Sociocultural Psychology and Festinger's Study
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Questions and Answers

What was the main research question in Festinger's study of the Seekers cult?

  • To understand how cult members cope with the realization that their beliefs are false. (correct)
  • To study the relationship between religious beliefs and mental health.
  • To examine the effects of belief systems on individual behavior.
  • To investigate how cult members recruit new members.

    • What type of research method did Festinger use in his study of the Seekers cult?

  • Laboratory experiment
  • Survey
  • Case study
  • Covert participant naturalistic observation (correct)

    • What was the purpose of studying the level of commitment exhibited by the Seekers cult members?

  • To understand the psychological basis of belief in the supernatural.
  • To understand the role of social influence in decision-making.
  • To assess the cult's ability to influence its members' behavior. (correct)
  • To investigate the development of religious cults.

    • According to cognitive dissonance theory, what do individuals typically do when they realize that their beliefs are false?

    <p>They justify their actions to reduce discomfort. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of qualitative research methods?

    <p>Use of numerical data and statistical analysis. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the 'foot-in-the-door' paradigm?

    <p>A psychological phenomenon where people are more likely to comply with a large request if they have first agreed to a smaller one. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of Festinger's study, what is cognitive dissonance?

    <p>The discomfort experienced when one's beliefs are inconsistent with one's actions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main contribution of Festinger's study of the Seekers cult to the field of psychology?

    <p>It developed the theory of cognitive dissonance, explaining how people cope with belief inconsistencies. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does cognitive dissonance refer to in the context of the cult members' beliefs?

    <p>The conflict between personal beliefs and group pressure. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do individualist societies differ from collectivist societies according to Hofstede's dimensions?

    <p>Individuals are expected to look after their own interests. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the purpose of the study comparing the Temne people to the Inuit?

    <p>To assess conformity levels in societies with different socialization practices. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the results show about conformity among the Temne group?

    <p>They exhibited higher conformity due to reliance on social norms. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best explains social identity theory?

    <p>Group membership influences self-perception and behavior. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In Tajfel's minimal group experiments, what was the primary aim?

    <p>To explore intergroup favoritism and discrimination. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of the key findings regarding reward distribution in Tajfel's study?

    <p>Boys often chose to disadvantage the outgroup even at their own group's cost. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factors contribute to the higher conformity observed in collectivist cultures like the Temne?

    <p>Reinforcement of group norms, social harmony, and cooperation. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which mechanism did Tajfel identify as part of creating a social identity?

    <p>Social categorization. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of social influence is highlighted by the results of the study with the Temne and Inuit?

    <p>The interplay of cultural context and group pressure. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the Inuit participants' behavior reflect their cultural values in the study on conformity?

    <p>They prioritized personal judgment over group conformity. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does normative social influence suggest about group dynamics?

    <p>The need to belong can override logical reasoning. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What hypothesis might be drawn from the Temne's reaction when reminded of their cultural identities?

    <p>They conform more to group responses due to socialization effects. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Festinger's study reveal regarding social and cultural factors?

    <p>They shape and influence how beliefs are maintained. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Sociocultural Approach

    A perspective in psychology that examines social and cultural influences on behavior.

    Qualitative Research

    Research methods that provide in-depth understanding of social phenomena, often more holistic than quantitative methods.

    Festinger's Study of Seekers

    A 1956 study investigating a UFO cult's reactions when their predicted event failed.

    Covert Observation

    A research method where subjects are unaware they are being studied.

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    Naturalistic Observation

    Observation conducted in the natural environment where behavior typically occurs.

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    Foot-in-the-Door Paradigm

    A technique to measure commitment levels among individuals by observing their prior behaviors.

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    Cognitive Dissonance

    A psychological state of anxiety experienced when one's beliefs conflict with new evidence.

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    Justification of Actions

    Rationalizing one’s actions to reduce cognitive dissonance and maintain beliefs.

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    Normative Social Influence

    The pressure to conform to fit in with a group.

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    Individualistic Society

    A culture where individuals prioritize personal goals over group goals.

