Psychology Chapter on Social Beliefs and Groups

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Questions and Answers

What effect does the presence of others have on cockroaches performing simple tasks?

It confuses them and increases their errors.

It leads to faster escape times. (correct)

It has no impact on their performance.

It slows down their performance significantly.

What phenomenon describes the tendency to excel at straightforward tasks in the presence of others?

Social inhibition

Groupthink

Social facilitation (correct)

Social loafing

What happens to performance on complex tasks when individuals are in the presence of others?

Performance remains unaffected.

Performance deteriorates. (correct)

Performance becomes erratic.

Performance improves significantly.

What contributes to the physiological arousal linked to social facilitation?

Increased vigilance Signup and view all the answers

What does the dominant response refer to in the context of social facilitation?

The response most likely to occur when alone Signup and view all the answers

What role does evaluation apprehension play in social facilitation?

It creates concern about how others perceive us. Signup and view all the answers

In Zajonc's experiments, how did the presence of additional cockroaches affect their navigation in a complex maze?

It delayed their navigation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor influencing performance variations due to the presence of others?

Type of task and complexity Signup and view all the answers

What are the three fundamental features that characterize groups?

Group norms, social roles, and group cohesiveness Signup and view all the answers

What do group norms establish within a group?

Behavioral expectations Signup and view all the answers

Which experiment is associated with social facilitation and involves children winding fishing reels?

The Fishing Reel Study Signup and view all the answers

In the context of social roles, what can sometimes overshadow an individual's personal identity?

Social roles Signup and view all the answers

What did Zajonc's Cockroach Study investigate?

The effects of audience presence on performance Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements regarding social facilitation is true?

It may lead to worse performance in some situations. Signup and view all the answers

What term refers to the degree of unity and connectedness within a group?

Group Cohesion Signup and view all the answers

Why might the presence of others sometimes hinder performance?

The audience may cause performance anxiety. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs when individuals perform a simple task as part of a group where contributions are not identifiable?

Social loafing occurs. Signup and view all the answers

In which of the following situations is social facilitation least likely to occur?

Cheering in a large crowd. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of distraction by the presence of others during a task?

It heightens physiological arousal. Signup and view all the answers

How can deindividuation affect individual behavior in a group setting?

It may lead to socially destructive actions. Signup and view all the answers

What was Max Ringelmann's finding regarding group effort in simple tasks?

Individuals exert less effort in groups than when alone. Signup and view all the answers

What psychological state can result from being part of a large, anonymous group?

Deindividuation. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about social loafing is true?

It can occur both consciously and unconsciously. Signup and view all the answers

What influence does increasing group size generally have on individual performance in simple tasks?

It decreases individual effort. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Slide 2: Belief in a Just World

Belief in a Just World: Many individuals have an inherent need to believe the world is fair. Good people are rewarded, bad people are punished.
This belief provides a sense of security.
Random tragedies challenge this belief, creating cognitive dissonance.
Victims are often blamed for their misfortune (victim-blaming).
Strong belief in a just world can lead to negative attitudes toward certain groups (e.g., poor, disabled, victims of abuse).
The Terrible Ending Study (1989, 1999) showed participants blaming victims in rape scenarios.

Group definition: Two or more interconnected individuals.
Social groups: Our evolutionary history has ingrained a strong tendency toward group formation for survival and reproduction.
Social Identity Theory: Group membership is important for self-concept and esteem.
Group norms: Expected behaviors for group members.
Social Roles: Define behaviors for specific group members; these roles can overshadow individual identities (Stanford Prison Experiment).
Group Cohesiveness: The unity and connectedness within a group.

The Fishing Reel Study (1897): Initial research suggested the presence of others enhances performance on simple tasks (social facilitation).

The Cockroach Study (1965): The presence of other cockroaches improved performance on a simple task, supporting the social facilitation hypothesis. Performance on complex tasks was impaired by the presence of others..

Complex tasks: Presence of others leads to worse performance.
This implies presence of others causes physiological arousal, which impacts performance. Simple tasks are easier in the presence of others.

Presence of others leads to physiological arousal.
Arousal improves simple task performance but can hinder complex task performance.
The impact depends on the complexity of the task.

Social facilitation doesn't apply in all contexts.
Reduced performance when individual contributions are less noticeable. (e.g. cheering in a crowd)

Slide 9: Deindividuation

Deindividuation: A state of reduced personal identity within a group, leading to potentially destructive behaviors.
This occurs because people feel anonymous and less accountable, loss of personal identity,
The Halloween Study (1976) illustrated this when children in costumes took more candy in a de-individualized setting.

Slide 10: Deindividuation

Reduced accountability: individuals in a group feel less personally responsible for their actions.
Lowered self-awareness: Focus shifts to group's norms, lessening individual self-awareness.
Conformity to group norms: Individuals are more susceptible to group norms, even problematic ones.

Slide 11: Group Polarization

Group polarization: Discussions within a group can amplify existing views making them more extreme.
Persuasive argument theory: More compelling arguments within a group strengthen the prevailing opinions.
Social comparison theory: Individuals adjust their views to align with the group's perceived consensus.

Slide 12: Group Polarization

Stereotype study (2001): Group discussion amplified negative views.

Slide 13: Biased Sampling

Biased sampling: Groups prioritize commonly shared information, overlooking unique insights.
This can limit creativity.
Encouraging diverse viewpoints and comprehensive information reviews by non-directive leaders is crucial.
The Job Candidate Study (2015): Demonstrated that offering a structured plan, for information intake before discussion can improve decision quality.

Slide 14: Biased Sampling

Group members failing to recognize unshared information.
Shared information is addressed early, unshared insights later, missing critical insights.

Slide 15: Groupthink: Antecedents

Groupthink: a group's desire for cohesion overrides critical thinking, leading to poor decisions.

Slide 16: Groupthink: Symptoms

Illusion of invulnerability, unquestioned belief in morality, stereotyped views of outsiders, pressure on dissenters, self-censorship, illusion of unanimity, self-appointed mindguards are symptoms of groupthink.

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Description

Explore the concepts of belief in a just world and the dynamics of social groups. This quiz delves into the psychological need for fairness, victim-blaming, and the formation of social identities. Assess your understanding of how these elements impact human behavior and societal attitudes.