Psychology: Social Norms and Group Dynamics

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Questions and Answers

Social loafing occurs when people in a group increase their individual effort.

False (B)

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

The group is composed of familiar people.

Individual contributions can be identified.

The group is working on a difficult task.

The task is perceived as unimportant. (correct)

The tendency to blindly follow the direction of a group is known as ______.

herd mentality

Explain the concept of 'process loss' in group settings.

Process loss refers to the reduction of effort or effectiveness in groups due to factors like lack of motivation, coordination issues, or communication problems. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following social psychology concepts with their definitions:

Social norms = Implicit rules about appropriate behavior within a group Mass psychogenic illness = A form of social contagion involving physical symptoms without a physical cause Minimal group paradigm = The demonstration that even minor differences between groups can lead to in-group favoritism Coordination loss = Reduced group effectiveness due to poor communication and cooperation Signup and view all the answers

Gender stereotypes are always negative.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a type of prosocial behavior?

Complaining (C) Signup and view all the answers

The ______ effect describes the situation where a person is less likely to help in an emergency when others are present.

Bystander Signup and view all the answers

What are two personal factors that can influence a person's likelihood of helping?

Empathy, personality, mood Signup and view all the answers

Match the following consequences of gender stereotypes to their categories:

Different self-concept and presentation to others = Intra-personal Different treatment = Inter-personal Increased social pressure = Inter-personal Difficulties understanding gender roles = Intra-personal Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a cultural factor that can influence helping behavior?

Individual needs (C) Signup and view all the answers

When groups compete, members tend to overestimate their own group's abilities and underestimate the abilities of the opposing group.

True (A) Signup and view all the answers

What are the two potential costs associated with helping?

Time, resources, energy, or risk Signup and view all the answers

People in a negative mood are always less likely to help.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these factors does NOT increase conformity?

Ensured privacy (C) Signup and view all the answers

The phenomenon where members of a group tend to move towards more extreme opinions or decisions than their initial inclinations is called ______.

group polarization Signup and view all the answers

What is social categorization, and why is it a functional way to deal with the world?

Social categorization is the natural cognitive process of grouping individuals based on shared characteristics. It simplifies our understanding of people by allowing us to apply general knowledge and expectations based on their group affiliation. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their definitions:

Conformity = A tendency to follow group rules and behaviors Group Polarization = Moving towards more extreme opinions during group discussions Social Categorization = Placing individuals into groups based on shared characteristics Outgroup Homogeneity = Exaggerating similarities within a group and differences between groups Signup and view all the answers

What are three common challenges associated with stereotypes?

Overgeneralization, Inaccuracy, Persistence (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination?

Prejudice is a preconceived judgment or evaluation based on a person's group membership, often fueled by emotions. Discrimination is the actual behavioral action taken against someone based on their perceived group affiliation. Signup and view all the answers

Ingroup members are those who belong to a group you are a part of, while outgroup members belong to a group you are not a part of.

True (A) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Implicit rules guiding social behaviour
Herd mentality: blindly following group direction
Mass psychogenic illness: symptoms spread in a group without physical cause

Reduced individual effort in group settings
Process loss: reduction in effort due to lack of motivation
Coordination loss: ineffective cooperation/communication
Less likely to occur when: task is challenging, individual contributions identifiable, working with known people

Minimal Group Paradigm

Henri Tajfel's concept
Even arbitrary distinctions create in-group bias
Favouring one's own group over others

Conformity

Tendency to follow group rules/behaviors
Factors increasing conformity: larger group size, task difficulty, higher status members in the group.
Conformity decreases with privacy.

Group Polarization

Group discussion intensifies existing opinions.
Extreme viewpoints develop in group decision making
Example: Moderately pro-feminist women become more strongly pro-feminist after discussion.

Natural cognitive process sorting people into groups.
Places individuals into categories (e.g., based on appearance).
Influences how individuals process groups and individuals.
Overgeneralization occurs when characteristics of a few individuals are applied to an entire group.

Stereotyping

Inaccurate representation of group diversity
Often persists despite contrary evidence
Simplifies mental processing (easier)
Strengthens group identity (Ingroup/Outgroup)
Can lead to prejudice and discrimination

Prejudice

Emotional judgments based on group membership
Emotion-based evaluations about people based on group perceived membership

Discrimination

Actions based on perceived group membership
Behaviour targeted at a particular group

Gender Stereotypes

Beliefs about attributes, roles, and behaviours associated with each gender
Simplistic & inaccurate generalizations about individuals/groups
Influences how people perceive and treat members of each gender
Beliefs may relate to desirable traits for each sex

Prosocial Behavior

Helping, sharing, volunteering, donating
Influenced by situational and personal factors
Examples: situational factors = environment, personal factors= personality, cultural factors = cultural norms

Bystander Effect

Reduced likelihood of helping in emergencies when others are present
Diffusion of responsibility contributes to inaction

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Weighing costs and rewards before deciding to help.

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Description

Explore the fascinating concepts of social norms, conformity, and group behaviors. This quiz delves into social loafing, group polarization, and the minimal group paradigm, providing insights into how individuals behave in group settings. Test your understanding of these psychological principles and their implications in real-world scenarios.