Individual Groups

P.P. #3

objectives

• Describe the Asch experiment• Explain groupthink and the Diffusion of

responsibility• Give examples of altruism situational factors

Individuals in Groups

• Something happens when you join a bunch of people

• Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, hanging out in a bar: have fun, solve problems, make decisions

• Might depend on the dynamics of the group and not individual

Conformity

• Taking action or adopting attitudes as a result of real or imagined pressure

• A form is peer pressure

Which letter is the same as line on left?

ConformitySubjects in group asked to match line lengths.

Confederates picked wrong line.

Subjects went with wrong answer in 37% of trials.

Conformity has decreased since 1950, possibly due to changing norms.Individualistic vs. collectivist cultures

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Analyze Experiment

• What would you do when confronted, unanimously by group, to an obvious fact

• When made on own= almost all people got it right• BUT in group• 20% remained independent on every trial; some

apologized • 1/3 conformed to groups decision ½ the time• Rest at least some of the time

Repeated experiments

• Since 1950’s in America, less conformity• So social norms play a factor• Also culture factor: U.S.A. Individual and self• Korea conform because collective culture• Regardless culture everyone has conformed:

Identify with group, be liked, group has superior knowledge, keep job, win votes, promotions

Groupthink

• Close, friendly groups usually work well together but want to avoid Groupthink

• Groupthink is in close-knit groups, the tendency for all members to think alike for the sake of harmony and to suppress disagreement

• 4 symptoms of Groupthink

GroupthinkIn close-knit groups, the tendency for all members to think alike and suppress disagreement for the sake of harmony.

SymptomsIllusion of invincibilitySelf-censorshipPressure on dissenters to conformIllusion of unanimity

Counteracted byCreating conditions that reward dissentBasing decision on majority rule

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Groupthink

• An illusion of invulnerability- believe can do no wrong, 100% correct

• Self censorship-keep quiet and not make trouble, offend friends, or risk being ridiculed

• Pressure on dissenters to conform- teases, humiliates

• An illusion of inhumanity- leaders create illusion of consensus, may say keep quiet

Tragic examples of Group think

• Kennedy Pay of Pigs, C.I.A Said go• L.B.J. , cabinet; obvious signs war no end• Challenger shuttle 1986- engineers warned

not safe, exploded, killed crew• Columbia 2002- expert panel said unsafe,

N.A.S.A. removed 5 of 9 panel members and 2 consultants; exploded, killed crew

The anonymous crowdDiffusion of responsibilityThe tendency of group members to avoid taking responsibility for actions or decisions because they assume others will do so.

Bystander apathyPeople fail to call for help when others are near.

Social loafingWhen people work less in the presence of others, forcing others to work harder

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Anonymous Crowd

• Imagine see someone getting mugged, having heart attack

• When most likely to get help? One person passing by? several people in area? or dozens?

• Most choose 3rd However more people means LESS likely to come to your aid

• Diffusion of responsibility is when responsibility for an outcome is diffused, or spread, among many people

Components of D.O.R.

• Bystander Apathy- Assume someone else will call police

• Kitty Genovese- N.Y., stabbed 38 times, dozens of people saw and heard it

• Social loafing- Each member slows down, letting others work harder

• Do it when not accountable, or someone else is getting free ride, boring work

• So give everyone a job thus individual responsibility rises

Worst of D.O.R.

• Large crowds or mob• Deindividuation is in groups or crowds, the

loss of awareness of ones own individuality• Cheer at stadium, riot• More likely in large city than town• Large college class (not paying attention), or

discussions (10 students)• Uniforms and masks tools for this

DeindividuationIn groups or crowds, the loss of awareness of one’s own individuality.

FactorsSize of city, groupUniforms or masks

Can influence either unlawful or prosocial behaviorsDepends on norms of specific situation

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Examples

• Women in K.K.K. outfits twice as much electric shock than subjects wearying large name tag

• Zimbardo- 1970• Nurses uniforms gave less shocks • Johnson, Downing- 1979• K.K.K. signal violence, nurse signal care

Disobedience and dissent

Situational factors in nonconformityYou perceive the need for intervention or help.Situation makes it more likely you will take responsibility.Cost-benefit ration supports decision to get involved.You have an ally.You become entrapped.

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Altruism and Dissent

• Roles, norms, pressures effect us obey authority and conform

• But Rosa parks, broke law thus started civil rights movement

• Risk life in war or battle• Altruism- the willingness to take selfless or

dangerous action on behalf of others• Many factors in situation

Altruism

• You perceive the need for intervention and help- realize action necessary, willfully blind themselves “ I’m just minding my own business”

• The situation increases the likelihood that you will take responsibility – Large crowd, organization- no action; rewards discourage social loafing- action

• Cultural norms encourage you to take action- Brazil, Latin America=simpatico, good natured. Cultural norms more important than pop. density

• The cost-benefit ratio supports your decision to get involved- Easy to blow whistle when have another job lined up; personal, physical, financial pain less likely to get involved

• You have an ally- in Asch study if one person agreed with you, fine. Milgram study

• You become entrapped- once take initial step, increase commitment. Fed employees. See wrong doing 28% reported it, then majority of them followed up

Summary

• Asch • Diffusion of responsibility• Altruism