Lesson 3 Individuals in Groups When in groups

Lesson 3: Individuals in Groups

�When in groups we act differently than we would on our own ◦ The decisions we make & the actions we take in groups may depend less on our personal desires than on the structure & dynamics of the group itself

Group Pressure & Conformity

Conformity �Taking actions or adopting attitudes as a result of real or imagined group pressure �Line test ◦ Subjects in a group were asked to match line lengths. ◦ Confederates in the group picked the wrong line. ◦ Subjects went along with the wrong answer on 37% of trials.

�Declined since the 1950’s reflecting social norms �Varies with cultural norms too �Regardless of culture, everyone conforms under some circumstance & for similar reasons ◦ Identify with the group, want to be liked, believe the group has knowledge, & is superior to their own, self interest, to keep jobs, win promotions, or win votes

�Group members are often uncomfortable with deviants & will try to persuade them to conform ◦ May punish, isolate, or reject them �Positive- society runs smoothly �Negative- suppress critical thinking & creativity ◦ People may deny their private beliefs, agree with silly notions & even repudiate their own values

Groupthink �In close-knit groups, the tendency for all members to think alike and suppress disagreement for the sake of harmony. �Occurs when a group’s need for total agreement overwhelms its need to make

�Symptoms of Groupthink: ◦ Illusion of invincibility- group believes it can do no wrong ◦ Self-censorship- dissenters keep quiet, rather than make trouble, offend their friends, or risk being ridiculed

◦ Pressure on dissenters to conform - leader teases or humiliates dissenters or pressures them to go along ◦ Illusion of unanimity- create the illusion of consensus � May explicitly order suspected dissenters to keep quiet

�Key features of groups that are vulnerable of groupthink: ◦ Their members feel that they are part of a tightly connected team ◦ They are isolated from other viewpoints ◦ They feel strong pressure from outside forces ◦ They have a strong, directive leader

�A main factor in determining whether a group will fall victim has to do with group norms ◦ The standards or rules about appropriate behavior & thought governing members of the group � Some groups demand consensus � Want all members to dress, think, & behave in the same way

�Others value innovative or dissenting views & set norms that call for independent thinking & action �Can be counteracted by creating conditions that explicitly encourage & reward the expression of doubt & dissent & by basing decisions on majority rule instead of unanimity

The Anonymous Crowd �The more people around you, the less likely it is that one of them will come to your aid �Diffusion of Responsibility: In organized or anonymous groups, the tendency of members to avoid taking responsibility for actions or decisions because they assume that others will

�Bystander apathy- in crowds, when someone is in trouble, individuals often fail to take action or call for help because they assume that someone else will do so ◦ People are most likely to come to a stranger’s aid if they are the only ones around to help because responsibility can’t be diffused

�In work groups, the diffusion of responsibility sometimes takes the form of social loafing ◦ Each member of a team slows down, letting others work harder � Occurs when: �Individual group members are not accountable for the work they do � People feel that working harder would only duplicate their colleagues’ efforts

�The challenge of the job is increased when each member of the group has a different, important job to do, the sense of individual responsibility rises & social loafing declines

�Extreme instances of diffusion of responsibility occur in large anonymous mobs or crowds where people often lose all awareness of their individuality ◦ Deindividuation � More likely to feel this in a large city or large classes � Some groups promote deindividuation of their members in order to enhance conformity & allegiance to the group

◦ Uniforms & masks- eliminating identity �Don’t feel responsible for their actions & are more likely to violate social norms or break laws than on their own ◦ Sometimes makes people more friendly

Disobedience & Dissent �Dissent & altruism (the willingness to take a selfless or dangerous action on behalf of others) are a matter a personal convictions & conscience ◦ There are external influences on a person’s decisions to state an unpopular opinion, choose conscience over conformity, or help a stranger in trouble

�Situational factors contributing to nonconformity: ◦ You perceive the need for intervention or help � Sometimes people willfully blind themselves to wrongdoing to justify their own inaction of when the situation imposes too many demands on people’s attention

�The situation increases the likelihood that you will take responsibility ◦ When you’re in an environment that rewards independent thinking & dissent & discourages social loafing, you may behave accordingly

�Decision to take responsibility also depends on the risk involved ◦ People are less likely to take an independent action if situational risks are high (need the job) �Some cultures place a higher value on helping strangers

�Cost-benefit ratio supports your decision to get involved. ◦ Cost of helping or protesting might be embarrassment or wasted time, lost income, loss of friends, or physical danger ◦ Cost of not helping or remaining silent might be guilt, blame from others, loss of honor, or the injury or death of others

�You have an ally. ◦ Reassured a person of the rightness of the protest & their combined efforts may eventually persuade the majority �You become entrapped.