Social Psychology Perspectives: Allport & Sherif

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Questions and Answers

What did Allport emphasize about group behavior?

Group behavior is solely determined by group norms.

Individual attributes play a significant role in group dynamics. (correct)

Social norms have no impact on individual behavior.

Groups are simply a collection of individuals with no interaction.

According to Sherif's study, what was the effect of first judging movement alone?

Participants adjusted their judgments in line with group consensus. (correct)

Participants established a strong group norm immediately.

Participants conformed to a personal judgment rather than group norms.

Participants showed no change in their judgments later.

What concept is missing from Allport's definition of groups?

The influence of individual psychological factors.

The role of social norms in guiding behavior. (correct)

The variability of behaviors within large groups.

The importance of external stimuli in social situations.

What is the auto-kinetic effect used in Sherif's experiment?

An illusion where a stationary dot appears to move. Signup and view all the answers

How did Sherif's study contribute to understanding social norms?

It showed how group norms can emerge through individual interactions. Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by the continued use of group norms even when individuals are alone?

Group norms are internalized by individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What was the overall error rate observed in Asch's study when subjects conformed to incorrect answers?

37% Signup and view all the answers

Which type of influence is demonstrated by the results of Sherif's study?

Informational influence Signup and view all the answers

What happens to group members' judgments when they recognize others as part of their in-group?

They expect to agree and thus gain confidence. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main finding from Platow et al's study involving the comedy show?

Identification as part of the in-group influences laughter levels. Signup and view all the answers

How does reassurance from an in-group member affect a person's anxiety during a challenging task?

It decreases anxiety levels. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of social influence, what does the dual process theory outline?

The interplay between informational and normative influences. Signup and view all the answers

What effect did the identity of a confederate have in Platow et al's icy water study?

The type of confederate altered participants' pain perception. Signup and view all the answers

Why do group norms continue to influence individuals even after leaving the group?

Group norms become part of personal belief systems. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key conclusion from the contemporary research explored by Turner regarding group identity?

Trust in fellow group members enhances personal judgment. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Allport's Perspective (1924)

Allport viewed "group" as a simplified concept.
He acknowledged behavioral differences in proximal settings.
His approach was influenced by behavioral psychology.
Social psychology is essentially individual psychology adapted to complex social stimuli.
Focus on individual attributes and responses, which act as stimuli for others.
Allport's viewpoint lacked consideration of social norms.

Sherif's Study (1935)

Sherif's groundbreaking study investigated conformity to norms.
Group norms emerge through interactions, representing shared views.
He examined how individual judgments shift based on their exposure to others'.
The "auto-kinetic effect" (apparent movement of a stationary light) was used in a crucial experiment.
Two conditions were used: judging movement alone, then in groups, and judging movement in groups, then alone.
Participants' initial individual norms evolved into collective judgments within groups.
Group judgments persisted even when individuals acted alone.
This showcases that group norms can internally guide judgments.
The findings exhibited the power of continuous, implicit social influences on perception.

Asch's Conformity Studies

Asch aimed to demonstrate conformity even with objective reality.
A line judgment task revealed significant conformity despite clear answers.
Confederates (actors) gave deliberately wrong answers, influencing participants' responses.
Results showed a substantial error rate (37%) among participants due to conformity.
This demonstrated the effects of social pressure, influencing individual judgment despite correct perception.

Deutsch and Gerrard's Dual Process Theory (1955)

This theory integrated Sherif and Asch's findings.
Informational influence explains conformity due to the perceived validity of others' judgments (like Sherif's study).
Normative influence describes conformity driven by the desire to be accepted and avoid social disapproval (like Asch).

Turner's Referent Informational Influence (1991)

Turner highlighted the importance of groups in self-definition.
Individuals identify with and trust fellow group members.
Referent informational influence emphasizes the anticipation of agreement with fellow group members, impacting confidence and judgment.

Platow et al.'s (2005) Laughter Study

Participants' laughter was impacted by perceived group membership (in-group vs. out-group).
Laughter in groups was influenced based on perceived group associations, demonstrating the power of in-group identification.
Participants laughed more with in-group members than with out-group members.

Platow et al.'s (2005) Ice Bucket Experiment

This study assessed the impact of perceived group membership on pain perception.
Participants' pain threshold was influenced by the perceived expertise and group affiliation (in-group vs. out-group) of the confederate.
Shared group membership led to reduced anxiety and physical arousal in pain-related tasks. Out-group reassurance had no effect, emphasizing the significance of group identity.

Conclusions

Group dynamics introduce unique processes not present in individual analysis.
Social influence shapes norm formation and change.
Contemporary research focuses on in-group influence, emphasizing how individual judgments are shaped by perceived social norms and group identities.

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Description

This quiz focuses on the perspectives of Allport and Sherif in social psychology. It covers Allport's view of groups and individual attributes, as well as Sherif's study on conformity to norms through the auto-kinetic effect. Test your understanding of these foundational concepts and their implications in social psychology.