Effect of group behaviour & social influence

1. Effect of group behaviour & social influence Chapter 34

2. Social Groups & facilitation • Human’s belong to many social groups • E.g family, sports team, political party etc. • Groups provide a sense of belonging & support • But often set standards • Groups often held together by rules & symbolism • People are motivated by social status • Social Facilitation • - the effect of other’s presence on one’s performance • - people work better on well learned or easy tasks • - can be worse on difficult or new tasks • Intensive competition can lead to anxiety, hostility, & health issues

3. Group Pressure & Deindividuation • Strong group influence on an individual • - making them abandon their own views/ideas • People conform to group pressure: • - identify with & want to be like group members • - desire personal gain from group membership • - want to be liked • This loss of identity is DEINDIVIDUATION • More likely to act mindlessly, more risk-taking, and more anonymity

4. Influences that change beliefs • Internalisation: • Incorporating an enduring set of beliefs, values or attitudes • Media produces information which may or may not be internalised • E.g health campaigns, party political broadcasts • Advertising tries to create dissatisfaction with current situation, and a better alternative • E.g cosmetics will make you irresistable to men • Identification: • Where a person changes beliefs to be like somebody else • E.g like a celebrity