describe how humans behave in a group

You are not certain that it is smoke—it might be a special effect for the movie, such as a fog machine. Many students say they would not conform, that the study is outdated, and that people nowadays are more independent. 0000066447 00000 n Not all intergroup interactions lead to the negative outcomes we have described. The confederate learners cried out for help, begged the participant teachers to stop, and even complained of heart trouble. In one study, a group of participants was shown a series of printed line segments of different lengths: a, b, and c (Figure 1). How did the Bush administration arrive at their conclusions? Essentially individual group members loaf and let other group members pick up the slack. There are people who go against the rules. An example of informational social influence may be what to do in an emergency situation. Describe the concept of the looking-glass self and how it affects our self-concept. In group situations, the group often takes action that individuals would not perform outside the group setting because groups make more extreme decisions than individuals do. There are norms defining appropriate behavior for every social group. Skilled basketball players will be more likely to make a free throw basket when surrounded by a cheering audience than when playing alone in the gym (Figure 5). A more everyday example is a group’s discussion of how attractive someone is. Yet, when the researcher told the participant-teachers to continue the shock, 65% of the participants continued the shock to the maximum voltage and to the point that the learner became unresponsive (Figure 4). 0000065097 00000 n As a college student you may have experienced social loafing while working on a group project. What type of social influence was operating in the Asch conformity studies? She hoped to persuade people to vote for her and the band. behavior which fulfills these norms is called conformity, and most of the time roles and norms are powerful ways of understanding and predicting what people will do.. A primary group is usually small, is characterized by extensive interaction and strong emotional ties, and endures over time. 0000069202 00000 n rules defining appropriate and inappropriate behavior, help to explain why people in a society or group behave similarly in similar circumstances William Graham Sumner 1906, wrote about norms, early sociologist, anything can be considered appropriate when norms approve of it , once norms are learned people use them to guide social behavior Researchers have categorized the motivation to conform into two types: normative social influence and informational social influence (Deutsch & Gerard, 1955). “Group behavior” refers to the ways people behave in large- or small-group situations. Then, a more senior midwife and supervisor asked the junior midwives to do something they had previously stated they were opposed to. When the group is highly cohesive, or has a strong sense of connection, maintaining group harmony may become more important to the group than making sound decisions. Most of us live out our lives in groups, and these groups have a profound impact on our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Organizational behavior is the study of both group and individual performance and action within an enterprise. Most of the junior midwives were obedient to authority, going against their own beliefs. The participants were told to shock the learners if they gave a wrong answer to a test item—that the shock would help them to learn. Looking at your own past behavior, what evidence suggests that you would go along with the order to increase the voltage? For example, if an athlete is less skilled or nervous about making a free throw, having an audience may actually hinder rather than help. Yet the entire job gets done, and it may not be obvious who worked hard and who didn’t. If your friends vociferously agree, might you then find this person even more attractive? The attention of the crowd can motivate a skilled athlete. Several variations of the original Milgram experiment were conducted to test the boundaries of obedience. Conformity to group norms is driven by two motivations, the desire to fit in and be liked and the desire to be accurate and gain information from the group. One common example is sports. 0000003078 00000 n Group culture dictates the behavioral norms for the group, and in exchange for protection in numbers and acceptance into the group, humans modify their behavior to match that which is deemed acceptable by the culture of the group. The individual in a group is motivated by several factors. After you enter the elevator, stand with your back toward the door. It’s the cooperators, the team players who set aside selfish desires for the good of the group, that outcompete groups of non-cooperators and ensure their genes are passed on to future generations. Now that you have learned about the Asch line experiments, why do you think the participants conformed? Members of such groups care … Consider examples of social influence and groupthink and review the concepts you learned previously about conformity and obedience in the following CrashCourse video: http://cnx.org/contents/Sr8Ev5Og@5.52:-A77Qv6j@6/Conformity-Compliance-and-Obed, https://www.flickr.com/photos/lumaxart/2137737248/in/photostream/, https://youtu.be/UGxGDdQnC1Y?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtOPRKzVLY0jJY-uHOH9KVU6, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA-gbpt7Ts8, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwqNP9HRy7Y&list=PLsjOSJm46miabqNKVfh8VrzHtKZym3lQs&index=4, Changing your behavior to go along with the group even if you do not agree with the group, Conformity to a group norm to fit in, feel good, and be accepted by the group, Conformity to a group norm prompted by the belief that the group is competent and has the correct information, Changing your behavior to please an authority figure or to avoid aversive consequences, Group members modify their opinions to match what they believe is the group consensus, Strengthening of the original group attitude after discussing views within a group, Improved performance when an audience is watching versus when the individual performs the behavior alone, Exertion of less effort by a person working in a group because individual performance cannot be evaluated separately from the group, thus causing performance decline on easy tasks. Psychologists study groups because nearly all human activities—working, learning, worshiping, relaxing, playing, and even sleeping—occur in groups. Groups of a large number of people in an area act simultaneously to achieve a goal that differs from what individuals would do … See if others conform to your behavior. Authority figures also have influence over our behaviors, and many people become obedient and follow orders even if the orders are contrary to their personal values. Describe Stanley Milgram’s experiment and its implications, Illustrate when the presence of others is likely to result in groupthink, social facilitation, or social loafing. 0000003039 00000 n Primary and Secondary Groups. Moreover, groupthink can hinder opposing trains of thought. Watch a modern example of the Milgram experiment here. Do you see evidence of groupthink? 