Ch 8+9 - Groups & Social Influence

Informational Conformity

We conform because we believe that others’ interpretation of a situation is more correct than our interpretation - leads to private acceptance

Normative Conformity

Conforming in our behaviors or beliefs to be accepted or liked - public compliance without (usually) private acceptance of those behaviors or beliefs

What type of social influence and lead to mass psychogenic illness?

Informative Conformity

When are people most likely to conform to informational social influence?

• When the situation is ambiguous.

• When the situation is a crisis.

• When other people are seen as experts.

When do people conform to normative social influence?

• When group size is three or more.

• When the group is important to us.

• When we have no allies in the group.

• When the group mentality is collectivist.

• When we have low self-esteem.

• Gender differences = tiny.

Stanford Prison Experiment

• Milgram wanted to do this experiment to see the effects of obedience to authority, to compare it to the Holocaust

• Very successful and unethical

• Social norms and roles: “Prisoners“ started to see themselves as less than human and take on their degrading role, as “Guards“ started to abuse power, or ignore the others that did

• While this experiment is very unethical, it has been replicated in real-life situations, and similarities likely show up in prisons and detention centers today in America

What constitutes a group?

Two or more people who interact and are interdependent - in the sense that their needs and goals cause them to influence each other.

Ex: a family is a group, but all citizens of the United States is not

What is Social Facilitation?

You are the only person being evaluated by what you’re doing - makes easy tasks easier and complex tasks more difficult because of the increase in adrenaline

ex: answering a question in front of your whole class: 2+2 vs 1052 × 65

What is Social Loafing?

When you are in a group, you feel like your personal efforts can’t be evaluated, so you slack off

Ex: me in a pep rally

Explain Deindividuation

Everyone is doing something together in a group, making them feel less accountable as an individual, which increases obedience to group norms

Negative Example: Racist mobs, People on the internet, scene from To Kill a Mockingbird - mob mentality

Positive Example: Concert, Party (singing and dancing)

When does Groupthink occur?

• The group is highly cohesive

• The group is isolated

• The group has a directive leader

• The members perceive threats to the group, causing high stress

• When there are no standard methods to consider alternative viewpoints

What is the relationship between personality traits and leadership abilities?

There is a weak relationship - Leaders are only slightly more intelligent, extroverted, confident, and charismatic.

What is a social dilemma?

Conflict in which the most beneficial action for an individual will have harmful effects on everyone.