Studying groups
What is an etic approach?
Views cultures from an outsider's objective perspective. Believes behaviours are universal, so applies similar scientific frameworks for multiple cultures.
Adjusting one's behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard.
What is Conformity?
What is a compliance technique?
A psychological strategy used to persuade someone to agree to a request or follow a suggestion, even if they might not have to.
What is "minimal group paradigm"?
The absolute minimum conditions needed for membership in a group.
What is a hormone and give one example and describe it.
A chemical messenger, spread through the blood. Oxytocin. Called the "love drug". Helps build bonding and trust. Helps reduce stress and anxiety.
What is an emic approach?
Approach of studying a culture's behavior from the perspective of an insider (specific to each culture)
One reason/explanation for why humans conform is Informational Social Influence (ISI). What is this?
People conform because they want to be right and believe others have more accurate information.
What is acculturation?
The process of psychological and cultural change that occurs when individuals or groups come into prolonged contact with a new culture.
What are the main tenets of the Social Identity Theory?
Social categorisation.
Social identification.
Social comparison.
Positive distinctiveness (in-group/out-group favouritism)
What is 'Assertive communication'? What does it do?
When we express our thoughts, feelings, and needs openly and respectfully while also considering the needs of others. It fosters honesty, mutual respect, and problem-solving in relationships.
What is the ingroup?
"Us"—people with whom we share a common identity.
One reason/explanation for why humans conform is Normative Social Influence (NSI). What is this?
People conform because they want to be liked, accepted, or approved by others.
This often leads to compliance — outwardly agreeing with the group while privately disagreeing — to avoid rejection or gain social approval.
What are the 4 types of acculturation and give brief explanation for each.
integration- accept both new and keep old culture
assimilation-accept new and reject old culture
separation- reject new and keep old culture
marginalization- reject both old and new culture
What was the aim of Graupensperger, Benson, and Evans (2018) study?
To find out whether athletes who feel a strong social identity with their team are more likely to conform to teammates’ behaviors, especially risky ones like heavy drinking, drug use, or hazing.
What is the Similarity-attraction hypothesis
A cognitive explanation of why/how relationships are formed. Suggests that people are more attracted to those who share their attitudes, values, and beliefs
Name and describe one cultural dimension.
Individualism- emphasizes personal independence, self-reliance, and individual rights over group interests.
Collectivism- prioritizes the group, community, or society, focusing on cooperation, harmony, and shared goals.
(Or high/low power distance)
What is the Asch Conformity paradigm?
An experiment that shows people will change their answer to be incorrect in order to fit the group beliefs.
What did Dickerson, et al. (1992) study? (give key points of research)
Asked University students to complete a short survey about water conservation and/or sign a public pledge/poster supporting shorter showers.
Later, researchers observed shower length in the locker rooms to see if those small commitments = shorter showers.
a tendency to search for information that supports our preconceptions and to ignore or distort contradictory evidence
What is confirmation bias?
What is the Social Penetration theory, and who outlined the theory?
Altman and Taylor (1973). Social Penetration Theory explains how relationships deepen through gradual self-disclosure, likened to peeling an onion's layers from superficial to intimate. Involves several stages.
What is Deep Culture?
Deep culture refers to the underlying, often invisible aspects of a culture, such as values, beliefs, attitudes, and assumptions that shape behavior
Why do people not want to admit they conform?
Autonomous individuals tend to believe they’re acting independently rather than being influenced by the group.
Give the main aspects of the ‘foot-in-the-door’ compliance technique. Why does it work?
Small initial request, followed by a larger request. Requests must be related and timely. Works because people want to remain consistent. If they were helpful once, they want to maintain that self-image.
What are the main tenets of Social Learning Theory?
Attention: Observers must notice and focus on the model's behavior.
Retention: Information is remembered through mental rehearsal or imagery.
Reproduction: The ability to replicate the observed action, aided by practice.
Motivation: Driven by expected rewards, punishments, or vicarious reinforcement.
What are the stages/levels of self disclosure?
The orientation stage- superficial topics
The exploratory stage- sharing opinions and feelings but still avoiding intimacy
The affective stage-self-disclosure of private emotions, fears, and values
The stable stage- Full openness with predictable reactions