Group Behavior

Social Facilitation Theory If you are really good at something….or it is an easy task…you will perform BETTER in front of a group. If it is a difficult task or you are not very good at it…you will perform WORSE in front of a group. Think of super fans at sporting events!

Social Loafing When people work together, they may slack off and not try as hard Especially likely to occur when people see that other members of the group are not pulling weight

Diffusion of Responsibility Social loafing may be caused by diffusion of responsibility The tendency for people to feel less responsible for accomplishing a task when the effort is shared among members of a group Feel less accountable, less likely to worry about what others think, devalue their portion

Risky Shift A social phenomenon – the tendency for people to take greater risks as part of a group than they would as individuals acting on their own People may feel more powerful (or less vulnerable) as a group All share responsibility

Group Decision Making Used in real life all the time Committees, juries, Congress, friends… Psychologists have identified social decision making schemes Rules that govern group decision making

Majority-Win Scheme Decision is the majority Which movie? Comedy or action? 3 out of 5 friends say comedy, after some discussion, they see a comedy. Most often situations in which there are no right or wrong choices

Truth-Wins Scheme Realize that one option is better than the others as they learn more The comedy time is 7pm, while the action movie only shows at 11pm and is half full already Decision that is based on a clearly better choice between their two options

Two-Thirds-Majority Wins Usually juries, the initial 2/3 decision is reached

First-Shift Scheme Applies to groups in deadlock, 50/50 on decision One friend who wants to see the action film gives in to discussion and votes comedy. Once that friends shifts their decision, others might too.

Group Polarization Groups usually share similar attitudes (as we know!) You join a group that you feel stronger about The shared attitudes are likely to grow stronger through time = polarization

Group Polarization Can be positive or negative Increase prejudice Groups tend to make more extreme decisions than the individual

Deindividuation People get swept up in a group and lose sense of self. Feel anonymous and aroused Explains rioting behaviors

Groupthink Group members suppress their reservations about the ideas supported by the group They are more concerned with group harmony Worse in highly cohesive groups

Zimbardo’s Prison Study Showed how we deindividuate AND become the roles we are given What do you think happened?

Leadership Styles Leaders help identify goals, establish and implement a plan, as well as emotional support Leaders can be chosen from inside or outside the group

Authoritarian Exert absolute control over all decisions for the group Military leaders Expect orders to be carried out immediately and without question

Democratic Encourage group members to express and discuss their ideas and to make their own decisions Build consensus May request a vote, follow decision of the majority

Laissez-Faire Encourages group members to express and explore their own ideas Tend to take a less active role in the decision-making process Group moves in whatever direction

Comparing the Leaders Crisis, Authoritarian is probably better for making decisions quickly Democratic or Laissez-faire may be better when group members need to grow as individuals , while searching for new ideas, or helping other members solve problems in their own lives

Conformity To modify one’s attitudes and behavior to make them consistent with those of other people Helps the need of attention, affection, and belonging

Asch’s Study of Conformity

Asch’s Results About 1/3 of the participants conformed 70% conformed at least once To strengthen conformity: The group is unanimous The group is at least three people. One admires the group’s status One had made no prior commitment

Conformity Cultural, Asian cultures you are part of your family Need for acceptance, usually low self-esteem and high social anxiety Value being liked over being right Fear of ridicule or rejection if you stand out

Milgram’s Study Of Obedience

Results of the Milgram Study

What did we learn from Milgram? Ordinary people can do shocking things. Ethical issues…. Would not have received approval from today’s IRB (Internal Review Board).

Why do people obey? Socialization Foot-in-the-Door Effect You are taught to obey authority from a young age Foot-in-the-Door Effect Tendency for people to give in to a large demand if they already gave into smaller ones Confusion about Attitudes Will become less aware of their own beliefs and will act against them Buffers When you can’t see the consequences of their behavior

Social Norms Are an accepted (but often unspoken) standard for appropriate behavior. May vary from culture to culture Guidelines for certain situations: what to wear, how to act, what to eat, when and where to make a joke Explicit are spoken or written Implicit are unspoken or unwritten

Social Norms Here are some examples In U.S. say excuse me when interrupt someone else; eat with mouth closed. In Asian countries take off shoes upon entering house. In Latin American and European countries, people might kiss each other on the cheek upon greeting once, twice, three times and sometimes even four times! It is normal for the prison guards to bark orders and be emotionless while prisoners follow orders.

Social Norms Bathing Smoking Drinking Talking during a movie Wearing certain clothes to an event Weddings, funerals

Altruism Altruism: an unselfish concern for the welfare of other people. Altruistic people sacrifice their own well-being to help others in need Genes? Helps pass them on? People are more likely to help others when they are in a good mood People who have problems may also, sensitive Empathy?

Altruism/Prosocial Behavior? Hope to gain approval of others Help a homeless person? Inhibiting altruism: Nothing you can do to help Afraid of ridicule or social blunder May offend someone Dangerous situations of self injury

Bystander Effect People are less likely to give help when other people are around Hear a seizure in a cubicle near you… 85% helped when they were the only ones to hear 31% helped when they thought 4 other people could hear WHY!?

Prosocial Behavior Kitty Genovese case in Kew Gardens NY Bystander Effect: Conditions in which people are more or less likely to help one another. In general…the more people around…the less chance of help….because of… Diffusion of Responsibility Pluralistic Ignorance People decide what to do by looking to others.