Fundamentals of Groups and Group Process PDF

12/7/24, 1:19 PM Summary | Raena AI Fundamentals of Groups and Group Process What is a Group? A group can be defined as a collection of individuals who share at least one of the following characteristics: they engage in d...

12/7/24, 1:19 PM Summary | Raena AI Fundamentals of Groups and Group Process What is a Group? A group can be defined as a collection of individuals who share at least one of the following characteristics: they engage in direct interactions over a specific period of time, belong to a joint social category (such as race or sex), or share a common fate, identity, or set of goals. Group Processes Group processes involve the study of various aspects within social psychology, particularly group cohesiveness and solidarity. This research encompasses how individuals socialize into groups and the roles they assume within these groups, as well as the influence of these groups on their members via persuasion, leadership, and established norms. Example of Group Process For illustrative purposes, consider a party planning group. Members engage in communicative dialogues to accomplish their task effectively. For instance, suggesting a band hire, discussing snack options like https://app.raena.ai/summary/mmuv1pzi9q 1/11 12/7/24, 1:19 PM Summary | Raena AI pretzels and popcorn, or deciding on decorations, all contribute to organizing the event. Group Roles Within any group dynamic, there are two primary roles: instrumental roles and expressive roles. Instrumental roles focus on task accomplishment, facilitating the group in achieving its objectives, while expressive roles offer emotional backing, enhancing group morale and cohesiveness. Group Norms Groups establish norms or rules of conduct, which can be categorized as formal or informal. These norms denote the expectations and behaviors recognized within a social group, be it related to nationality, organizations, or sports teams. Norms often evolve through interactions where members influence each other's opinions and behaviors. Group Cohesiveness This refers to the dynamics that pull group members closer together. Cultural differences can heavily impact group cohesiveness, modifying how individuals perceive and relate to group dynamics. Social Loafing Social loafing is a social psychology phenomenon where individuals contribute less effort to a task when in a group compared to when they https://app.raena.ai/summary/mmuv1pzi9q 2/11 12/7/24, 1:19 PM Summary | Raena AI work alone. It is often cited as a reason groups may underperform relative to the cumulative capabilities of their individual members. For example, one might neglect a task, assuming others will take action, such as neglecting to fix a company printer believing someone else will do it. Conditions Reducing Social Loafing Social loafing is less prevalent when group members feel accountable for shared tasks. When individuals know their contributions are critical and distinguishing, they tend to invest more effort. Tasks that are personally significant and meaningful can lead to greater intrinsic motivation, effectively reducing social loafing. Why Does Social Loafing Occur? The collective effort model explains that working as a group might diminish individual motivation by (1) lowering their expectation that their contributions will result in achieving goals and (2) reducing the personal value attached to these goals. Group Performance: Problems and Solutions Brainstorming Brainstorming is a creative technique designed to boost idea generation within groups by allowing members to express thoughts freely without fear of criticism for their or others' contributions. Preventing Groupthink https://app.raena.ai/summary/mmuv1pzi9q 3/11 12/7/24, 1:19 PM Summary | Raena AI To avoid groupthink—the excessive desire for consensus among group members—it is advisable to prevent isolation by engaging wider consultation, minimizing conformity pressures from leaders, and promoting a robust norm of critical assessment. Groupthink This phenomenon occurs when the desire for group agreement transcends the motivation to critically appraise information and make well- informed decisions. Groupthink hinders decision-making by leading to a consensus achieved without due consideration of consequences or alternatives, resulting in individuals suppressing their own viewpoints to maintain harmony. Consequences of Groupthink The ramifications include poor decision-making, inadequate exploration of alternatives, and a high probability of arriving at suboptimal decisions due to flawed information processing and an inability to formulate contingency plans. Group Polarization Group polarization refers to the tendency of groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the inclinations of individual members would normally suggest. Decisions lean towards higher risk if the initial group sentiment favors risk, and conversely towards more caution if the group's initial inclination is towards caution. https://app.raena.ai/summary/mmuv1pzi9q 4/11 12/7/24, 1:19 PM Summary | Raena AI Factors Creating Group Polarization Key elements leading to group polarization include persuasive arguments and social comparisons. Within group settings, individuals often evaluate their beliefs against others, leading to shifts in opinions to maintain group alignment. Conditions for Team Effectiveness Effective teams are characterized by clear goals, strong communication, defined roles, trust among members, and the ability to manage conflicts in a constructive manner. These conditions help enhance the overall performance and satisfaction within the group. Conflict: Cooperation and Competition The Prisoner’s Dilemma This concept outlines a scenario where individuals must choose between cooperating with one another or acting competitively, which often leads to suboptimal outcomes. Cultural Dilemmas Cultural dilemmas arise when the customs, values, or beliefs of one culture clash with another, leading to conflicts that stem from foundational differences that shape perspectives and actions. https://app.raena.ai/summary/mmuv1pzi9q 5/11 12/7/24, 1:19 PM Summary | Raena AI The Relationship Between Culture and Ethical Dilemmas Culture significantly influences an individual's ethical ideology, providing guidelines that steer their perceptions of what constitutes appropriate behavior. Social Psychology Course: Attitudes and Social Behavior Definition of Attitude In psychology, an attitude is conceptualized as a set of emotions, beliefs, and behaviors directed towards a specific object, person, thing, or event. Attitudes arise from experiences and can significantly influence behavior. Types of Attitudes Cognitive Component Emotional Component Behavioral Component Positive Attitude Negative Attitude Neutral Attitude Characteristics of Attitudes Attitudes are directed towards an object which could be positively or negatively evaluated. Importantly, attitudes are learned rather than innate. https://app.raena.ai/summary/mmuv1pzi9q 6/11 12/7/24, 1:19 PM Summary | Raena AI Positive Attitudes Examples of beneficial attitudes include optimism, confidence, sincerity, happiness, reliability, adaptability, flexibility, and accountability. Scientific Definitions “A relatively enduring organization of beliefs, feelings, and behavioral tendencies towards socially significant objects, groups, or events (Hogg & Vaughan, 2005).” “A psychological tendency that is expressed by evaluating a particular entity with some degree of favor or disfavor (Eagly & Chaiken, 1993).” Structure of an Attitude Affective Component: Person’s feelings about the object. Example: "I fear spiders." Behavioral Component: The actions influenced by the attitude. Example: "I will avoid spiders." Cognitive Component: Beliefs related to the attitude. Example: "I think spiders are dangerous." Functions of Attitude Attitudes assist in providing meaning and stability to our experiences, allowing us to predict behaviors and outcomes. Functions of Self/Ego Expression Expressing attitudes showcases our identity and can provide self- affirmation. https://app.raena.ai/summary/mmuv1pzi9q 7/11 12/7/24, 1:19 PM Summary | Raena AI Ego-defensive Function This function protects self-esteem and justifies actions that cause guilt. Types of Behavior Molecular and Moral Behavior Overt and Covert Behavior Voluntary and Involuntary Behavior Examples of Voluntary Behaviors: Writing, talking, swimming, walking. Involuntary behaviors occur without conscious thought. Measuring Attitudes Self-Report Measures Self-report measures may be challenging due to the complexity of attitudes. They often utilize attitude scales, such as the Likert scale. Covert Measures These include observable behaviors and physiological metrics, such as facial electromyography (EMG) and ongoing neuroscience research that may indicate attitudes via brain activity. Implicit Association Test (IAT) The IAT gauges the speed of responses to pairings of concepts, highlighting implicit biases and attitudes. https://app.raena.ai/summary/mmuv1pzi9q 8/11 12/7/24, 1:19 PM Summary | Raena AI Formation of Attitudes Attitudes form through exposure, personal experiences, social contexts, and reinforcement from rewards and punishments. Link Between Attitudes and Behavior Attitudes can significantly influence behavior, aligning with the theory of planned behavior, which posits that attitudes dissociate from specific behaviors. Factors Indicating Attitude Strength Well-informed individuals exhibit more consistent behavior with their attitudes. Attitudinal strength can be influenced by persuasive messages. Changing Attitudes Communication from others and internal reflection represents common pathways for altering attitudes. Social Behavior Influence of Social Media Social media affects behavior and attitudes by amplifying reward sensitivity and risk-taking, particularly in young adults. https://app.raena.ai/summary/mmuv1pzi9q 9/11 12/7/24, 1:19 PM Summary | Raena AI Examples of Human Social Behavior Shaking hands Flirting Conversations Religious rituals Exchanging nonverbal signals Sharing meals Pillars of Persuasive Skills Ethos: Establishing credibility enhances believability. Logos: The use of logic to persuade. Pathos: Emotional appeals to influence. Uses of Persuasive Text Pursues to present a viewpoint aimed at convincing the reader, encompassing arguments, discussions, reviews, and advertisements. Routes to Persuasion Central Route: Involves careful evaluation of the message. Peripheral Route: Influenced by superficial factors rather than comprehensive understanding. Effective Message Elements Messages considering length, presentation order, and emotional appeal enhance persuasive impact. Moderate discrepancy within messages https://app.raena.ai/summary/mmuv1pzi9q 10/11 12/7/24, 1:19 PM Summary | Raena AI yields the most effective persuasion. Conclusion Understanding the fundamentals of group dynamics, social behavior, attitudes, and persuasion is vital to improving interpersonal relationships and effective communication strategies. https://app.raena.ai/summary/mmuv1pzi9q 11/11