Group Behaviour Tell me 3 jokes

Social Facilitation Refers to the concepts that people often perform better when other people are watching than they do when they are alone. Robert Zajonc found that dogs and cats – and even cockroaches – do things faster when they are in a group than when thay are alone.

Social Facilitation Is it a constant factor? NO!! In fact sometimes it is the opposite. Simple tasks can be done more efficiently. On the other hand, complex tasks take longer. E.g. A mental math speed test verse a chess game.

Evaluation Apprehension The concern about the opinion of others, is another reason that the presence of other people may affect your performance. However, if your performance can not be evaluated (e.g. nap time) your effort won’t be affected.

Social Performance Summary To summarize you need to know two things to predict whether the performance of others will help or hinder your performance – whether your individual efforts can be evaluated and whether the task is simple or complex.

Social Loafing When people are working together toward a common goal rather than working on individual tasks, they may “slack off” and not try as hard. Leading to consequences

Diffusion of Responsibility Social loafing may occur because of this – the tendency for people to feel less responsible for accomplishing a task when the effort is shared among members of a group.

Risky Shift The tendency for people to take greater risks when they are part of a group than they would as individuals acting on their own. Why would this be?

It would be because... People may feel more powerful in a group or less vulnerable. This is because the responsibility for a particular situation or action is shared with the other group members. Remember the bystander effect Would you do this if it was just you and one other person? Or does it take a group?this

Group Decision Making Majority-Wins Scheme – Majority convinces the others to go along with their plan Truth-Wins Scheme – Usually occurs when new information is given Two-Thirds-Majority Scheme – The Majority get their way (used for juries) First-Shift Scheme – Groups are deadlocked 50/50 first person to switch sides causes others to follow

Group Polarization The shared attitudes that group members hold are likely to grow stronger over time. It occurs as group members discuss and act upon the attitudes they share. What are some examples of negative group polarization?

Authoritarian Leaders They exert absolute control over all decisions for the group. They tell them what to do and demand that group members obey their orders. E.g. Military

Democratic Leaders They encourage group members to express and discuss their ideas and, in addition, make their own decisions. They try optimally for a consensus but if can’t decide it goes to a _________.

Laissez-Faire Leaders French for “to let (people) do (as they choose)” Like democratic leaders in that they want group members to express their own ideas but these leaders take a less active role in the decision-making process.

Comparing Leadership Styles Which is the best for a group?

It Depends No one style is best for every group in any situation. In times of crisis authoritarian leaders may be more effective because they can make quick decisions.