Social Psychology: Conformity and Groupthink

These flashcards focus on key concepts and terms related to social psychology, specifically conformity and group dynamics, to assist in understanding and studying for the exam.

Conformity

The tendency for individuals to adjust their behavior or thinking to align with group norms, often due to peer pressure.

Peer pressure

Influence from peers to conform to certain behaviors or attitudes.

Informative influence

The influence of others that leads one to accept information from them as evidence about reality.

Normative influence

The influence of others that leads one to conform in order to be liked or accepted.

Public conformity

Outwardly changing one's behavior to align with the group, while privately maintaining differing beliefs.

Private conformity

Changing one’s beliefs and behaviors to align with the group based on acceptance of the group norms.

Group polarization

The tendency of group members to shift towards a more extreme position after group discussions.

Confirmation bias

The tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms one’s preexisting beliefs.

Groupthink

A situation in which group consensus is prioritized over critical analysis, leading to poor decision-making.

Social anomie

A breakdown of social bonds and norms between individuals and their community.

Compliance

Changing one's behavior in response to a request from another person or group.

Identification

When an individual adopts the behaviors of someone they respect in order to be like them.

Internalization

Integrating beliefs or behaviors into one's own value system, leading to private adherence.

Bystander effect

The phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help a victim when there are others present.

Diffusion of responsibility

A social phenomenon wherein individuals feel less personal responsibility to act because others are present.

Social facilitation

The tendency for people to perform better on simple tasks in the presence of others.

Social loafing

The tendency for individuals to exert less effort when working in a group compared to working alone.

Hawthorne effect

The alteration of behavior by subjects of a study due to their awareness of being observed.

Agents of socialization

The individuals, groups, and organizations that influence personal attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.