Chapter 21 Social Interaction. 21.1 Group Behavior How do groups affect individual behavior?

Chapter 21Chapter 21

Social InteractionSocial Interaction

21.1 Group Behavior21.1 Group Behavior

How do groups affect individual How do groups affect individual behavior?behavior?

Social FacilitationSocial Facilitation

We often perform better when people We often perform better when people are watchingare watching

Not only found in people – animals like Not only found in people – animals like dogs and cats work faster in groupsdogs and cats work faster in groups

Evaluation Apprehension – our concern Evaluation Apprehension – our concern about the way others see us may about the way others see us may motivate us to improve performance.motivate us to improve performance.

Social Loafing Social Loafing

When working with others toward a When working with others toward a common goal, some my not work as common goal, some my not work as hard hard

More common when others are also More common when others are also not doing their sharenot doing their share

Diffusion of responsibility – we feel Diffusion of responsibility – we feel less responsibility when in a groupless responsibility when in a group

Risky ShiftRisky Shift

We tend to take We tend to take greater risks when greater risks when we are with a groupwe are with a group

This may occur do This may occur do to the fact that the to the fact that the responsibility for responsibility for the action will be the action will be shared with othersshared with others

Might explain riotsMight explain riots

Group Decision MakingGroup Decision Making

Many important decisions are made Many important decisions are made by groups rather than by individualsby groups rather than by individuals

Psychologists have studied factors Psychologists have studied factors that influence group decision making that influence group decision making and have identified a number of and have identified a number of social decision schemessocial decision schemes

Group Decision MakingGroup Decision Making

Majority Wins Majority Wins SchemeScheme The group ultimately The group ultimately

decides on the choice decides on the choice initially supported by initially supported by the majority of the the majority of the groupgroup

Applies most often Applies most often when there are no when there are no clear right and wrong clear right and wrong answersanswers

Truth Wins SchemeTruth Wins Scheme After learning about After learning about

the various choices, the various choices, the best option is the best option is selectedselected

Group Decision MakingGroup Decision Making

Two-Thirds Majority Two-Thirds Majority SchemeScheme Sometimes after Sometimes after

two-thirds of a two-thirds of a group agree on a group agree on a choice, the others choice, the others may go alongmay go along

First-Shift SchemeFirst-Shift Scheme When a group is When a group is

split 50/50, a single split 50/50, a single person changing person changing their mind can their mind can cause others to cause others to follow suit.follow suit.

PolarizationPolarization

Individuals are often attracted to Individuals are often attracted to groups where the members share groups where the members share similar views.similar views.

These shared attitudes are likely to These shared attitudes are likely to grow stronger over time as members grow stronger over time as members discuss and act on these shared beliefsdiscuss and act on these shared beliefs

This dynamic can be positive or This dynamic can be positive or negativenegative

Group LeadershipGroup Leadership

Leaders help group members identify goals Leaders help group members identify goals and establish plans for reaching themand establish plans for reaching them

Leaders may be elected or appointedLeaders may be elected or appointed Many organizations have a clear chain of Many organizations have a clear chain of

commandcommand Informal groups may not have official Informal groups may not have official

leaders but will likely have some members leaders but will likely have some members that are more influential that are more influential

These leaders tend to be more self-These leaders tend to be more self-confident, outgoing, and intelligent confident, outgoing, and intelligent

There are several different types of leadersThere are several different types of leaders

Authoritarian LeadersAuthoritarian Leaders

Exert absolute Exert absolute control over all control over all decisionsdecisions

Demand Demand obedience from obedience from underlingsunderlings

Democratic LeadersDemocratic Leaders

Encourage group Encourage group members to members to express and express and discuss their ideasdiscuss their ideas

Encourage Encourage consensus and consensus and people making people making their own their own decisionsdecisions

May call for a voteMay call for a vote

Laissez-Faire LeadersLaissez-Faire Leaders

Encourage members to express and Encourage members to express and explore their own ideasexplore their own ideas

Take a less active role in decision Take a less active role in decision making, allowing members to do as making, allowing members to do as they wish (even when making poor they wish (even when making poor decisions)decisions)

Comparing Leadership Comparing Leadership StylesStyles

Different leadership styles are Different leadership styles are effective in different situationseffective in different situations

In time of crisis, authoritarian leaders In time of crisis, authoritarian leaders may be bestmay be best

In other situations, democratic and In other situations, democratic and laissez-faire may be betterlaissez-faire may be better

21.2 Conformity21.2 Conformity

Importance of GroupsImportance of Groups

Groups fulfill our needs for belonging, Groups fulfill our needs for belonging, affection and attentionaffection and attention

They also offer support in times of They also offer support in times of needneed

Social NormsSocial Norms

Standards of behaviorStandards of behavior Explicit norms – spoken or written rulesExplicit norms – spoken or written rules Implicit norms – unspoken but Implicit norms – unspoken but

understood rulesunderstood rules

Can be beneficial or harmfulCan be beneficial or harmful

AschAsch’’s Studies of Conformitys Studies of Conformity

AschAsch’’s Results s Results

Many participants confirmed the Many participants confirmed the confederates selectionsconfederates selections

¾ of people went along with the ¾ of people went along with the group at least once even though they group at least once even though they knew answers were incorrectknew answers were incorrect

Why do People Conform?Why do People Conform?

