Chapter 12: Social Psychology

What is Pluralistic Ignorance?

A group of people do not react to a situation that could be dangerous such as smoke pouring into a room. No one reacts so an individual in the group does not react to the situation either and conforms to the others behavior/ beliefs due to fear of embarrassment in making a wrong assumption and that no one else isn't worried so there isn't a problem.

How can we the "power" of the situation be changed? What types of factors increase or decrease the likelihood that people will obey, help others, and/ or conform with others?

Group size, can i focus on personal standards, presence of an authority figure, direct orders, do you have someone to non-conform with, is the situation ambiguous, am i in danger, do i have the skills? Doesn't matter what culture you come from you will still conform to something.

Can you explain Asch's line conformity study?

Groups of 8-10 people in a visual perception experiment studying the effects of social pressure and conformity.

What is the differences between Obedience, compliance, and conformity?

In all of these the attitude and behavior change. The behaviors change due to the authoritative figure (obedience).

How does social loafing relate to diffusion of responsibility?

In both groups the individuals are not taking responsibility and passing it onto others.

What types of factors increase or decrease Deindividuation?

It is more likely to occur when you are in a large group, anonymous, and diffusion of responsibility (not being responsible for my actions). To decrease this make others more self-aware.

What is the Kitty Genovese Incident?

Kitty Genovese was stabbed to death by a perpetrator near her apartment in Queens in New York City. 38 of her neighbors at different times in the 30 minute period were apparently fully aware of what was transpiring and did not help her, even when she cried out several times.

Explain what the Milgram obedience study is.

Milgram conducted a study that had a teacher and a confederate as a learner who had to remember words. The teacher would then shock the confederate for getting wrong answers increasing the voltage each time with each wrong answer. The study was to see how far people (teacher) would go.

Whats the difference between informational social influence and normative social influence?

Normative social influence is just wanting to fit in with the group - need to belong, while informational social influence is looking to the group as a source of information for accuracy.

What is the influence of the holocaust on social psychology?

The Holocaust was the event that sparked the study of social psychology.

What did the Asch line study show and how many people conformed?

When participants were alone 95% of the time they gave the right answer. When participants were with the group they conformed 37% of the time and 75% of the time they gave at least one wrong answer.

What is Diffusion of Responsibility?

a person is less likely to take responsibility for an action or inaction when others are present. The responsibility is diffused and put onto others in the group making the individual feel less responsible.

Would the bystander effect happen today and how can it be prevented?

Yes it still happens today but could be prevented by directly putting the responsibility on an individual, being aware that the bystander effect exists and just helping instead of thinking about the situation.

Would the results of the Milgram study be the same today?

Yes the results would be the same because of obedience to authority. People are "just following orders". Ordinary people are likely to follow orders given by an authority figure, even to the extent of killing an innocent human being. Obedience to authority is ingrained in us all from the way we are brought up.

How does F.A.E work?

You assume that a person is just a mean/negative person when really there could be a situation factor in their life that is making them react negatively. Ex- Someone gives you the middle finger because they think you are driving too slow and pass you. The person could of recently lost their job, had a death in the family, etc that would cause them to react poorly.

Define Conformity

is changing ones behaviors/beliefs to match those of other people because of social norms or assuming the crowds behavior is correct.

What is Obedience?

is compliance with an order, request, or law or submission to another's authority.

What is F.A.E?

is the Fundamental Attribution Error and is the tendency to overestimate personality and underestimate the situation.

Define Deindividuation

is the reduced attention to personal standards when part of a group.

What is social loafing?

is the tendency to work less hard in a group opposed to being alone. Comes from diffusion of responsibility.

What is the Zimbardo Stanford Prison Experiment?

it is an experiment where people were brought in and divided into two groups with roles: those of guards and prisoners. The experiment was to last 2 weeks to investigate how readily people would conform to the roles of guard and prisoner in a role-playing exercise that simulated prison life.

Define Compliance

the action or of complying with a wish or direct request from someone who is not an authority figure.

What are the reasons people did not help Kitty Genovese when she needed help?

People did not help Kitty because they stated that they thought she was "drunk", that it was a "lovers quarrel and didn't want to get involved", others passed of the responsibility to others ( diffusion of responsibility), fear for their own safety, the bystander effect, and pluralistic ignorance.

What is the Bystander Effect?

The bystander effect occurs when the presence of others discourages an individual from intervening in an emergency situation. The chances of help decrease as the number of bystanders increases. Ex- When a person is a victim to a crime, a greater number of people observing it translates to less likelihood of anyone intervening. All share the mistaken belief that someone else will step in and help. =Kitty Genovese

What did the Milgram study of obedience show? How many people obeyed?

The voltage started at 15v and ended at 450v. The study showed that all participants gave the learner a 300v shock. The number of participants who gave a 300v shock and continue giving shocks starts to decline after that. 65% of the participants obeyed the experimenter and shocked the learner all the way up to the highest level of 450v.