Group Influence and Prejudice

Agenda 1. Review Asch and Obedience (15) 2. Prejudice (20) 3. Discuss the Jane Elliot Study (15) 4. America in 1968, Police footage (CSPAN) (15) 5. Stereotypes and Prejudice, toys! (15) 6. Target article. (10)

3 Reasons for Conforming with 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. (ex. Clothing) Informational Social Influence: The group may provide valuable information about how to act. You’re new to school and just go with the flow at a pep rally

4 Our behavior can change in the presence of others Social facilitation: Refers to improved performance on tasks in the presence of others. Social loafing: The tendency of an individual in a group to exert less effort toward attaining a common goal because the attention is not on them. Michelle Agnis/ NYT Pictures Example: Group work. Some people do the work others don’t but still get the good grade

5 Deindividuation: Mob mentality 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. Mob behavior

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

7 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

8 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. Gandhi Margaret Bourke-White/ Life Magazine. © 1946 Time Warner, Inc.

Prejudice and Racism

10 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 PsychologicalSocialEconomicCultural 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

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

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

14 Us vs. Them Ingroup: 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. Leads to the Just- World – Effect The tendency of people to believe the world is just, because “bad” people get what they deserve

Toys!!!