AP Psych Unit 4 | The Power of Group Dynamics

conformity

the process by which individuals adjust their thoughts, feelings, or behavior to align with those of a group, as a result of real or imagined group pressure

normative social influence

the influence to conform to the positive expectation of others, driven by the desire to be liked or accepted by the group

social norms

unwritten rules that dictate acceptable behavior within a society or group, influencing how individuals act and interact

social comparison

the process of evaluating oneself by comparing with others, often to assess one’s abilities status, or opinions

relative deprivation

a feeling of dissatisfaction or injustice experienced when individuals compare themselves to others and perceive that they are worse off

upward social comparison

comparing oneself to others who are perceived to be better off or more skilled, which can motivate self-improvement but may also decrease self-esteem

downward social comparison

comparing oneself to others who are perceived to be worse off or less skilled, which can boost self-esteem but may also foster complacency

informational social influence

the influence to accept information from others as evidence about reality, often occurring in situations where the correct action or belief is uncertain

obedience

the act of following direct commands, usually from an authority figure, even if they contradict personal beliefs or morals

social facilitation

the tendency for people to perform differently when in the presence of others, typically showing improved performance on simple or well-practiced tasks and worse performance on complex or new tasks

group polarization

when people in a group talk about an idea, they often end up agreeing even more strongly with each other, making their group opinion more extreme

groupthink

the desire for harmony or conformity in a group leading to irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcomes

• members suppress dissenting opinions, leading to a loss of individual creativity and responsibility

bystander effect

the phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present

• the more bystanders, the less likely an individual is to help

diffusion of responsibility

the tendency for individuals to feel less responsible for taking action or helping in a situation where others are present

• leads to a decrease in the likelihood of intervention

social loafing

the tendency for individuals to exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone

deindividuation

a psychological state where individuals lose their self-awareness and sense of individuality in group settings

• often leads to impulsive and deviant behavior