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    Collectivist Society

    A culture where group goals are prioritized over individual goals.

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    Conformity

    Adjusting behavior or beliefs to match a group.

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    Socialization Practices

    The lifelong process of inheriting norms and ideologies.

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    Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions

    A framework for understanding cultural differences across societies.

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    Social Identity Theory

    Theory explaining how group membership influences behavior and attitudes.

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    Social Categorization

    Classifying oneself into a group.

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    Ingroup vs Outgroup

    Ingroup refers to your group, outgroup refers to others.

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    Ingroup Favoritism

    Preferential treatment given to members of one's own group.

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    Outgroup Discrimination

    Negative or unfair treatment of those outside of one's group.

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    Tajfel's Minimal Group Experiment

    Study showing favoritism for ingroup members based on arbitrary criteria.

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    Enculturation

    The process of learning one's own culture.

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    Cultural Identity

    A sense of belonging to a cultural group.

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    Study Notes

    Sociocultural Approach to Psychology

    • Examines the impact of social and cultural factors on human behavior.
    • Researchers increasingly use qualitative methods for richer detail on individual lives.

    Festinger's Study of a UFO Cult (1956)

    • Research Method: Covert participant naturalistic observation.
    • Setting: A small UFO cult believing the world would end and aliens would save them.
    • Aim: To understand how cult members would react when the apocalyptic event didn't happen.
    • Procedure: Researchers immersed themselves in the cult's activities, observing behaviors and documenting commitment levels before and after the predicted event.
    • Findings/Outcome: Cult members exhibited strong cognitive dissonance (anxiety from false beliefs) and justified their actions by believing their leader's message that the world had been saved.
    • Importance: Highlights the role of social belonging and normative social influence (pressure to remain in the group), even when challenging evidence, in shaping beliefs.

    Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Theory

    • Identifies six dimensions to analyze cultural differences.
    • Important Dimension: Individualism vs. Collectivism.
      • Individualism: Loose ties between individuals, individuals prioritize self and immediate family.
      • Collectivism: Strong in-group ties; extended family provides support and protection.
    • Berry's Study: Investigated conformity in Temne (collectivist) and Inuit (individualist) cultures.
      • Method: Conformity experiment using line-matching tasks.
      • Results: Temne exhibited significantly higher conformity rates compared to Inuit and Scottish participants. Cultural background (i.e; a more "westernised" approach) played minimal role in results.
      • Conclusion: People in collectivist cultures generally conform more due to a need for social harmony and group cooperation, whereas those in individualist cultures prioritise personal judgment and independence.

    Social Identity Theory (Tajfel, 1979)

    • Concept: Argues individuals possess multiple social selves corresponding to group memberships.
    • Mechanism 1: Social Categorisation: Self-perception as a member of a group.
      • Group memberships based on various factors (gender, social class, religion, etc.).
    • Mechanism 2: Social Identification: Categorizing others as either ingroup (share identity) or outgroup (different identity).
      • Adoption of ingroup values, attitudes, appearance, and behaviours.
    • Mechanism 3: Social Comparison: Favoring ingroup and regarding it as superior to outgroups.
    • Tajfel's Minimal Group Experiments:
      • Procedure: Participants divided into arbitrary groups based on painting preference.
      • Aim: To investigate intergroup favoritism/outgroup discrimination in the absence of previous social or historical connections.
      • Results: Even in arbitrary groups, participants favored their own group in resource allocation, exhibiting ingroup favoritism and outgroup discrimination, even if it involved minimal personal benefit. This supports the notion that individuals prioritize their ingroup.
      • Conclusion: These studies reveal that social categorization, identification,and comparison lead to group-based preferences and biases, even without real conflict or competition.

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    Description

    Explore the sociocultural approach to psychology, focusing on how social and cultural factors influence human behavior. Delve into Festinger's 1956 study of a UFO cult, examining the reactions of its members when an apocalyptic event did not occur. Understand the concepts of cognitive dissonance and the effects of social influence within groups.

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