Social Psych test 2
Psychology 372 with Stetson at University of Louisville
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cultural norms
behavior expectations, which is influenced by gender roles, family & peer influences and group support
Natural Selection
process by which heritable traits that the best enable organisms to survive and reproduce in particular enviroments are passed to ensuing generations
Evolutionary Psychology
Study of the evolution of cognition and behavior using principles of natural selection, these are the traits that helps us survive the most
Culture
enduring behaviors ideas, attitudes and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
- includes cultural diversity
Norms
expected behavior, standards for acepted and expected behavior
e.g.- personal space- which is a buffer zone we like to maintain around our bodies
social rules
norms change w/ each situation
Cultural Similarity
- universal friendshio norms
- universal trait dimensions- agreeable v. cranky, concious v. unaware
- universal social belief dimehsions
- universial status norms- ppl w/ higher social status often iniatate conversations
- incest taboo
- norms of war
Gender
characteristics, whether bioloigcal or socially influenced, by which people define male and female
gender diferences in women
- often describe themselves in more relational terms
- experience more relationship-linked emotions
- more empathetic
- gravitate toward jobs that reduce inequalities
gender differences in men
- focus on tasks and on connections with large groups
- respond to stress with "fight or flight" response
- gravitate toward jobs that enhance inequalities
Social Dominance within the genders
- men are socially dominant
- women's wages in industrial countries average 77 percent of men's
- men tend to be more autocratic; women more democratic
- men take more risks
Aggression and gender differences
-defined as physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt someone
- in the US the arrest ration of male to female is 10 to 1
- provaction shrinks the gender gap
- women are slightly more likley to commit indirect aggressive acts, instead they gossip
gender differences sexually
Men- more often think about and intiate sex, in mating preferences men seek our quantity, spreading genes widely
Women- are more inspired by emotional passion, in mating preferences women seek out quality, protecting and nurturing their offspring
Reflections on Evolutionary Psychology
evolutionary psychologist sometimes start with an effect and work backward to construct an explanation
General Evolution Theory and mid-level evolutionary theories
General Evolutionary theory- Evolution by Natural Selection
Midlevel Evolutionary Theories- 1) Theory of Reciprocal Altruism 2) Theory of Parental investment and sexual stimulation 3) Theory of Parent-Offspring Conflict
Theory of Reciprocal Altruism
midlevel evolutionary theory, that says in species inwhich the sexes differ in parental investment, the higher-investing sex will be more selective in choice of mating partners
- E.G- women have evolved preferences for men who are high in status
Theory of Parental investment and Sexual Selection
middle level evolutionary theory that says when males and often do contribute resources to offspring, females will select mates in part based on their ability and willingness to contribute resources
e.g.- women have evolved preferences for men who show ues indicating a willingness to invest in then and their offspring
Theory of Parent Offspring Conflict
Midlevel evolutionary theory, which says that the sex who invests less parentally in offspring will be mre cometitive with each other for mating access to the high investing sex
- women divorce men whofail to contribute expected resources or who divert those resources to other women and their children
Gender & Hormones
gender gap in aggression seems influences by testosterone
- as humans age they bc more androgynous (mixing bothe masculing and feminine characteristics) - men bc less macho, women bc less passive
Gender role
- set of behavior expectations (norms) for males and females
- gender roles vary over culture and over time
Peer transmitted Culture
- Peer-Transmitted Cutlure- 50% of individual variation in personality traits is by parental nurturing
- other 50% is peer influence
Biology & Culture
Biology and experience interact when biological traits influence how the environment re
Conformity & the 3 Types
change in behavior or belief as the result of real or imagined group pressure,
3 Types
1) Compliance- to go along w/ influence
2) Obediance-comply only after directions
3) Acceptance- believing what you are forced to do
Sherif's Studies of Norm Foundation
used autokinetic phenomenon then asked groups of men to determine how much the point of light had moved- the responses of the men changed markedly, however the point of light never moved
Suggestibility-
Contagious yawning
Comedy laugh tracks
Mood linkage
Chamelon Effect
Werther Effect- famous book had character that hangs himself after relationship breaks up...then everyone started imitaiting him
Mass Delusions- everyone thinks they are sick
Social Contagion
once one person rebel many also rebel.
e.g.- guy who starts dance party/ standing ovations
Ash's Study of Group Pressure
Perceptual Judgment experiment
- six confederates gave incorect answers to see if participat would agree even if he knew it was the incorrect answer
- the confederate went along with the group, he conformed but did not internalize
Milgram's Obediance Experiments
Tested what happens when the demands of authority lash with the demands of conscience, displaced responsibility increases conformity
- teacher "shocks" leraner at insistence of experimenter
- 65% continued beyond expectations
- critics said is experiment stressed the participants against their will, argued that the participants self-esteem may have been altered,
- Milgram was interest in people's unquestionning obediance to orders; wanted to find out if a person can be made to do an immoral act
What breeds Obediances
- victims distance or depersonalization
- closeness and legitimacy of the authority
- institutional authority
- liberating effects of group influence- e.g.- fire men in 911 bombings
- classic studes show that behavior and attitudes are mutually reinforcing
- small act of evil to foster the attitude can lead wo a larger evil act
Power of the Situation- Heroism can occur well as evil
What Predicts Conformity
Group Size- 3 - 5 ppl will elicit more conformity than just 1-2
- greater than 5 yields diminishing returns
Unaminity- observing another's dissent can increase our own independence
Cohesion- "we feeling" extent to which members of are group are bound together, more cohesive a group is the more power over its members
Status- higher-status ppl have more impact
Public Response- coform more when they must respond in front of others
No Prior Commitment- most ppl stick to public commitment stick to it
Why Conform?
