Social Psychology Influence of Groups on our Behaviors

Attribution Theory: How we explain the behavior of others Why did the Nazi’s during WWII commit atrocities against fellow human beings? Why are people homeless? Why are some people in prison? What are the major reasons why people become substance abusers?

Dispositional vs. Situational Dispositional Attribution: Believe that people’s personality and personal choices can explain why they behave as they do. Situational Attribution: Look at the various factors and pressures in a person’s situation to help explain why they behave as they do.

Explanations for Your Behaviors l Why did you cheat on a test? l Why do you sometimes lie? l Why have you teased or bullied someone?

Make the Attribution Error for the behavior of others but for our own l When we are explaining other people’s behaviors, we often assume it is due to their disposition or personality and ignore the significant impact of situational variables. l When explaining our own misdeeds, we are more than willing to address the pressures of the situation!

Conformity to Norms of Groups l Asch Experiment: Which line matches one on left?

Asch Study is a classic in demonstrating conformity l Groups have norms or standards of behavior l We tend to conform to the norms of a group even if we don’t agree. Why? l One-third of the time, subjects conformed to the wrong answer in the line experiment if 4 or more others first gave the wrong answer.

Group Think l Groups members work more toward harmony and avoidance of discord than toward critical thinking l Groupthink is more likely to occur when strong members speak early, frequently and strongly about their opinions

NASA: Challenger Shuttle Tragedy

Engineers under pressure from Directors of the Mission l Engineers knew that the weather was way too cold for the O ring to function properly to maintain the integrity of the shuttle l Spent time making their case but in the end they caved, resulting in the inevitable explosion of the Challenger after take-off

15 years later another Shuttle Diaster l Engineers concerned about foam hitting the wing of Columbia l Two directors of Columbia mission immediately dismiss their concerns and fairly quickly reduced dissent l Why difficult to dissent at that point?

Columbia Shuttle Crew

Left Wing Harmed Upon Take-off

Columbia Disintegrating upon Reentry

Juries: 12 Angry Men

Plot of “ 12 Angry Men” l l l Start with judge sending jury to room for deliberation Room is very hot and most want to get home as quickly as possible Take a close ballot and only one dissents from a vote of guilty Henry Fonda asks them simply to re-examine the evidence Much anger and bitterness develops See how jury moves from 11 -1 for guilty to 12 -0, not guilty—very absorbing drama.

Bystander Apathy: Kitty Genovese

This was the incident that started the research on bystander apathy l Over 38 people stated to the police that they had heard Kitty yell for help l Many of them also had seen her being assaulted l None came to her assistance or even called the police. Why?

What reasons did the witnesses give for not taking action? l l l Karl Ross called police at 3: 50 but not before call friend to ask what he should do. Middle-class neighborhood but large apartment complex— therein lies the problem—diffusions of responsibility Rationales given to police by residents: Sounded like a “lovers’ quarrel. ” Didn’t want to get involved Frankly, we were afraid. Were too tired.

Studies of Bystander Apathy l Number of people close by when a person needs assistance is one of the crucial factors l We are most likely to received help if only one or two deal are close-by l If four or more people are in proximity, people are more likely to ignore or observe without assisting

Famous Studies by Latane & Darley l l Experiment where subjects sit in a room completing a questionnaire when smoke begins to enter the room. If subject is the only person in room, 75% leave room to report possible emergency If three subjects in room, only 38% of the time will one of them report the smoke If two confederates who ignore the smoke are in room, the subject reports the smoke only 10% of the time.

Explanation Give for Behavior l If report that smoke flowing into the room, state do so because it could be fire l If not report the smoke but, instead stay seated, state not believe it was a dangerous situation l No one ever mentions that presence of others doing nothing about the fire influenced their response

Lady in Distress Experiment l l l Situation: Sitting in Room when hear woman fall and appear to have been hurt Sitting alone: 70% assist Sitting with stranger: 40% help Sitting with one passive confederate: 7% What are reasons give?

Zimbardo’s Prison Experiment Male Stanford college students volunteers were randomly assigned to be either a prisoners or a guard. l l By the second day the guards began to abuse their role by harassing and humiliating the prisoners. l Prisoners initially work together & protested treatment but guards use abusive tactics to quell the protest and prevent united prisoner protests.

No training and no oversight l For those who wish to view the entire film on the Zimbardo Prison Experiment, go to the following site: http: //www. prisonexp. org/ l Those in power will usually abuse their power if there is no oversight set-up to prevent such behaviors.

Horrific Treatment by American Soldiers of the Iraqi Detainees in Abu Ghraib

Obedience Experiment by Milgram The teacher is the actual Subject. They are told to give electric shocks to the pretend student sitting in the next room. The experimenter is the authority-figure telling the subject to keep giving the shocks in order to complete the experiment!

Programmed Responses

Degree of Obedience Depend on Situational Variables

Methods used by Cults l l Initially very affectionate and friendly to people who are a bit lonely and depressed Isolate from non-cult members to increase commitment and decrease critical thinking Ask small favors at first, like attending a meeting Slowly increase time, effort and $$ contributions

Gain Total Control Over Members l l l Sign over bank accounts Give control over children and women Leaders are portrayed as having total control Cult presents positive image to community Fundamentalist groups of all religions seem to be inclined toward forming cult-like societies

Jim Jones Cult Members Commit Suicide