Psychology Chapter on Social Behavior

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT a factor that reduces the likelihood of social loafing?

The group is composed of close friends.

The task is perceived as unimportant. (correct)

The group is working on a difficult task.

Individual contributions can be easily identified.

According to the minimal group paradigm, what can lead to in-group favoritism?

Arbitrary distinctions like eye color. (correct)

Similar political views.

Common occupation.

Shared religious beliefs.

What is 'process loss' in the context of group dynamics?

The spread of false information within a group.

A decrease in group performance due to poor communication. (correct)

The tendency to conform to the majority opinion within a group.

A decline in individual effort when working in a group.

Which of the following is an example of 'mass psychogenic illness'?

A group of teenagers experiencing seizures after watching a movie featuring a seizure scene. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is 'herd mentality' in the context of social psychology?

The tendency to follow the behavior of a group without critical thinking. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used for the tendency of individuals to follow the rules or behaviors of their social group?

Conformity (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors can increase conformity?

Easy tasks (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does group polarization work?

Members of a group tend to move towards more extreme opinions than their initial inclination. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the natural cognitive process of placing individuals into social groups?

Social Categorization (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential problem with social categorization?

It can lead to an underestimation of the diversity within groups. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a common reason for holding stereotypes?

It helps us make more informed decisions. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination?

Prejudice is an attitude, while discrimination is a behavior. (D) Signup and view all the answers

When competing, what can we observe about the perception of ourselves and other groups?

We overestimate our group's ability and underestimate the other group. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea of the Bystander Effect?

People are less likely to provide help when there are other individuals present. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of a Positive Mood on an individual's helping behavior?

Individuals with a positive mood are more likely to help and feel more fulfilled. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a factor that influences helping behavior?

Egotistical factors (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the concept of 'Diffusion of Responsibility' in relation to the Bystander Effect?

The assumption that others will take action, lessening each individual's responsibility. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a type of Prosocial Behavior?

Competing (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the 'Cost-Benefit Analysis' and helping behavior?

Individuals assess the potential consequences before deciding whether to help. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the potential consequence of gender stereotypes on a person's self-concept?

It can hinder self-esteem in specific roles or behaviours. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Implicit social rules guide how people behave
Herd mentality: blindly following group direction
Mass psychogenic illness: symptoms appear in a group without physical cause

Reduced effort in group work
Process loss: reduced effort due to lack of motivation
Coordination loss: poor communication and cooperation reduce effectiveness
Less likely in challenging tasks, when contributions are identifiable, and with familiar people

Minimal Group Paradigm

Arbitrary distinctions (e.g., eye color, t-shirt type) can trigger favoring one's own group
When groups compete, a tendency emerges to overestimate one's own group's cleverness, intuition, and understanding while underestimating the rival group.

Conformity

Individuals' tendency to follow group norms and behaviors
Social norms increase conformity
Factors influencing conformity include group size, task difficulty, and social status of group members
Conformity decreases with privacy

Group Polarization

Groups tend toward more extreme opinions/decisions during discussions
Example: initially moderate feminist group will become more strongly pro-feminist after discussion

Naturally placing individuals into social categories
Thinking about others based on group memberships rather than personal information

Stereotypes

Often inaccurate and do not represent the diversity within a group
Stereotype persistence despite contrary evidence exists
Stereotypes simplify mental tasks, enhance group identity

Prejudice

Emotion-centered judgments about a group based on perceived membership
Part of the social psychology ABCs affecting our relationships with specific groups

Discrimination

Behaviors toward individuals based on perceived group membership
Discrimination stems from prejudice and is tied to negative stereotypes

Gender Stereotypes

Beliefs and behaviors characteristic of each sex.
Can be simplistic generalizations about attributes, differences, and roles

Prosocial Behavior

Helping, sharing, volunteering, and donating
Situational and personal factors (e.g., environment, mood, personality traits) influence helping behavior
Cultural norms shape views on helping others

Cost-Benefit Analysis

People weigh costs and benefits before deciding to help

Impact of Mood

Positive moods increase helping
Negative moods can motivate helping to alleviate negative feelings

Individual Differences in Helping

Some people are naturally more helpful due to agreeableness and empathy.
Altruism: selflessness, inherent inclination to help others without expectation of return

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Description

Explore the fascinating dynamics of social behavior in this quiz that covers topics such as social norms, social loafing, the minimal group paradigm, and conformity. Understand the implicit rules that guide human interactions and the psychological factors that influence group behavior. Test your knowledge and gain insights into the mechanisms of social influence.