Group Dynamics and Social Influence Concepts

Sucker Effect

A phenomenon in group settings where individuals reduce their effort because they fear being taken advantage of by less motivated members, leading to suboptimal outcomes.

Social Loafing

The tendency for individuals to put in less effort when working in a group compared to when they work alone—often due to diffusion of responsibility and reduced accountability.

Facilitation (Social Facilitation)

The improvement in individual performance when others are present, as the presence of peers or observers increases arousal, which can enhance performance on well-practiced or simple tasks.

Collective Effort Model

A framework stating that an individual's motivation in group tasks depends on how valuable the outcome is and whether they believe their contribution is indispensable. Factors such as being noticed (spotlight effect) versus being anonymous can alter one's effort.

Social Compensation

A counteracting process where individuals work harder in group settings when they know their performance is identifiable and critical, offsetting the typical tendency toward social loafing.

Spotlight Effect

The phenomenon where individuals increase their effort because they believe their actions are being closely observed, leading to heightened accountability.

Anonymity

A condition in group contexts where a person's identity is concealed or less emphasized, often reducing accountability and increasing the likelihood of social loafing or even deviant behaviors.

Deindividuation

A state in which individuals lose their sense of personal identity—often due to anonymity or high sensory stimulation—which can reduce self-regulation and, in some cases, lead to aggressive or uncharacteristic behaviors.

Social Influence

The process by which an individual's thoughts, feelings, or behaviors are affected by others, whether through direct pressure, modeling, or the mere presence of other people.

Self-Awareness Theory

The idea that when individuals focus their attention on themselves, they become more aware of their internal standards and values, which then guide their behavior—often leading to more socially acceptable actions in group settings.

Group Polarization

A phenomenon in which group discussions amplify the pre-existing inclinations of its members, leading to decisions or opinions that are more extreme than those of individual members acting alone. The document notes that while some studies show groups making riskier decisions, others have found groups may become more cautious.

Groupthink

A process in which the desire for harmony and conformity in a group leads to flawed decision making. Members suppress dissenting viewpoints and critical analysis in favor of consensus, sometimes ignoring vital information.

Normative Influence

The pressure on individuals to conform to group norms or expectations, often leading people to adopt the group's views or decisions even if they privately disagree.

Mindguarding

A behavior in groups where dissenting information or opposing viewpoints are suppressed or filtered out by group members, which can contribute to poor decision making.

Devil's Advocate

A role or strategy in group decision-making wherein one person challenges prevailing assumptions or proposals in order to stimulate critical evaluation and prevent premature consensus.

Informational Influence

The process by which people conform because they believe others have accurate information, particularly in ambiguous or uncertain situations; this can lead to conformity even when the group's decision might be flawed.