Chapter 8 Group Influence (PSY 2C) 2024 PDF

Group Influence Social Psychology PSY 2C 2024 Group Influence Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence Learning objectives...

Group Influence Social Psychology PSY 2C 2024 Group Influence Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence Learning objectives By the end of this lecture, students should be able to: – Define a group and why groups exist – Describe three effects of other’s presence: Social facilitation Social loafing Deindividuation – Explain the three examples of social influence in interacting groups: Group polarization Groupthink Minority influence Group Influence What Is a Group? Why do they exist?? Group – two or more people- common – interact with and influence each other – perceive one another as “us” – versus collection of people – they meet different human needs- affiliate/belong, achieve, gain social identity – jogging companions? Students individually working in computer lab? Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence Three types of collective influence exist within groups – How we are affected by the mere presence of others These can occur with minimal contact social influence in non-interacting groups 1. Social facilitation 2. Social loafing 3. Deindividuation Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence Collective influence 1: Social facilitation Social facilitation – originally refers to tendency of people to perform simple tasks better when others are present – Currently defined as strengthening of dominant responses in presence of others Early 1900’s presence of others said to hinder or facilitate performance (not clear) Led to standstill in research on social facilitation Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence 1. Social facilitation Social Psychologist Robert Zajonc- reconciled contradictory findings Used experimental psych principle: – arousal enhances dominant response tendency – Increased arousal enhances performance on easy tasks- on likely correct response – Increased arousal hinders performance on difficult tasks for which correct answer is not dominant Arousal (from presence of others) facilitates dominant response Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence 1. Social Facilitation Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence 1. Social facilitation Crowding: The presence of many others The effect of others increases/intensifies as their number increases. So: crowding enhances arousal and then this facilitates a person’s dominant response (whether +ve/ -ve; e.g. well-practised athletes, musicians are energized by others company) Crowding: enhances arousal which facilitates dominant responses Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.  1. Social Facilitation Group Influence Why do other people arouse us? Evaluation apprehension- concern for how others evaluate us – dominant behaviours are enhanced when people think they are being evaluated – The self-consciousness we feel when evaluated also interferes with behaviours we perform best automatically- we perform better when we’re not overthinking Driven by distraction- Conflict between paying attention to a task vs the audience reaction – When we wonder how audience are reacting- distracted Mere presence- produces some arousal even without evaluation apprehension/ arousal distraction Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence Collective influence 2: Social Loafing Is there strength in unity?? The more people there are in a group, the more people loaf????? Definition: “The tendency for people to exert less effort when they pool their efforts towards a common goal than when they are individually accountable” Individual effort decreases as group size increases (inverse relationship) People tend to free-ride when in group Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. situations Group Influence 2. Social Loafing Effort decreases with increased group size Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence Social Facilitation or Social Loafing? Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence Collective influence 3: Deindividuation Loss of self awareness & evaluation apprehension; occurs in group situation that foster responsiveness to group norms, good or bad Unrestrained behaviours commonly provoked by power of group In groups situations, individual are likely to abandon normal restraints What causes us to do together what we would not do alone: – Group size: people become unidentifiable, everyone is doing it, about situation not self – Anonymity: perceived physical anonymity increases one’s likelihood to behave selfishly/cheat (deindividuation on social media?) – Arousing and distracting activities: marching, toytoying, demonstrations- hype used to reduce self-consciousness Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence 3. Deindividuation Diminished self-awareness – People are more un-self-aware, the less restrained, self-regulated, more impulsive, and reactive in groups – Deindividuation decreases when self-awareness is increased – Self-awareness=opposite of deindividuation self conscious state in which attention focuses on oneself. Makes people more sensitive to their own attitudes & dispositions Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence 3. Deindividuation Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence What are the three effects of other’s mere presence? Define deindividuation – circumstances that trigger deindividuation Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence Social Influence In Interacting Groups Next: three examples of social influence in groups that interact: – Group Polarization – Groupthink – Minority influence Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence Example 1: Group Polarization ‘group-produced enhancement of members’ preexisting tendencies- a strengthening of member’s average tendency’ Discussions in groups will strengthen attitudes Groups intensify preexisting opinions Examples of group polarization: gender separation at a braai, area/suburb you live, internet- like minded media, clubs/organizations. Givers become more generous, risk takers- riskier risks Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence Group Polarization discussion will strengthen an attitude shared by group members Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence 1. Group Polarization Explanations for polarization? – Why do groups adopt stances that more exaggerated than that of their average individual members? Two theories of group polarization have survived scientific scrutiny – Informational influence – Normative influence Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence 1. Group Polarization Informational influence: Influence as a result of accepting evidence from others Shared ideas in group- persuasive arguments Arguments matter. Actively participating in discussion leads to more attitude change than passive listening Expressing in own words= verbal commitment Active participation in discussion produces more attitude change Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence 1. Group Polarization Normative influence: Results from a desire to be accepted/admired by others. We want to evaluate our opinion by comparison to others’ Most persuaded by people in groups we identify with Need to be liked- leads to our strong expression of opinions shared with those we like So when exposed to someone else’s position (not argument!) people will tend to adjust their own position- social comparison Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence Example 2: Groupthink Groupthink- a mode of thinking that persons engage in when concurrence-seeking becomes so dominan t in a cohesive group that it tends to override realistic appraisal of alternative courses of action. Occurs when the desire for harmony in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome When groups hinder good decisions Dominance in concurrence-seeking that overrides realistic appraisal of alternative courses of action Shared group identity= motivating- but may cost the group in decision making Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.  Example 2: Groupthink Group Influence Symptoms of groupthink – Illusion of invulnerability – Unwavering/unquestioned belief in groups moral righteousness. – Closemindedness: rationalization, stereotyped view of others. – Uniformity: Pressure to conform – self-criticism leads to an illusion of unanimity; self- censorship- avoiding uncomfortable disagreements – mind-guards maintain status quo- protecting group from info that would question effectiveness/ morality of its decision Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence 2. Groupthink Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence 2. Groupthink How to prevent groupthink: do the opposite of what was mentioned above - Be impartial- maintain neutrality-don’t endorse any position - Encourage critical evaluation - Occasionally subdivide group - Welcome criticism - Before implementing, call for a second-chance meeting to air lingering doubts Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence A case of group think? (Nkandla) Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence Example 3: Minority Influence Can a minority influence the majority? – What makes some individuals to influence groups? Some determinants of minority influence: – Consistency- minority sticks to its position – Self- Confidence- self assurance may cause opposition to reconsider – Defections from the majority - consistent doubt from minority causing majority members doubt as well THUS: any illusion of unanimity is broken Frees majority from bonds of silence and defections from the majority may occur. Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence Leadership- a minority influence? Power of leaders in influencing larger groups Leadership= process by which individuals mobilise groups Three types of leadership – Task leadership- organizes work, sets standards & focuses on goals (directive style) – Social leadership- builds teamwork, mediates conflicts & supports group (democratic style) – Transformational leaders- enables others to identify with & commit themselves to groups’ mission- inspires people to share their vision (Martin Luther King Jnr) Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.  In conclusion Group Influence Power of individuals – While majority opinions often prevail, sometimes a minority can influence & overturn a majority position Cultural situations may mould us- but not without our help Pressure to conform may overwhelm us- may also motivate us to assert our individuality Persuasive force are powerful- we can resist it by making public commitments Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.