Ch. 16: Social Thinking and Social Influence

Sociology

• is the study of society and social behavior at a broad, often macro-level.

  • It examines social structures, institutions (like family, religion, and government), and societal norms

Social Psychology

• focuses on individual behavior within social contexts, typically at a micro-level

  • studies topics like perception, attitudes, group dynamics, and interpersonal relationships, often focusing on psychological processes within a social setting.

Unit 1 The Fundamentals of Social Groups

Ingroup

any group to which you feel a sense of belonging

• Ingroup favoritism: behavior that gives advantage or bias towards people of the same group

Outgroup

any group to which you do not belong 

-left out, isolation

group characteristics

define whether you are “ingroup” or “outgroup"

-Theses characteristics can be physical or non-physical (beliefs, personality, etc.)

Structure and Cohesion

• Group structure:  Network of roles, communication, and power in a group

-Basis for power that groups exert

-If there is a leader

• Cohesiveness: The extent to which group members want to remain in the group. How well they work together. 

Norms

• Widely accepted standard for appropriate behavior within the group

  • such as personal space, greetings, dress codes, voice volume, tipping, gender norms, etc. 

social role

• pattern of behavior expected by one in a particular position within the group

• Role conflicts: Two or more roles making conflicting demands:

-“father” versus “Employee”

father vs lawyer

missing a baseball game for your son because you got called in to work

-”friend” vs “leader”

Social status and power

• Status: the degree to which group members respect and admire a person

• Power: Degree to which person can control the behavior of others

*In general, men tend to prefer social power, while women tend to prefer social status

Social Cognition

-Process of thinking about ourselves and others in a social context

Social comparison: evaluating actions, feelings, opinions, or abilities against those of others

-Someone has a big house, expensive car, etc.

-can be down as well like bad car, small house

• Similar background, abilities, and circumstances

Unit 2 Attitudes and Cognitive Dissonance

Forming Attitudes

A positive or negative perception of people, objects, or issues

• Formed by:

  • Direct contact

  • Interaction with others

  • Media

  • Genetic and biological predispositions

  • Caregiver influence!

    • Nature vs Nurture

Cognitive Dissonance

-When our attitudes contradict one another, or when cognitive and behavioral aspects of an attitude are inconsistent. Typically leads to psychological discomfort. 

• When need consistency in thoughts and behaviors

• Inconsistency can motivate changes in attitudes

Dissonance-promoting behaviors:

• choosing between two options

• What we believe vs. what we do

Cognitive Dissonance Example

• Smoking despite knowing the health risks

• unhealthy eating while wanting to be healthy

• Eating mass-produced meat while caring for animal welfare

Unit 3 Social Influence

Defining Social Influence

When people interact, they almost always affect one another’s behavior

Social facilitation

presence of others has ability to improve others.

“I study better when around other people who are also studying.”

Social interference

presence of others impairs one’s performance

“I play worse when other people are watching me.”

Mere Presence:

people alter or change their typical behavior because others are nearby and might be watching

-Teacher walks in the classroom

Social loafing

tendency to exert less effort when part of a group than when alone

ex 10 people are doing the same project, so less effort in it

Conformity

bringing behaviors into agreement with perceived social norms

1. Others can serve as a useful source of information (how should I behave?).

2. We have a strong need to be accepted by our ingroups and not be the outgroup in most situation

Sherif’s autokinetic study

• The autokinetic effect is when a stationary spot of light appears to move due to small movements of the eye

• Sherif told participants to estimate by how far the spot of light had moved

  • asked individually

  • then exposed to the estimates of two other participants

  • Estimates tended to converge to a group norm which was an average of these individuals’ estimates

Asch’s Line Judgment Studies

people conform even when they don’t agree with the group:

• actors purposely gave incorrect answers to see if group pressure would cause agreement from participants of the study

• about 75% yielded and provided wrong answer

Who Conforms? And why?

Persuasiveness

attempt to change beliefs through information or argument

1. Reciprocity: desire to give back “in kind” when you receive an unexpected gift

2. Commitment: desire to maintain consistency in what you’ve already said or done

3. Social Proof: Desire to follow the lead of those who are similar to you

4. Liking: Desire to agree with a person who resembles you or shares the same values

5. Authority: Desire to trust and agree with an “expert” based on visual cues (lab coat, uniform, power)

6. Scarcity: desire to get something that is limited or difficult to obtain (time, quantity, space)

7. Emotional appeal

Obedience: Compliance with Authority Figures

Coercion

Strongly misled pr forced to change beliefs or behavior against your preference

Cults:

Social groups defined by unquestioning devotion to unusual ideas being put forward by a charismatic leader

• trading personal independence and critical thinking for securoty within the group

-most cult members do not know they are in a cult

brainwashing

forced attitude change that requires a captive audience; requires complete control over environment

Cults

1. Authoritarian, charismatic leader

2. Group has an indoctrination of “thought reform” program (brainwashing/mind control techniques)

3. Exploitation (financial, sexual, etc.). Typically preys on the vulnerable.

-Cult Tendencies: Isolation from others, “Us vs Them”, and controlling.

Children of God

• Revolutionary Christianity and "End Times" Focus.

• Sexual Doctrines and "Law of Love“ and “Flirty Fishing.”

The People’s Temple

Jim Jones, a religious cult leader and civil rights activist, convinced over 900 followers to drink cyanide-laced punch,leading to one of the deadliest
events of its kind.