Psy 2510 Ch. 8

Front 1

Collectives

Back 1

An assembly of people engaging in common activity, but having little direct contact. This is NOT a real group!

Front 2

Groups

Back 2

2 or more people perceived as having at least 1 of the following: Direct interactions over a period of time; Joint membership in a social category; and/or A shared, common fate, identity, or set of goals.

Front 3

Roles

Back 3

A set of expected behaviors for individuals in a group. They can be formally or informally defined, but most functional if they are clear and based on an individual's talents.

Front 4

Norms

Back 4

General rules of conduct - They provide a sense of what it means to be a "good" group member.

Front 5

Cohesiveness

Back 5

Feelings of unity and commitment to group goals.

Front 6

Triplett's Bike Study

Back 6

First found that people ride bikes faster in the presence of others. Then later found that the presence of others sometimes increased performance, but sometimes it DEcreased it!

Front 7

Zajonc' Solution / Social Facilitation

Back 7

Process by which the mere presence of others strengthens one's dominant response.

a) Mere presence of others elicits physiological arousal

b) Arousal strengthens your dominant response [If it's easy for you, you get better; if it's difficult for you, you get worse]

Front 8

Evaluation Apprehension Theory

Back 8

Social facilitation will occur only in the presence of others who evaluate your performance (This causes worry which causes the social facilitation)

Front 9

Distraction-Conflict Theory

Back 9

Presence of others is distracting, which then causes attentional conflict, which then starts the social facilitation train.

Front 10

Social Loafing

Back 10

Reduction in individual output in group tasks in which contributions are pooled. Since the contributions are pooled, there's a diffusion of responsibility, making the loafer not feel personally responsible.

Front 11

Factors that Reduce social loafing

Back 11

1. You believe your performance can be identified and evaluated

2. Task is important to you

3. You believe your effort is crucial for success

4. Group expects to be punished for poor performance

5. Group is small

6. Group is cohesive

Front 12

Deindividuation

Back 12

The loss of a person's sense of individuality leading to a reduction of normal constraints against deviant behavior. This will occur when people are aroused, feel anonymous and less personally responsible.

Front 13

Brainstorming

Back 13

Technique to increase creative ideas by encouraging free expression without criticism in groups.

Front 14

Production blocking

Back 14

Problem with B-storming. People forget ideas while waiting their turn.

Front 15

Free riding

Back 15

Problem with b-storming. Essentially is social loafing. People are lazy.

Front 16

Evaluation Apprehension

Back 16

Problem with b-storming. Afraid others will dislike their idea.

Front 17

Performance Matching

Back 17

Problem with b-storming. One will only work as hard as others are.

Front 18

Solution to Brainstorming Problems

Back 18

Electronic brainstorming.

Front 19

Risky Shift Phenomenon

Back 19

People initially believed that decisions became riskier through group discussion. This became known as "group polarization."

Front 20

Group Polarization

Back 20

The tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the initial inclination of the members. If they were initially cautious, their decision is more cautious, initially risky, decision is more risky.

Front 21

Persuasive Arguments Theory

Back 21

Each individual makes arguments to support the initial inclination, making it appear more and more accurate.

Front 22

Groupthink

Back 22

When the need for group agreement takes priority over making the best decision.

Front 23

Causes of Groupthink

Back 23

- Stressful situation

- Group is cohesive

- Group structure is isolated from others, has a strong directive leader, and the group lacks decision making procedures.

Front 24

Effects of Groupthink

Back 24

- Close-mindedness

- Pressure to conform, causing self-censorship and mindguards

- Defective decision making: Fail to consider alternatives and risks, and fail to make contingency plans.

Front 25

Preventing Groupthink

Back 25

- Define rules and processes

- Encourage everyone to participate

- Create subgroups

- Examine alternatives

- Support and debate conflict

- Assign devil's advocates

- Leader remains impartial

- Seek anonymous opinions

- Seek outside opinions

Front 26

Escalation Effects

Back 26

Increasing commitment to a failing course of action; Justify investments that have already been made, which you'd lose if you quit.

Front 27

Social Dilemmas

Back 27

Situations in which the best option for an individual is the worst option for the group. What do?

Front 28

Prisoner's Dilemma

Back 28

The competitive decision is the best option for the individual, however, if BOTH compete, both suffer more than if they had both cooperated.

Front 29

Resource Dilemma

Back 29

Occurs when individuals have to share a limited resource. Two types: Commons and Public goods dilemmas.

Front 30

Commons Dilemma

Back 30

If people take as much as they want of a shared resource, it will run out before it can renew itself. However, if each takes a limited amount it will replenish itself. (Hunting)

Front 31

Public Goods Dilemma

Back 31

All individuals must contribute resources to a common pool or it will run out for everyone. (Taxes)