Normative Influence- based on a person's desire to fulfill others' expectations, other to gain acceptance
Informational Influence- occuring when ppl accept evidence about reality provided by other people, produced by desire to be correct
Who Conforms?
- Personality- poor predictor of conformity, situations are better
- Culture- different cutlures socialize people to be more or less socially responsive
- Social Roles- conforming to expectations is an important task when takin on a new social role
Reactance
motive to protect or restor one's sense of freedom..arises when someone threatens our freedom of action
Asserting Uniqueness
We at in ways that preserve our sense of individuality...in a group, we are most conscious of how we differ from others
Persuasion
Process by which a messafe induces change in beliefs, attitudes or behaviors
One must- Pay Attn to a message- Comprehend it- Believe it- Remember it- and Behave
Paths that lead to persuasion
central route- occurs when interested ppl focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoguhts, likely to focus on message, leads to longer change in attitude and behavior
- is more durable and likely to influence behavior
paths that lead to persuasion
periphal route- occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues, such as a speakers attractiveness, they focus on cues that triggrt automatice acceptance without much thinking
- is a suprerficial and temporary attitude change
Elements of Persuasion
1. Who says- the communicator
2. What is said- message content
3. How is it said? the channel of communication
4. To whom is it said? The Audience
Who Says-
this is the communicator, their credibility, believablity have an effect
-credibilty- perceived expertise, speaking confidently helps
perceived trustworthiness, eye contact, arguing against one's own
self interest, and speaking quickly all help, can help to introduce
someone as knowledfeable
- Attractiveness and Liking play a role
- similarity we tend to like ppl who are like us (sales ppl taught to mimic customers behaviors)
Sleeper Effect
delayed impact of a message that occurs when an initially discounted message becomes effective, as we remember the message but forget the reason for discounting it
What is Said
the message content
- Reason v. Emotion- well edu. ppl go for rational appeals
effect of good feelings enhance persuasion (buisness lunches)
effect of arousing fear
- when fear pertains to pleasurable activity the result is denial not behavioral changes
- Discrepancy- depends of the communicators credibility
- One- Sided Appeals- stroner with ppl who already agree, or who unaware of counter arguments
- Two-Sided Appeals- works best w/ those who disagree
Primacy Effect & Recency Effect
Primacy v. Recency Effect
Primacy- other things being equal, info presented first usually has most influence
Recency- info present last sometimes has the most influence, less common that primacy
How is it Said? The channel of communication
active experience strengthens attitueds
repition and rhyming of a statement serves to increas its fluency and believability
Two step flow of communication
process by which media influence others through opinion leaders, who influence others, the more life like the meduim the more persuasive the message
TV is good for simple meassages
Print- good for detailed messages
Channel of Communication
way the message is delivered, wether face to face, in writing, fim or some other way
To whom its said
the audience- Age Matters
- Life Cycle Explanation-attitudes change as people grow older
- Generational Explanation- attitudes do not change, older ppl hold onto the attitudes they adopted when they were young...holds up the longest
- dont forwarn audience bc it forearms them.
- distraction disarms counterarguing
- words can promote candidate/product
- visual images keep us occupied so we don't anaylze the words
- Determining what the Audience is thinking
- uninvolved audiences use periphal cues
Ways to stimulate people's thinking
use rheotorical questions
present multiple speakers
make ppl feel responsible
repeat the message
get ppl's undistracted attn
Extreme Persuasion- Cults & how they indoctrinate
- defined as new religious movemente
- group typically characterized by distinctive rituals and beliefs related to its devotion to a god or person
-isolate themselves from the surrounding "evil" cutlure
- have charasamitc leaders
-attitudes follow behavior:
- compliance breeds acceptance
- cult initiates bc active members of the group
- foot in the door phenomenom- gradual induction...e.g- offering ppl free dinner
How can Persuasion be Resisted?
strengthening personal commitment
challenging beliefs
developing counter-arguments
Attitude Inoculation- exposing ppl to weak attacks upon their attitudes so that when stroner attacks come, they will have reutation..stimulates but does not overwhelm our beliefs
- an ineffective appeal can be worse than none
- a way to strengthen existing attitudes is to weakly challenge them
Specifics of Cult Indoctrination
Persuasive Elements
Communicator- credible, attractive
Message- appeals to their emotions
Audience
Group Effects- Social Implosion
isolation of members with like minded groups
-external ties weaken until the group collapses inward socially
e.g.- monasteries, fraternities, soriorities, and therapeutic communities such as rehab
Group
two or more ppl who for longer than a few moments, interact with and influence one another and perceive one another as "us"
Social Facilitation
how we are affected by the mere presence of others, strengthening of dominant responses whether correct or incorrect in the presence of others
- boost perfomance on easy tasks
- impairs performance on difficult tasks
Crowding
Presence of many others,
- effect of others' presence increases with their number
- being in a crown instifies positive/ negative reactions
-enhance arousal
Why are we aroused in the prescence of others?
