PSYC 112 PSYCHOLOGY FOR EVERYDAY LIVING

1. PSYC 112PSYCHOLOGY FOR EVERYDAY LIVING Lecturer: Dr. Paul NarhDoku, Dept of Psychology, UG Contact Information: pndoku@ug.edu.gh SESSION SIX – SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY PART II

2. Session Overview • The previous session offered a broad introduction to social psychology, the scientific study of human social influence and interaction. The present session will address some typical group dynamics or processes such as group polarization, social norms, deindividuation and group think. These are some of the negative influences that belonging to a group has on us.

3. Session Outline The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows: • Topic One – Groups and Their Functions • Topic Two – Deindividuation • Topic Three – Social Norms and Roles • Topic Four – Group Polarization • Topic Five – Group Think

4. Reading List • Refer to students to relevant text/chapter or reading materials you will make available on Sakai

5. Topic 1 - Groups and their Functions What Is a Group? A Group is ……… Two or more people who interact and are interdependent in the sense that their needs and goals cause them to influence each other. Source of image: Microsoft Office Online.

6. Why Do People Join Groups? Groups have a number of other benefits: • Other people can be an important source of information, helping us resolve ambiguity about the nature of the social world. • Groups become an important part of our identity, helping us define who we are. • Groups also help establish social norms.

7. 4 Group Processes or Negative Influences in Social Groups

8. Topic 2 - Deindividuation: • Deindividuation: The process of losing ones’ “identity” while in a group. (usually occurs when there is a heightened sense of arousal) • Example: Gang members wear similar outfits and act in similar ways that are appropriate to their gang. • Where does this happen? • 1. Sporting contests - fighting • 2. Church • 3. Rock concerts • 4. Protests - chanting • 5. Riots and Looting after natural disasters (Haiti)

9. 1. Deindividuation: Getting Lost in the Crowd Deindividuation The loosening of normal constraints on behavior when people can’t be identified (such as when they are in a crowd), leading to an increase in impulsive and deviant acts. Source of image: Microsoft Office Online.

10. Deindividuation • The loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in a group situation that fosters arousal and anonymity • People get swept up in a group and lose sense of self. • Feel anonymous and aroused. • Explains rioting behaviors.

11. Deindividuation Deindividuation does not always lead to aggressive or antisocial behavior. It depends on what the norm of the group is. Source of image: Microsoft Office Online.

12. Topic 3 - Social Norms Social Roles Shared expectations in a group about how particular people are supposed to behave. Source of image: Microsoft Office Online.

13. Social Norms Social Roles Shared expectations in a group about how particular people are supposed to behave. There are potential costs to social roles. For one thing, people can get so far into a role that their personal identities and personalities get lost. Source of image: Microsoft Office Online.

14. Zimbardo’s Prison Study • Showed how we deindividuate AND become the roles we are given. • Philip Zimbardo has students at Stanford U play the roles of prisoner and prison guards in the basement of psychology building. • They were given uniforms and numbers for each prisoner. • What do you think happened?

15. Zimbardo’s Prison Simulation Zimbardo and colleagues randomly assigned male volunteers to play the roles of either guards or prisoners in a 2-week prison simulation experiment. The students quickly assumed these roles—to such an extent that the researchers ended the experiment after only 6 days. Source of image: Microsoft Office Online.

16. Zimbardo’s Prison Simulation The students quickly assumed these roles—to such an extent that the researchers ended the experiment after only 6 days. Many of the guards became quite abusive, thinking of creative ways of verbally harassing and humiliating the prisoners. The prisoners became passive, helpless, and withdrawn. Source of image: Microsoft Office Online.

17. Topic 4 - Group Polarization: Going to Extremes Group Polarization The tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the initial inclinations of its members. • According to the persuasive arguments interpretation, all individuals bring to the group a set of arguments, some of which other individuals have not considered, supporting their initial recommendation. • According to the social comparison interpretation, when people discuss an issue in a group, they first check out how everyone else feels.

18. Group Polarization • The strengthening of a group’s prevailing opinion about a topic following group discussion about the topic. • When in a group of like minded people, decisions are often more extreme than if made individually.

19. Group Polarization • Groups tend to make more extreme decisions than the individual.

21. Topic 5 - Groupthink • Groupthink is when the desire for harmony replaces realistic judgment. • Example: When a group has to make a decision and no one stands up opposing the decision, then the group feels it is a unanimous decision. (even though it may not be) – Bay of Pigs

22. Groupthink • Group members suppress their reservations about the ideas supported by the group. • They are more concerned with group harmony. • Worse in highly cohesive groups.

23. Groupthink • a mode of group thinking that impairs decision making because the desire for group harmony overrides a realistic appraisal of the possible decision alternatives.

24. Groupthink: Many Heads, One Mind Groupthink A kind of thinking in which maintaining group cohesiveness and solidarity is more important than considering the facts in a realistic manner. Source of image: Microsoft Office Online.

25. Groupthink: Many Heads, One Mind According to Irving Janis's (1972, 1982) theory, groupthink is most likely to occur when certain preconditions are met, such as when the group is: • Highly cohesive, • Isolated from contrary opinions, and • Ruled by a directive leader who makes his or her wishes known.

27. Avoiding the Groupthink Trap A wise leader can take several steps to avoid groupthink: • Remain impartial, • Seek outside opinions, • Create subgroups, • Seek anonymous opinions.

28. References • Coon, D. and Mitterer, O. J (2013). Introduction to Psychology (13th ed). Wadsworth Cengage learning. Pp. 547-591 • Feldman, S. R, Collins, J. E. and Green, M. J (2005). Essentials of understanding psychology (2nd ed). McGraw-Hill Ryerson. pp. 457-482 • Kosslyn, M. S, and Rosenberg, R. (2006). Psychology in context. pearson. Pp. 732-781 • Weiten, W. (2009). Psychology: Themes and variations (8th ed). cengage learning. Pp. 664-699 Dr. Richard Boateng, UGBS