Group InfluenceGroup Influence

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Group InfluenceGroup Influence

Group: Two or more people who interact with and

influence one another Phenomena of collective influence:

Social Facilitation Social Loafing Deindividuation Group Polarization Groupthink

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Social FacilitationSocial Facilitation

Presence of other people strengthens dominant, well-learned responses We are energized and aroused by the

presence of others Why?

Evaluation Apprehension Distraction Mere Presence

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Social LoafingSocial Loafing

Tendency for people to exert less effort when they pool their efforts for a common goal than when they are individually accountable

Ingham et al. Latane, Williams, & Harking

People loaf less when task is challenging and involving, or when group members are friends

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DeindividuationDeindividuation

Presence of people causes arousal Being part of a group can diffuse

personal responsibility Combination of these can diminish

normal inhibitions Foodfights Vandalism Riots

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DeindividuationDeindividuation

Loss of sense of individual responsibility and abandonment of normal restraints

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DeindividuationDeindividuation

Affected by: Group size

‘Jumper’ study Physical anonymity

Uniform studies Gergen, Gergen, and Barton

Distracting activities Diminished self-awareness

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Group PolarizationGroup Polarization

Group-produced enhancement of members’ preexisting tendencies Normative influence Informational Influence

Risky shift Pluralistic ignorance

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GroupthinkGroupthink

A tendency of a decision-making group to suppress dissent in the interests of group harmony

Occurs in groups with: High cohesiveness Relative isolation from dissenting views Directive leadership

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Symptoms of GroupthinkSymptoms of Groupthink

Overestimate might and right Illusion of invulnerability Unquestioned belief in group’s morality

Closed-mindedness Rationalization Stereotyped view of opponent

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Symptoms of GroupthinkSymptoms of Groupthink

Pressures toward uniformity Conformity Self-censorship Illusion of unanimity Mindguards

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Pearl HarborPearl Harbor

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Bay of PigsBay of Pigs

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Space Shuttle ChallengerSpace Shuttle Challenger

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Minority InfluenceMinority Influence

How do individuals influence groups? Definition:Definition: Influence of attitudinal

minority on the majority

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Minority InfluenceMinority Influence

Majorities use: Power (can force compliance) Normative influence

Minority influence: Tends to be weaker than majority

influence Uses informational influence to persuade

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When is minority influence When is minority influence effective?effective? Consistency Consensus Confidence