Psychology Unit 2

Front 1

Group

Back 1

A collection of two or more individuals who share a common purpose, interact with and influence each other

Front 2

Status

Back 2

The importance of a person within a group as perceived by others in the group. It is relative and can easily change.

Front 3

Power

Back 3

An individual's ability to control or influence the thoughts, feelings and behaviours of another person

Front 4

Types of power

Back 4

Coercive, expert, informational, legitimate, referent, reward

Front 5

Reward

Back 5

Ability to give positive consequences or remove negative consequences in response to specific behaviour

Front 6

Coercive

Back 6

Ability to give negative consequences or remove positive consequences in response to specific behaviour

Front 7

Legitimate

Back 7

An individual’s status or position in a group, institution or society in general gives them the right (authority) to exercise power over those with a lower status or with less authority

Front 8

Referent

Back 8

Individuals identify with or want to be like or liked by this person

Front 9

Expert

Back 9

Having special knowledge and skills that are desirable or needed

Front 10

Informational

Back 10

Having resources or information that are useful and are not available elsewhere

Front 11

Obedience

Back 11

Following the commands of someone with authority, or the rules/laws of our society. It is a type of compliance.

Front 12

Factors influencing obedience

Back 12

Social proximity, legitimacy of authority figure, group pressure

Front 13

Social proximity

Back 13

The closer the authority figure the more likely we are to obey when instructions are given

Front 14

Legitimacy of authority figure

Back 14

We are more likely to obey those who we perceive as having a legitimate form of authority. Legitimacy can be created via clothing (lab coat, suit), location (university, town hall), occupation (scientist, teacher, adult), etc.

Front 15

Group Pressure

Back 15

We are more likely to obey an authority figure when other members in the group support the individual. If others do not obey, we are likely to follow.

Front 16

Conformity

Back 16

Adjusting our thoughts, feelings and/or behaviours so that they are agreeable with other members in a group.We strive to act in a way that is expected and/or accepted by group members.In some situations we conform despite a difference between our feelings, thoughts and behaviours.

Front 17

Factors influencing conformity

Back 17

Group size, unanimity, informational influence, normative influence, culture, social-loafing, de-individuation

Front 18

Group size

Back 18

The greater the size of the group the more likely we are to conform

Front 19

Unanimity

Back 19

Complete agreement among the other group members. When all/the majority of the group hold the same belief we are likely to conform.

Front 20

Informational influence

Back 20

We are more likely to conform when we feel that we are incapable of making the correct decision on our own. We may believe that others will make a more accurate judgement.

Front 21

Normative influence

Back 21

We comply with others in order to be accepted and liked by a group. We feel that people will like us more if we agree with their thoughts, feelings and actions

Front 22

Culture

Back 22

Individuals from collectivist cultures are more likely to conform than individuals from individualistic cultures.

Collectivist cultures work towards group goals and encourage uniformity.

Individualistic cultures focus on individuality, personal achievement and independence.

Front 23

Social loafing

Back 23

Tendency to make less effort when involved in a group activity than when working alone.Agreeing with others requires less effort than challenging them

Front 24

De-individuation

Back 24

The sense of anonymity that can occur when we are within a group. When de-individualisation occurs we can feel that we are alone are not responsible for our behaviour. It is the responsibility of the group.

Front 25

Pro-social behaviour

Back 25

Any behaviour intended to help or benefit another person, group, or society

Front 26

Anti-social behaviour

Back 26

Any behaviour that is intentionally disruptive or harmful to the wellbeing or property of another individual or group.

Front 27

Situational factors

Back 27

Noticing the situation, interpreting the situation, taking responsibility

Front 28

Noticing the situation

Back 28

Noticing an incident that is different/unusual and may involve someone in need of help is the first step in making a helping response.We’re less likely to notice these situations when we’re in a larger group

Front 29

Interpreting the situation

Back 29

After noticing the situation we then need to interpret that help is needed.When we are uncertain, we tend to be reluctant to help.

Front 30

Taking responsibility

Back 30

We tend to help others when we believe that it is our responsibility to do so. This is influenced by proximity or knowledge.

Front 31

Bystander Effect

Back 31

We are less likely to help when other potential helpers are present.

Front 32

Diffusion of responsibility

Back 32

We are less likely to help when we expect that someone else in the group will or should take responsibility for helping.

Front 33

Social factors

Back 33

Social norms, social responsibility norm, reciprocity principle

Front 34

Social norms

Back 34

Norms are standards or ‘rules’ that govern what we should and should not do.

Front 35

Social responsibility norm

Back 35

The social norm that directs us to help those who are in need. We tend to help those who are less fortune. Helping behaviours declines when we think that the misfortune is due to ‘wrong doings’.

Front 36

Reciprocity principle

Back 36

The social norm that directs us to help others that have helped us in the past or will likely help us in the future. This is why we are less likely to help strangers.

Front 37

Personal factors

Back 37

Mood, empathy, competence, audience-inhibition, cost-benefit analysis

Front 38

Mood

Back 38

Our mood can affect whether or not we will help.

Front 39

Empathy

Back 39

The ability to identify with and understand another person’s feelings or difficulties.

Front 40

Competence

Back 40

Having the skills and/or knowledge to help another. We can’t help someone when we don’t have the skills or know how to help.

Front 41

Audience-inhibtion

Back 41

Not helping another person for fear of appearing foolish and/or embarrassing yourself

Front 42

Cost-benefit analysis

Back 42

Weighing up the personal and social benefits of helping against ‘costs’ of helping. We tend to help when the benefits outweigh the costs, and less likely to when they don’t.

Front 43

Altruism

Back 43

Pro-social behaviour that involves no personal gain, reward or benefit. Many argue that true altruism is rare. Many more argue that there is no such thing as true altruism.