Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall 10-1 Invitation To Psychology Carol Wade and Carol Tavris PowerPoint Presentation by H. Lynn Bradman Metropolitan Community College-Omaha

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall 10-2 Behavior in Social and Cultural Context

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall 10-3 Behavior in Social and Cultural Context Roles and Rules Social Influences on Beliefs Individuals in Groups Us Versus Them: Group Identity Group Conflicts and Prejudice

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall 10-4 Roles and Rules

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall 10-5 Roles and Rules The Obedience Study The Prison Study The Power of Roles

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall 10-6 The Obedience Study Stanley Milgram and coworkers investigated whether people would follow orders, even when the order violated their ethical standards. Most people were far more obedient than anyone expected. –Every single participant complied with at least some orders to shock another person Results are controversial and have generated much research on violence and obedience.

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall 10-7 The Power of Roles Factors that cause people to obey –Allocating responsibility to the authority –Routinizing the task –Wanting to be polite –Becoming entrapped Entrapment: A gradual process in which individuals escalate their commitment to a course of action to justify their investment of time, money, or effort.

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall 10-8 Social Influences on Beliefs

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall 10-9 Social Influences on Beliefs Attributions Attitudes

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Attributions Attribution Theory: –The theory that people are motivated to explain their own and other peoples’ behavior by attributing causes of that behavior to a situation or a disposition. Fundamental Attribution Error: –The tendency, in explaining other people’s behavior, to overestimate personality factors and underestimate the influence of the situation.

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Attitudes Attitude: –A relatively stable opinion containing beliefs and emotional feelings about a topic. Validity Effect: –The tendency of people to believe that a statement is true or valid simply because it has been repeated many times.

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Influencing Attitudes

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Coercive Persuasion Person is under physical or emotional duress. Person’s problems are reduced to one simple explanation, repeated often. Leader offers unconditional love, acceptance, and attention. New identity based on group is created. Person is subjected to entrapment. Person’s access to information is controlled.

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Individuals in Groups

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Individuals in Groups Conformity Groupthink The Anonymous Crowd Courage and Nonconformity

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall A B CSample No, it’s not hard! Conformity Subjects in a group were asked to match line lengths. Confederates in the group picked the wrong line. Subjects went along with the wrong answer on 37% of trials.

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Groupthink In close-knit groups, the tendency for all members to think alike and suppress disagreement for the sake of harmony. Symptoms of Groupthink: –Illusion of invincibility –Self-censorship –Pressure on dissenters to conform –Illusion of unanimity

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall The Anonymous Crowd Diffusion of Responsibility: –In organized or anonymous groups, the tendency of members to avoid taking responsibility for actions or decisions because they assume that others will do so. Deindividuation: –In groups or crowds, the loss of awareness of one’s own individuality.

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Courage and Nonconformity Situational factors contributing to nonconformity: –You perceive the need for intervention or help. –Situation makes it more likely that you will take responsibility. –Cost-benefit ratio supports your decision to get involved. –You have an ally. –You become entrapped.

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Us Versus Them: Group Identity

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Us Versus Them: Group Identity Ethnic Identity Ethnocentrism Stereotypes

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Ethnic Identity Social Identity: –The part of a person’s self-concept that is based on identification with a nation, culture, or group or with gender or other roles in society. Ethnic Identity: –A person’s identification with a racial, religious, or ethnic group. Acculturation: –The process by which members of minority groups come to identify with and feel part of the mainstream culture.

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Acculturation Strategies

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Ethnocentrism The belief that one’s own ethnic group, nation, or religion is superior to all others.

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Robbers’ Cave Experiment Boys were randomly separated into two groups –“Rattlers” and “Eagles” Competitions fostered hostility between the groups. Experimenters contrived situations requiring cooperation for success. Cross-group friendships increased.

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Stereotypes Stereotype: –A cognitive schema or a summary impression of a group, in which a person believes that all members of the group share a common trait or traits (positive, negative, or neutral).

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Group Conflicts and Prejudice

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Group Conflicts and Prejudice The Origins of Prejudice Varieties of Prejudice Reducing Prejudice and Conflict

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Reducing Prejudice and Conflict Groups must have equal legal status, economic opportunities, and power. Authorities and community institutions must endorse egalitarian norms and provide moral support and legitimacy for both sides. Both sides must have opportunities to work and socialize together, formally and informally. Both sides must cooperate, working together for a common goal.

Wade and Tavris © 2005 Prentice Hall Bridging the Cultural Divide Tips for Successful Travel: –Be sure you understand the other culture’s rules, manners, and customs. –When in Rome, do as the Romans do as much as possible. –Avoid stereotyping.