

norms

determine the boundaries of acceptable behavior within society

stigma

extreme disapproval or dislike of a person or group based on perceived differences

deviance

refers to any violation of norms, rules, or expectations within a society

conformity

changing beliefs or behaviors in order to fit into a group or society

compliance

occurs when individuals change their behavior based on the request of others

obedience

change in behavior based on a command from someone seen as an authority figure

attitudes

tendencies toward expression of positive or negative feelings or evaluations

components to attitudes

affective, behavioral, and cognitive

functional attitudes theory

states that there are 4 functional areas of attitudes that serve individuals in life: knowledge, ego expression, adaptability, and ego defense

learnign theory

states that attitudes are developed through forms of learningL direct contact, direct interaction, direct instruction, and conditioning

elaboration likelihood model

states that attitudes are formed and changed though different routes of information processing based on the degree of elaboration (central and peripheral route processing)

social cognitive theory

states that attitudes are formed through observation of behavior, personal factors, and environment