Social Psychology and Group Dynamics

1. Social Psychology and Group Dynamics

2. Topics for Discussion • Fundamental Attribution Error • Bystander effect • Social Loafing • Group Processes • There are many valuable aspects of social psychology to be kept in mind, but these will be a good start =)

3. Self-Serving Bias • We tend to naturally defend our failures by attributing external factors to the negative outcome (e.g. I only failed that exam because there were loads of trick questions and I was feeling really hot and tired and couldn’t think properly) • On the other hand, we tend to attribute positive outcomes to our own internal states and hard work. (e.g. I did well because I’m really smart and studied loads) • Researchers believe that blaming external factors for failures and disappointments helps protect self-esteem • This self-serving bias is part of what keeps us all happy, well rounded human beings. It is not a bad thing to make the most of what you’ve got. However…

4. Fundamental Attribution Error • The danger in this process comes primarily from OTHER-oriented situational outcomes. • When it comes to other people, we tend to attribute causes to internal factors such as personality characteristics and ignore or minimize external variables. This phenomenon tends to be very widespread, particularly among individualistic cultures. Psychologists refer to this tendency as the fundamental attribution error; even though situational variables are very likely present, we automatically attribute the cause to internal characteristics. • The fundamental attribution error explains why people often blame other people for things over which they usually have no control. • Importance? Just something to keep in mind…

5. The Bystander effect • This is a general tendency towards inaction in the presence of others, even in situations where an individual is in a state of danger or distress. • The most frequently cited example of the bystander effect in introductory psychology textbooks is the brutal murder of a young woman named Catherine "Kitty" Genovese. On Friday, March 13, 1964, 28-year-old Genovese was returning home from work. As she approached her apartment entrance, she was attacked and stabbed by a man later identified as Winston Moseley. • Despite Genovese’s repeated calls for help, none of the dozen or so people in the nearby apartment building who heard her cries called police to report the incident. The attack first began at 3:20 AM, but it was not until 3:50 AM that someone first contacted police. • Once again, just something to think about… but it leads on to my main topic…

7. Social Loafing • Social loafing describes the tendency of individuals to put forth less effort when they are part of a group. Because all members of the group are pooling their effort to achieve a common goal, each member of the group contributes less than they would if they were individually responsible. • Social loafing is also associated with two concepts that are typically used to explain why it occurs: The "free-rider" theory and the resulting "sucker effect", which is an individual’s reduction in effort in order to avoid pulling the weight of a fellow group member. • Many of the causes of social loafing stem from an individual feeling that his or her effort will not matter to the group. Therefore, effective ways to reduce social loafing involve increasing the motivation of individual group members or improving their coordination.

8. How do we counteract this effect? • Smaller groups : the smaller the group, the more likely a member is to contribute. • Specific distribution of tasks and self/group designated deadlines. • If someone is not pulling their weight, do not succumb to fundamental attribution error, but also do not allow another member to “suck” your motivation away. Raise the issue using NVC.

9. Group Processes • In an April 23, 2006 APA press release, lead researcher Patrick Laughlin attributed the improved performance of groups to, “the ability of people to work together to generate and adopt correct responses, reject erroneous responses, and effectively process information.” • “Three group members were necessary and sufficient for the groups to perform better than the best of an equivalent number of independent individuals.” • The results indicate that groups of three are more efficient and more accurate at solving moderately difficult problems that require the use of logic, verbal, and qualitative understanding • We can use these principles to our advantage.