4 pages essay
Chae
GroupProcesses1.pptx
Group Processes pt. I
Individuals in a group
Social Influence
Humans are highly social beings
Much of our cognition and behavior is shaped by the social environment
Being in a social environment changes our performance on a task
Social Facilitation
Being around others can cause social facilitation or social impairment
Social facilitation Performing a task better/faster/with more ease when in the presence of others
Social Facilitation and Sports
Runners run faster with others around them
Sports teams do better when there is a large audience
Gym-goers report better workouts when the gym is crowded
Social Facilitation and Self-Regulation
Self-regulation is easier around others
Individuals eat more unhealthy foods when they’re alone
We are less likely to litter in a crowded park
Working in a crowded coffee-shop increases concentration
Social Facilitation
Researchers attribute social facilitation to two effects
Co-action effect it is easier to perform a task with others performing the same task near by
Running in a group, working in a coffee shop
Audience effect we perform a task better when we think others are watching
A sports team with an audience, littering in a busy park
Social Impairment
Being around others can also be impairing
This occurs for two reasons
Fear of evaluation We get nervous with others watching
Distraction We cannot focus if the social setting is too enriching
Facilitation vs Impairment
The presence of facilitation vs. impairment relies on arousal
Arousal A state of elevated physiological and psychological awareness; “alertness”
The presence of others increases our arousal
Some arousal leads to facilitation
Too much arousal leads to impairment
Group Formation
How groups are formed, internalized, and perform
Groups
Much of social psychology is founded on our tendency to form groups
Task-oriented groups: Groups that form to perform a specific purpose
Sports teams, study groups
Proximal groups: Groups that are physically close and therefore share similar experiences
Neighborhoods, passengers
Identity groups: Groups that share a key trait or characteristic central to the members’ identities
Racial groups, countries
Group Socialization
Group socialization The process by which individuals integrate themselves with a group
Socialization occurs through increased interdependence
The intertwining of our affect, behavior, and cognition with another being
Example 1: First Year of College
Socialization occurred when we joined Miami’s community
Affective interdependence We feel pride when Miami does well in sports, gets recognized as an elite school, or gets a large donation
Behavioral interdependence We all follow similar customs in terms of how we dress, talk, and act on campus
Cognitive interdependence Our identity as Miami students is a prominent part of our self-concept
Example 2: Radicalization
Socialization leads to the recruitment and growth of extremist groups, such as the neo-Nazi movement
Affective interdependence Socialization facilitated greater hate/disgust towards minority group members
Behavioral interdependence Neo-Nazi members share terminology, dress in similar ways, and create shared rituals
Cognitive interdependence Cognitive structure is shaped by the group. Aggression is more accessible, race is more central to identity
Harmony and Performance
Groups serve two important functions:
They create harmony and cooperation
They perform functions that cannot be done alone
Social Norms
Groups help achieve harmony by instituting social norms
Social norms Unwritten, agreed upon terms that guide thinking and behavior
Social norms prevent conflict and create a sense of unity
Example: Pledge of Allegiance
In the U.S., government sessions, trials, and most public schools start with a vow of allegiance to the U.S. flag
Reinforces group identity, gives shared purpose
Example: Manners
Most groups use manners to show respect
“Please and thank you”
Eye contact and a smile
Respect personal space in public places
Failing to follow a cultures guidelines results in ostracism or sanctions
The Function of Social Norms
Some norms are functional, others serve no obvious purpose
Functional norms in the U.S.:
Every car drives on the right side of the road
Most people are young adults when they have children
In a restaurant, only the person eating the food touches it with their hands
Arbitrary norms in the U.S.:
Infants dress in clothing that matches their gender
We do not eat the meat of certain animals
Appropriate clothing is often not the most functional or comfortable
Groups and Performance
Groups also facilitate better/easier performance on tasks
Humans’ evolutionary advantage: divide labor, communicate, delegate
This is why we are social animals
Social Loafing
Working in a group can also impede group performance
Social loafing Putting in less effort onto a task when working in a group
Less accountability: “no one will know if I slack”
Diffusion of responsibility: “somebody else will do it”
Expectation: “I’m not going to be the only one that tries”
Social loafing is reduced by accountability, assigning specific roles
Groupthink
Groupthink: Passive agreement with the group decision
Group members often conform to:
Avoid critical thinking
Avoid being ostracized
Group opinions are often slow to adapt, not subject to critical evaluation
Darley & Latané (1969)
Participants placed in a room to fill out a questionnaire
Control: Participants were alone in the room
Experimental: Participants in a room with 10 confederates
The room started filling-up with smoke from a closet
Confederates did not react
Control: 100% of participants left the room and reported
Experimental: < 15% of participants reacted