Evalution Apprehension- ppl don't like to be evaluated, concern for self
Driven by Distraction- when we wonder how co-actors are doing or how an audience is reacting we bc distracted
Mere Presence- can be arounse even when we are not evaluated or distracted
Social Loafing
tendency for people to exert less effort when they pool their efforts toward a common goal than when they are individually accountable
- effort decreases as group size increases
- ppl bc free loaders
- social loafers have low arousal bc their work is not being evaluated
- ppl loaf less in frouss when the task is challenging, appealing and rewards are significant, and they are involved (team effort)
Deindividuation
loss of self-awareness and evaluation apprehension; occurs in group situations that foster responsiveness to group norms, good or bad
Group Size- larger the group the more its members lose self awareness and bc willing to commit atrocities
- ppls attn is focused on the situation not on themselves
- everyone's doing it attitude
- behavior is contributed to the situation rather than their own choices
Physical Anonymity
being anonymous makes one less self-concious, more group concious, and more responsive to cues present in the situation, whether positive of negative
e.g- study of trick or treaters
Arousing and Distracting Activities
when we act in an impulsive way as a group, we are not thinking about our values, we are reacting to the immediate situation
-impulsive group action absorbs our attn
Diminished Self Awareness- tend to increase pp's responsiveness to the immediate situation
group polarization
group produced enhancement of members preexisting tendencies; a strengthening of the member's average tendency, not split w/ in the group
risky shift phenomenon
occurs not only when a group decides by consensus, after brief discussion, individuals too will alter their decisions
occurs with- juries, business committees, military orgs, teen drivers
Accentuation Effect
over time initial differences amon groups of college students become accentuated. E.G.- if 1st yr students at college X are initially more intellectual than the students at college Y that gap is likely to increase by the time the graduate
Self-segregation
segregation of oneself?
Explaining Polarization (social comp & pluralistic ignorance)
Informational Influence
Arguments
Active Participation
Normative Influence
- social comparison- evaluating one's opinions and abilities by comparing oneself with others
- pluralistic ignorance- a false impression of what most other ppl are thinking or feeling, or how they are responding
Group Think
mode of thinking that person engage in when concurrence-seeking bc's so dominant in a cohesive in-group that it tends to override realistic appraisal of alternative courses of action
-caused by- cohesive group, isolation, directive leader
- systems of group think- following lead group members to bc close-minded, illusion of invulnerability, unquestioned belief in group's morality
- tend to rationalize and stereotype their view of opponent
Systems of Groupthink
following leads group to feel pressure toward uniformity
- conformity pressure
- self-censorship
- illusion of unanimity
- mind games
Critquing Groupthink
- directive leadership is associated w/ poorer decisions
- groups do prefer supporting over challenging info
- when members look to a group for acceptance, approval, and social identity, they may suppress disagreeable thoughts
Preventing Groupthink
be impartial
encourage critical evaluation
occasionally subdivide the group, then reunite and air out differences
welcome critiques from outside experts and associates
call a second chance meeting
Group Problem Solving
combine group and solitary brainstorming
have group members interact by writing
incorporate electronic brain storming
How do Individuals Influence the Group
Consistency- minority slowness effect
Self- Confidence- potrayed by consistency and persistence
Defections from the Majority- monority oerson who defects from majoirty is more persuasive than a consistent minority voice
Is leadership minoirty influence
- leadership- process by which certain group members motivate and guide the group
- formal and informal group leaders exert disproportionate influence
- task leadership- organizes work, sets standards and focuses on goals
- social leadership= builds teamwork, mediates conflict and offers support
- transformational leadership- enabled by leader's vision and inspiration, exers significant influence
Symptoms of Group Think
illusion of invulnerability, belief in morality of group, collective rationalization, stereotypes of other groups, direct pressure on dissenters, self cencorship, illusion of unanimity, self-appointed mind guards
Symptoms of Defective Decision Making
incomplete survey of objectives, failure to examine risk of the same choice, poor information search, failure to consider alternatives, failure to work out contigency plans
Social Conditions of Group Think
high cohesiveness
insulation of the group
lack of methodical for search and appraisal
directive leadership
high stress and low degress of finding hope
androgynous
as men and women age they mix masculine and feminine characteristics
About this deck
About StudyBlue
STUDYBLUE makes things that make you better at school.
Things like online flashcards with photos and audio.
Things like personalized quizzes and friendly reminders about when (and what) to study next.
Think of it as a digital backpack™: access to all of your study materials online and on your phone.
STUDYBLUE exists to make studying efficient and effective for every student, for free. Join us.
“I have used this website for three exams, and I see a huge difference in my test results.”
Naj
Naj