Group Processes and Dynamics Flashcards

Flashcards covering social facilitation, social loafing, deindividuation, group polarization, and groupthink based on the lecture transcript.

Collective Processes

Psychological processes instigated by the mere presence of others, including social facilitation and social loafing.

Social Facilitation

The tendency to perform better on simple or well-learned tasks and worse on complex or novel tasks when in the presence of others.

Triplett (1898)

The researcher who first observed that bicycle racers and children winding fishing reels performed faster in the presence of others than alone.

Dominant Response

The reaction elicited most quickly and easily by a given stimulus; it is typically the correct response for easy tasks and the incorrect response for difficult tasks.

Social Loafing

The tendency for individuals to exert less effort when they believe their individual contributions are not being measured or they are not held individually accountable.

Latané et al (1979)

Researchers who found that as group size increases, the sound pressure of clapping and cheering produced per person decreases.

Deindividuation

The loss of a person’s sense of individuality and the reduction of constraints against deviant behavior, often occurring in group settings where identity is merged with a crowd.

Beaman et al (1977)

A study on Halloween where anonymous children in groups were found to be the most likely to steal extra candy compared to those who were individuated or alone.

Accountability

A factor in deindividuation; when people feel they are not personally responsible for their actions, they are more likely to engage in deviant behaviors.

Group Polarization

The phenomenon where group discussion leads to decisions or viewpoints that are more extreme than the initial inclinations of the individual members.

Persuasive Arguments

A cause of polarization where group members develop extreme arguments to convince others, shifting the overall consensus toward an extreme.

Social Comparison

A cause of polarization where individuals first adopt the majority opinion and then shift to a more extreme version of it to fit in or distinguish themselves.

Outgroup Derogation

Becoming more extreme in one's views as a way to combat or react against the perceived extremity of an opposing group.

Middle-Ground Fallacy

Also known as the 'argument to moderation,' it is the false assumption that a middle-ground position between two extremes is necessarily the correct one.

Groupthink

A decision-making style where maintaining group solidarity and cohesiveness is more important than considering facts or alternative viewpoints.

Self-censorship

A symptom of groupthink where group members refrain from voicing contrary opinions to maintain group cohesion.

Illusion of Invulnerability

A symptom of groupthink where the group believes it is strong and resistant to all threats or errors.

Illusion of Unanimity

A symptom of groupthink where it appears everyone is in agreement because dissenting voices are ignored or overlooked.

Devil's Advocate

A suggested method for avoiding groupthink where one person is assigned to challenge the group's prevailing opinions and point out potential flaws.

Zajonc (1965, 1980)

The researcher who proposed that the presence of others increases physiological arousal, which in turn strengthens the dominant response.