Social psych day 2

Introduction

• Importance of reading instructions carefully as a volunteer.

• Sharing personal obsessions as a way to connect.

Personal Introductions

• Teacher shares recent educational experiences and background (MSU graduate).

• Mention of current obsession with a new, poorly rated TV show about couples.

• Student Edwin excited about recent book purchases, particularly a philosophy book.

Experiment on Perception and Conformity

• Description of the experiment which focuses on how different individuals perceive things.

• Participants tasked to identify which line matches a reference line, testing conformity.

• Ash Line Test: Created by Solomon Asch to study conformity in group settings.

• Participants’ responses revealed the impact of group pressure on individual decision-making.

Key Findings from the Experiment

• Conformity: Adjusting behavior to match group norms even if incorrect.

• Role of confederates (actors) to manipulate group dynamics.

• Participant Viara held out against group pressure, demonstrating individual confidence.

Factors Influencing Conformity

• More likely to conform in larger groups (at least three).

• Increased conformity when group members hold perceived higher status or intelligence.

• Social norms influence group behavior expectations (e.g., in a school setting).

• Feelings of insecurity can lead to greater likelihood of conformity.

Types of Social Influence

• Normative Social Influence: Conformity to avoid disapproval or judgment from the group.

  • Example: Avoiding sharing a different answer in class to prevent being judged.

• Informational Social Influence: Accepting others’ opinions as valid over one’s own due to group consensus.

  • Example: Questioning your own answer in a disagreement situation, like in math class.

Positive and Negative Aspects of Conformity

• Conformity can provide social cohesion and help adhere to community standards.

• However, it can stifle individual expression and critical thinking when dissenting opinions are disregarded.

• Importance of understanding group influences in decision-making contexts like voting.

Performance in Groups

• Social Facilitation:

  • Presence of others can enhance performance on well-practiced tasks.

  • Competitive environments often improve individual performance (e.g., in sports).

• Social Inhibition:

  • Increased anxiety when being watched may lead to performance decline in challenging scenarios (e.g., testing situations).

Peer Pressure and Responsibility

• Deindividuation: Losing self-awareness when part of a large group, leading to impulsive decisions contrary to personal beliefs.

• Social Loafing: Individuals exert less effort in a group context due to perceived shared responsibility.

• Example: In group projects, members may contribute less, expecting others to compensate.

The Bystander Effect

• Phenomenon where individuals are less likely to intervene in emergencies when others are present.

• Results in diffusion of responsibility; perception that someone else will take action.

• Real-world implications: can lead to inaction during critical situations.

Authority and Obedience: Milgram’s Experiment

• Overview of Milgram's electric shock experiment stemming from interest in authority following the Nuremberg Trials.

• Suggested that ordinary people can commit acts against their conscience when instructed by authority figures.

• Key Findings:

  • Majority of participants administered what they believed were harmful shocks due to the presence of an authoritative figure (researcher in lab coat).

• The experiment highlighted human susceptibility to authority and the rationale behind following orders, even harmful ones.

Cognitive Dissonance

• Tension experienced when one's actions conflict with their beliefs (e.g., knowing hurting others is wrong but acting otherwise).

• Two responses to resolve cognitive dissonance:

• Change behavior to align with beliefs (ideal solution).

• Change beliefs to justify behavior (dangerous shift).

Practical Examples

• Discussion of smoking and driving; justifications used by individuals to alleviate dissonance.

• People rationalize harmful behaviors to maintain self-concept as a 'good' person.