Chapter 8 Groups and Group Behaviour

1. Chapter 8Groups and Group Behaviour What are the characteristics of groups? Do groups have a positive or negative effect on people? Is conformity a good thing?

2. Ask yourself… How much of your behaviour is influenced by the groups you are a part of ? Could you be pressured by a group to do something you believed is wrong? What if someone in a position of authority told you to hurt someone, would you do it?

3. What is a group?

4. What is a group? A social group is two or more people who interact often influence each other have a shared identity a social structure – formal or informal eg. Leaders and followers Group consensus (agreement, stated or implied) on certain values, behaviour and goals

5. Aggregate A collection of people Interact only briefly Little influence on one another

6. Types of Groups and their Influence A. Sociology Primary groups – small, emotionally close, interdependent group whose members see one another often, know one another well and value each member as a whole person

7. The Good and the Bad of Being a Member of a Primary Group Positive Effects • Supportive and caring • Give a sense of security and self-worth Negative effects • Some groups demand that their members share common values • Often leads to conformity (may be a + or a -) • Expectations of two opposing groups may lead to conflict • Restricted independence

8. Secondary group a large more impersonal group that has limited information, dependence or interest from its members except for their contribution to the group goals

9. Negative Aspects of Secondary Groups Negative effects • Members are often valued only for their contribution and not for themselves • Not overly interested in each other • Communicate only out of necessity • Less personal • Do not provide emotional support and may seem intimidating

10. Positive Aspects of Being a Member of a Secondary Group Positive Effects • Less restricting to individual freedom • Fewer conflicts • May turn into a primary group relationship

11. How Groups Influence Behaviour Roles We learn what is expected of each role Social groups pressure us to conform Norms Behaviour expectations or guidelines a) mores – highly regarded moral views on behaviour, almost never broken b) folkways – everyday habits or traditional practices concerning things such as manners or personal appearance

12. Sanctions – formal or informal penalty or reward given to ensure conformity informal - Eg. A smile or a frown formal – public rewards or punishments Eg. A suspension or a scholarship

13. How Does A Group Influence One to Conform? Psychological Perspective Four factors that determine whether or not a person will conform to a group 1. Group attractiveness – the more attractive the group is to its members (how much they like, admire or want to be a part of the group), the more likely the are to conform 2. Group unanimity – when a group is in seemingly total agreement, there is great pressure to conform

14. 3. Public vs. private response – when a person has to give their opinion in front of the group they are more likely to conform their opinion to match the groups’ 4. Nature of the task – tasks or questions that are vague or have no clear answer are easier to have people conform to. When they are clearer, factual or on a topic you feel competent about you are less likely to conform Asch's Conformity Experiment

15. Groupthink – when group members have such a strong desire to reach a consensus they don’t examine all of the options or consequences • Too little time evaluating alternatives • Important information is dismissed • There is the illusion of total agreement; people think they are the only ones who disagree and so say nothing Example of Group Think Candid Camera Dangerous Group Think

16. Why Do People Obey Figures of Authority? • An authority figure can use rewards or punishment to induce people to conform (or people think they will be rewarded or punished) • We know (or think we know) that conformity in necessary to provide order and security • People conform when they can (or think they can) shift responsibility for their actions to someone else. Milgram's experiment Fast Food Con Man Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment