Social Psychology: Influence and Group Dynamics
5. Social Influence and Group Dynamics
Conformity and Obedience
Social psychology examines the power of the situation. Solomon Asch's line judgment studies demonstrated dramatic conformity to group majorities, while Stanley Milgram's shock experiments revealed the alarming extent to which individuals will obey authority figures even when it violates personal morals.
Motivations for Social Influence
Normative Social Influence
- Conforming to be liked or accepted by the group.
- Often results in public compliance without private acceptance.
Informational Social Influence
- Conforming because one believes the group has accurate knowledge.
- Often results in private acceptance (internalization).
Latané and Darley's Bystander Intervention Model
-
1
Notice the event.
-
2
Interpret the event as an emergency.
-
3
Assume personal responsibility.
-
4
Know the appropriate form of assistance.
-
5
Implement the decision to intervene.
What does the Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE) describe?
The FAE highlights our cognitive bias to judge others based on personality traits while ignoring the situational context.
Correct answer: The tendency to overemphasize dispositional factors and underemphasize situational factors when explaining others' behavior.
Cognitive Dissonance
Leon Festinger's Cognitive Dissonance Theory posits that holding conflicting cognitions, or acting contrary to one's beliefs, creates an uncomfortable psychological tension. Individuals are motivated to reduce this dissonance by altering their beliefs, modifying their actions, or acquiring new information.
Groupthink
Coined by Irving Janis, groupthink occurs when the desire for harmony and consensus within a cohesive group overrides rational appraisal of alternatives, often leading to disastrous decision-making.
What phenomenon describes the reduction in individual effort when working in a group compared to working alone?
Social loafing occurs because individual contributions cannot be easily evaluated, leading to a diffusion of responsibility.
Correct answer: Social loafing