Week 2 Groups Psychology Notes PDF
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Bishop's University
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This document provides a summary of key concepts in group dynamics, discussing topics such as social identity theory, groupthink, confirmation bias, and cognitive dissonance. It outlines how groups can help us and potential conflicts within groups. The document also explores realistic group conflict theory.
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Group Influence, In Group and Out Groups WEEK 2 How Can Groups Help Us? Legitimize Decisions Sense of Security Broader Perspectives Divide and Conquer Social Identity Theory (Tajfel and Turner) Explains how people form identities and how these identities shape int...
Group Influence, In Group and Out Groups WEEK 2 How Can Groups Help Us? Legitimize Decisions Sense of Security Broader Perspectives Divide and Conquer Social Identity Theory (Tajfel and Turner) Explains how people form identities and how these identities shape interactions with others. We form in groups and out groups to give ourselves a sense of security, identity and belonging. We grow to favour those in our in-group while being more likely to have negative evaluations about out-groups. We engage in behaviour which we believe will continue our membership within an identity group. Groupthink A psychosocial process that places the group above the individual which leads to harmony and conformity Can cause codependency and a lack of diversity within the group Loss of individuality The group tends to make inefficient decisions without considering alternatives which might exist outside the group Symptoms of Groupthink (Janis) Feeling invulnerable Collective Rationalization-False sense of conviction in opinions Moral superiority within the group Stereotyping of Out-Groups Symptoms of Groupthink Continued Pressure on those who oppose decisions Censorship or unwillingness to express one’s own opinion False Feelings of Unanimity “Mind guards”- protecting the group from outside opinions which could cause dissonance Fundamental Attribution Bias/Error FAB: We attribute other people’s mistakes to their personal nature while attributing our own mistakes to situation/environmental factors. Example: Being late for a meeting; Me- “I was late because of traffic” Them- “They were late because they are disorganized” Confirmation Bias Our tendency to pay more attention to information which confirms our pre-existing beliefs while ignoring information which challenges our beliefs. Example: Stereotyping Echo chambers- false perceptions and polarization Cognitive Dissonance Feelings of discomfort which can occur when our actions are not in line with our beliefs. We might engage in confirmation bias to avoid the feelings of dissonance. Avoiding the reality of dissonance can make us ignore flaws. Realistic Group Conflict Theory Groups can become hostile with each other as they compete for common resources Robbers Cave Experiment: 22 Boys were sent to a camp in Oklahoma to explore intergroup conflict 3 Stages: 1. Group Formation 2. Group Conflict 3. Conflict Resolution Realistic Group Conflict Theory In stage 1, the boys were split into 2 groups of 11 and were told to bond. They were unaware of the other group. In stage 2, the groups met and competitions were held to allocate resources and prizes. During this stage, the two groups became verbally and physically hostile with each other In stage 3, the researchers arranged for situations with “superordinate goals” which required both groups to work together towards a common goal. This reduced intergroup hostility. Realistic Group Conflict Theory Implications Hostility between groups can be about more than just individual differences. Hostility can increase when resources are scarce. When there is hostility, discussions are not effective. Working on common goals can decrease group hostility. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PRuxMprSDQ Solutions? Have a devil’s advocate Value diversity in members and perspectives Embrace debate Intentionally seek out external perspectives