CHAPTER 16 - CHAPTER 16 Social Psychology o Social...

CHAPTER 16
Social Psychology
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Social psychology : the branch of psychology that studies individuals as they
interact with others.
1.Self-persuasion is defined by self-directive behavior.
2.The more outside control, the less inside control.
3.The more obvious the external control, the less the self-persuasion.
4.Mild threats influence more self-persuasion.
5.Large incentives can hinder self-persuasion.
6.Perceived choice enhances self-persuasion.
7.Perceived choice is greater when working to achieve success than when working to avoid
failure.
Seven Principles of Social Dynamics
Influence Safety Improvement
Consistency :
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We resist change.
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We act ourselves into certain thinking, and vice versa.
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We honor public, active, and voluntary commitment.
Reciprocity :
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We return favors.
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We are more likely to comply after retreating.
Ingratiation :
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We are attracted to similarities.
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We like those who praise us and cooperate.
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We actively care for the people we like.
Conformity :
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We follow those who are similar and credible.
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We model most in unfamiliar situations.
Authority :
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We follow authority blindly and mindlessly.
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We follow those with credibility.
Scarcity :
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We react to protect our individuality.
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We value rare opportunities.
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We are motivated to avoid loss.
Novelty :
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We habituate to the routine.
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We are attentive and attracted to the unique.
Groups & Social Influence
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Deindividuation : state in which people in a group can feel anonymous and
unidentifiable and therefore feel less concerned with what others think of their
behavior

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Bystander Apathy : Kitty Genovese- beaten and stabbed to death in a residential
area of New York City over the course of 30 minutes; 38 people saw but no one
helped.
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Diffusion of responsibility: the effect of being in a group that apparently reduces
the sense of personal responsibility of each group member to act appropriately.
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Social Facilitation: an effect in which working in a group improves one’s
performance on individual projects.
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Social Loafing: the tendency of members of group to work less hard when group
performance is measured than when individual performance is measured.
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Groupthink: the faulty decision-making process that may occur in groups.
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Polarization: the tendency for group discussion to make beliefs and attitudes
more extreme
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Risky Options: studies have shown that most of us do NOT recommend risky
options when we are alone with the person asking for advice; however, when
groups of persons discuss such dilemmas, they are much more likely to take
extreme positions and recommend risky options.
Social Conformity
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Conformity : yielding to group pressure even when no direct request to comply
has been made
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Public vs. private judgments :
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Clear-cut vs. ambiguous situations :
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Size & consensus of group :
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Individualistic vs. collectivistic cultures :
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Social Roles : culturally determined guidelines that tell people what behavior is
expected of them
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Social Norms