Central InfluencesCentral Influences Collectivist societies Collectivist societies

have high rates of have high rates of social conformitysocial conformity

They feel They feel uncomfortable uncomfortable when singled outwhen singled out

Need for Need for AcceptanceAcceptance We conform to social We conform to social

norms of dress and norms of dress and behavior in order to behavior in order to be acceptedbe accepted

People with low self People with low self esteem and high esteem and high social anxiety social anxiety conform moreconform more

Conformity – Other FactorsConformity – Other Factors

Group size – up to 8 Group size – up to 8 Group is unanimous – even one Group is unanimous – even one

dissenter reduces likelihood of dissenter reduces likelihood of conformityconformity

21.3 Obedience21.3 Obedience

Most people obey authority figuresMost people obey authority figures Why do some obey immoral Why do some obey immoral

commandscommands

MilgramMilgram

• Study in obedienceStudy in obedience• 40 men aged 20-5040 men aged 20-50• Asked to shock another Asked to shock another participant when the participant when the responded responded incorrectlyincorrectly

2/3 of participants continued to 2/3 of participants continued to the very end. Even though the the very end. Even though the learner shrieked in pain and learner shrieked in pain and eventually ceased respondingeventually ceased responding

Why do People Conform?Why do People Conform?

Socialization – We are trained from Socialization – We are trained from an early age to obey authorityan early age to obey authority

Foot in the door effect – We tend to Foot in the door effect – We tend to give in to major demands once we give in to major demands once we have given in to minor oneshave given in to minor ones

Why do People Conform?Why do People Conform?

Confusion about attitudes – Confusion about attitudes – disturbing or stressful events can disturbing or stressful events can cause us to become confused about cause us to become confused about our beliefsour beliefs

Buffers – protection from Buffers – protection from consequences increases likelihood of consequences increases likelihood of acting against our beliefsacting against our beliefs

21.4 Aggression21.4 Aggression

Actions or words that are meant to Actions or words that are meant to hurt other peoplehurt other people

Biological ViewBiological View

Some aggressive responses seem to Some aggressive responses seem to involve the brain and hormonesinvolve the brain and hormones

Stimulation of hypothalamusStimulation of hypothalamus Hormone testosterone (higher levels Hormone testosterone (higher levels

often coincide with higher often coincide with higher aggression)aggression)

May have had survival valueMay have had survival value

Psychoanalytic ViewPsychoanalytic View

Aggressive urges are normal Aggressive urges are normal We repress them due to fear of rejectionWe repress them due to fear of rejection Catharsis - Freud felt we should vent Catharsis - Freud felt we should vent

these feelings in less harmful ways that these feelings in less harmful ways that didndidn’’t physically harm someonet physically harm someone

It is unclear whether or not catharsis It is unclear whether or not catharsis actually decreases or increases actually decreases or increases aggressionaggression

Cognitive ViewCognitive View

Behavior is influenced by peoples Behavior is influenced by peoples values, the ways in which they values, the ways in which they interpret events and the choices they interpret events and the choices they makemake

Frustration and anger make us Frustration and anger make us aggressive but we donaggressive but we don’’t act without t act without thoughtthought

Learning ViewLearning View

Aggressive behavior is reinforced Aggressive behavior is reinforced and therefore repeatedand therefore repeated Reinforced when force allows us to get Reinforced when force allows us to get

our wayour way In sports, aggression aids in winningIn sports, aggression aids in winning We may observe the behavior on TV and We may observe the behavior on TV and

in moviesin movies

Learning – TV and ViolenceLearning – TV and Violence

Controversial topicControversial topic Viewers exposed to enormous Viewers exposed to enormous

amounts of violenceamounts of violence More tv watching leads to increased More tv watching leads to increased

aggressionaggression May increase aggression because it May increase aggression because it

models behavior and lessens models behavior and lessens inhibitionsinhibitions

Sociocultural ViewSociocultural View

Cultures that promote independence Cultures that promote independence and competitiveness have increases and competitiveness have increases aggressionaggression

Cultures that place more value on Cultures that place more value on the group foster cooperation and the group foster cooperation and have lower levels of aggressionhave lower levels of aggression

21.5 Altruism21.5 Altruism

Unselfish concern for the welfare of Unselfish concern for the welfare of other peopleother people

Explaining altruismExplaining altruism

Might be linked to genetics Might be linked to genetics Might have evolutionary value Might have evolutionary value

especially if altruistic behavior is especially if altruistic behavior is directed towards family membersdirected towards family members

Some believe that there is no Some believe that there is no evidence for a genetic connection evidence for a genetic connection

Factors Promoting AltruismFactors Promoting Altruism State of Mind – people in a good mood are State of Mind – people in a good mood are

more likely to help othersmore likely to help others People with problems – their troubles might People with problems – their troubles might

make them more sensitive to others make them more sensitive to others troublestroubles

EmpathyEmpathy Competency - if you have the necessary Competency - if you have the necessary

skills for the situation you are more likely to skills for the situation you are more likely to helphelp

Sense of responsibilitySense of responsibility

Factors Inhibiting AltruismFactors Inhibiting Altruism

Uncertainty – if they are unsure help Uncertainty – if they are unsure help is needed people are less likely to actis needed people are less likely to act

Fear – of harm or social blunderFear – of harm or social blunder Not knowing what to doNot knowing what to do

Bystander EffectBystander Effect

Chances that people will help are Chances that people will help are influenced by the number of people influenced by the number of people presentpresent

People alone are likely to helpPeople alone are likely to help The more people present, the less The more people present, the less

likely people are to render aidlikely people are to render aid Might be due to the diffusion of Might be due to the diffusion of

responsibilityresponsibility

StudyStudy

Darley and Latane (1968)Darley and Latane (1968) Office workers on the phone with a Office workers on the phone with a ““coworkercoworker”” when he called for help and when he called for help and made sounds of distressmade sounds of distress

Single witnesses helped 85% of the timeSingle witnesses helped 85% of the time People who thought that 4 others heard People who thought that 4 others heard

the pleas for help only responded 31% the pleas for help only responded 31% of the timeof the time