Group Influence and Prejudice Bell Ringer Agenda What is a social norm? Come up with three examples of a social norm. Prejudice Discuss the Jane Elliot Study America in 1968, Police footage (CSPAN) Target article. Stereotyping activity

Group Influence and Prejudice Social Psychology Group Influence and Prejudice

Reasons for Conforming to the Group Normative Social Influence Influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid rejection A person may respect normal behavior because there may be a severe price to pay if not respected. Informational social influence The group may provide valuable information about how to act Ex. You’re new to school and just go with the flow at a pep rally

Behaviors can change around others Social Facilitating Refers to improved performance on tasks in the presence of others. Social Loathing The tendency of an individual in a group to exert less effort toward attaining a common goal because the attention is not on them Ex. Group work. Some people do the work others don’t but still get the good grade

De-individualism Mob Mentality Ex. Freddie Gray “Protest” 2015 The loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in group situations makes you act like you wouldn’t normally act because you think you can’t be held accountable. Ex. Freddie Gray “Protest” 2015

Effects of Group Interaction Group Polarization Enhances a group’s prevailing attitudes though discussion If a group is like-minded, discussion strengthens its prevailing attitudes and opinions.

Groupthink Disastrous consequence of group polarization It is mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision- making group overrides the realistic alternatives or viewpoints. Example: leads to poor decisions that can effect many people

Power of Individuals The power of social influence is enormous, but so is the power of the individual. Non-violent fasts and appeals by Gandhi led to the independence of India from the British. Margaret Bourke-White/ Life Magazine. © 1946 Time Warner, Inc. Preview Question 6: How much power do we have as individuals? Can a minority sway a majority? Gandhi

Prejudice and Racism

Prejudice Simply called “prejudgment,” a prejudice is an unjustifiable(usually negative) attitude toward a group and its members. Prejudice is often directed towards different cultural, ethnic, or gender groups.

Sources of Prejudice Psychological Social Economic Cultural Low self-esteem   Anxiety Insecurity Groupthink Conformity Parental messages Societal messages (ads, etc.) Majority’s desire to preserve its status Competition for jobs, power, resources Ethnocentrism Desire for group identity The justification of war

How Prejudiced are People? Over the duration of time many prejudices against interracial marriage, gender, homosexuality, and minorities have decreased.

Racial & Gender Prejudice Americans today express much less racial and gender prejudice, but prejudices still exist.

Us vs. Them Ingroup Outgroup Ingroup Bias The Just-World-Effect People with whom one shares a common identity. Outgroup Those perceived as different from one’s ingroup. Ingroup Bias The tendency to favor one’s own group. The Just-World-Effect The tendency of people to believe the world is just, because “bad” people get what they deserve

Jane Elliot http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/class-divided/

Stereotyping Activity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0LbhQyIdpE&index=11&list=PLbzbAr COdooBD5HhF53LZQXY4Aoe-wDX6