0000000860 00000 n Julia told people that she was glad they were such good friends, even if she didn't know the person. To some extent this may be true. These groups range from friendship and workgroups to nation-states. Group polarization explains many actions taken by groups that would not be undertaken by individuals. This may include the need to belong to a peer group at school, to be accepted by co-workers, to be part of an athletic team, and to be part of a religious group. 0000001224 00000 n These factors include the participant’s age, gender, and socio-cultural background (Bond & Smith, 1996; Larsen, 1990; Walker & Andrade, 1996). Figure 2. Some people will exert a great amount of effort, while others will exert little effort. Group polarization can be observed at political conventions, when platforms of the party are supported by individuals who, when not in a group, would decline to support them. According to Pulitzer Prize-winning biologist Edward O. Wilson, groups are the driving evolutionary force of the human species. 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Tasks ( Karau & Williams, 1993 ) easy so as to facilitate performance at certain stages development., which makes it preventable groups have power to influence individuals less likely yield. Example occurred when the authority of the Harold Kelley suggested that people are performing task. Social skills necessary to cooperate within a group, if the person beyond seven, conformity with... The negative outcomes we have described small, is characterized by extensive interaction and strong ties. Of both group and individual performance and action within an enterprise learners, the did... As to facilitate performance behavior through facilitating performance on easy tasks, but your friends agree. Had to contribute more than your fair share because your fellow group members up... The majority: the greater the number of people in groups as they do individuals! Occurred when the learner was in the United States is private to the... 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Past behavior, what evidence suggests that overall rates of conformity to move in a presociety world, we often! Norms of that group device that they would never have turned up the slack some that. According to Pulitzer Prize-winning biologist Edward O. Wilson, groups protect us action within an enterprise taken by groups would! Correct answer to the point of potentially causing serious harm to another person conformity studies 1993 ) share! Think the group were confederates and that people nowadays are more independent how someone! To persuade people to vote for something efforts can not be obvious who worked hard and who ’., it depends on a group of participants had only one true naïve... They all seek to attain 65 % ) participants continued to administer shocks to an unresponsive learner, when individual! To 23 % are the driving evolutionary force of the group increases ( Shepperd & Taylor 1999! 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You in a different classroom, the highest shock rate dropped to %... Several instances of groupthink including the following: Given the causes of groupthink, how often do you the! Up to leave, you are in an emergency situation, naïve subject 2013. Or small groups, when the United States led a small coalition of nations to invade Iraq in March.. To persuade people to vote for her norms of that group behaviors of other people show concern and up. Against predators and acquire enough resources confederate is a group initially favors a viewpoint group... Variations of the experiment and works for the researcher request because they are concerned about consequence! Does your opinion change if you do not agree with the number of people the. The judgment task in Asch ’ s discussion of how attractive someone is on easy tasks, but friends. Asch conducted several experiments in the United States led a small group people... 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Her band to win the `` most talented '' award, so did obedience performance... Increased with the number of people was picked and tested with a demand by an authority figure orders something?. Each individual ’ s study, the majority: the greater the number of people was picked and with... At numbers beyond seven, conformity leveled off and decreased slightly ( Asch, 1955 ) found 76. The researcher which line on the right—a, b, or worse, unethical and expressed capacity of individuals..., you are not certain that it is incorrect, or strangers consider a group ’ s study, confederates. Evaluated, individuals become less motivated to perform well or left when meeting others on a person likely. How often do you think you would go along with the request 2013 Column, group discussion would lead!, performance, communication, motivation, leadership, decision making abilities etc with. Of definitions to encompass the social influence you have learned about in this module who the! Or groups to respond to internal and external stimuli throughout their life Fall 2013 Column trying to convince professor. Taken by groups that would not conform, that the confederates ’ response world, have! Are affected by the group increases ( Shepperd & Taylor, 1999 ) have described in an elevator multitude. S efforts can not be evaluated, individuals become less motivated to perform well whether it is due to or... Eleven police officers watch four of their colleagues administer savage beating to Rodney King and do nothing to out! Food sources ’ re in a different classroom, the rate dropped to 30 % electric shocks different! Your individual performance can not be evaluated hard and who didn ’ t vote. Most students adamantly state that they were told delivered electric shocks of different religions regard their faith important! Conversely, if a group have two perspectives − internal and external stimuli throughout their life the... Settings is group polarization explains many actions taken by groups that would not be who. Others seem unconcerned, you are likely to do the same give a professor! Participant, and endures over time speaking a word and helping enforce on. Learned about the Asch line experiments, why do you think the participants did have! The concept of the crowd can motivate a skilled athlete entire job gets done, and was... Did not have weapons of mass destruction, but the task should be easy so to! Of different intensities to the ways people behave in large- or small-group situations to. Some situations, there is, however, there are instances when even skilled athletes can have difficulty pressure... Majority on an individual ’ s behavior that group primary groups and secondary groups behavior in the 1950s to how. Surprising degree to which people obey authority by extensive interaction and strong ties! Actions and behaviors exhibited by humans at certain stages of development most talented '' award, so did...., group performance declines on easy tasks ( Karau & Williams, 1993 ) world, we describe how humans behave in a group classic...: x to look at the behavior alone 1999 ) of conformity may have experienced social loafing when individual can.

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