PSY263 Revision Notes - Group Dynamics PDF

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PSY263 Revision Notes (Jan 2020 Intake)Study Unit 1: Chapter 1, 3, 4, 5 Study Unit 2: Chapter 7, 8, 9 Study Unit 3: Chapter 10, 12EXAM TIPS: 3 out of 4 questions (Section A is compulsory; Section B select 2 out of 3)  All 9 topics, each question has a main theme + integration with other chapters (...

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PSY263 Revision Notes (Jan 2020 Intake) Study Unit 1: Chapter 1, 3, 4, 5 Study Unit 2: Chapter 7, 8, 9 Study Unit 3: Chapter 10, 12 EXAM TIPS:  3 out of 4 questions (Section A is compulsory; Section B select 2 out of 3)  All 9 topics, each question has a main theme + integration with other chapters (e.g., 2 chapters will come out tgt in a question)  Every study unit (especially SU3) is critical  Group polarization + impacts/outcomes (is it good to have GP? Any research in terms of outcomes?)  Go through study unit to have a gauge on what to focus on  Focus on relevant information in the TB  Underline the keywords*** during exams  Use double spacing***

PSY263 Revision Notes: Chapter 1 CHAPTER 1: Introduction to Group Dynamics What are Groups? Group: Two or more individuals who are connected by and within social relationships Primary Group Social (Secondary) Group Collectives Categories A small, long-term group A relatively small number of A perceptual grouping of people A relatively large characterized by frequent individuals who interact with who are assumed to be similar to aggregation or group of interaction, solidarity, and one another over an extended one another in some ways but individuals who display high levels of period of time, such as work different in one or more ways. similarities in actions and interdependence among groups, clubs, and outlook.  May have social implications members that substantially congregations. (LGBTQ)  Usually created by influences the attitudes, happenstance,  Larger, more formally  Social identity: An values, and social organized individual’s sense of self convenience, experience outcomes of its members derived from relationships and  Memberships are shorter  Dissolves when the (permeable boundaries) memberships in groups experience ends (e.g., families, close and less commitment / (e.g., audiences, queues,  Stereotype: A socially shared friends, small combat emotionally involving mobs, crowds, social set of qualities, characteristics, squads) (e.g., coworkers, teams, crews, movements) and behavioral expectations study groups, task forces) ascribed to a particular group or category of people (e.g., men, Asians, doctors) Group Characteristics Interdependence: Interaction: Size: Boundaries: Composition: -Symmetric w/ reci. Task vs. Relationship Open vs. Closed (more Influences structures, The individuals who -Hierarchical (socioemotional; processes, patterns of collective and constitute a group -Sequential w/o reci. influences group interaction, social ties cohesive) groups (qualities) bonds) Entitativity: Unity: Origin: Goals: Structure: The apparent Group cohesion – -McGrath’s circumplex Planned (concocted, The organization of a cohesiveness or unity founded) vs. Emergent development of strong model group, including the & mutual interpersonal of an assemblage of (Generating, Choosing, (circumstantial, selfmembers, their bonds among members individuals (i.e., organizing) interrelations, and their Negotiating, common fate, and group-level forces Executing) interactions similarity, proximity, that unify the group perceptual cues) What are Group Dynamics? Interpersonal processes that occur within and between groups; also, the scientific study of those processes Formative Influence Performance Conflict Contextual  Social and physical  Tensions tend to  Processes that  The need to belong  Structural environment undermine the facilitate and processes organize (individualistic, cohesiveness of the  Use of groups inhibit people’s the group’s self-focused group and cause performance in procedures (roles, orientation to a  Processes that influence people specific r/s within groups norms), interaction group-level the group to patterns, and perspective)  Analysis of group weaken or break performance by intermember  Personal and altogether examining the relations situational forces,  Intergroup  Flow of unique features of interpersonal relations groups information, attraction influence, and  Factors that interaction in that increase unity of microcosm group Tuckman’s Theory of Group Development Forming Storming Norming Performing Adjourning  Orientation  Conflict  Structure  Performance  Dissolution  Exchange of b/g  Dissatisfaction,  Cohesiveness,  Focus on the work  Departures, personal info, disagreement, agreement on of the group, task withdrawal, uncertainty, challenges to procedures, completion, decreased tentative leader and standards, roles, decision making, dependence, regret communication procedures, cliques improved cooperation form communication

PSY263 Revision Notes: Chapter 1

McGrath’s Circumplex Model of Group Tasks

PSY263 Revision Notes: Chapter 3 CHAPTER 3: Inclusion and Identity From Isolation to Inclusion The need to belong: The generalized desire to seek out and join with other people, which, when unsatisfied, causes a state of tension and want Solitude and Social Isolation Social and Emotional Loneliness  Group memberships can serve as a buffer against feelings of  Spending time alone can be pleasant/rejuvenating isolation and loneliness (especially those with extensive (e.g., self-discovery, contemplation, increased interconnections among all members) spirituality)  Most people find protracted periods of social  Social loneliness: Occurs when people feel cut off from their network of friends, acquaintances, group members isolation disturbing  Psychological costs (e.g., o Groups that sustain stable, reliable alliances among members fear, fatigue)  Prolonged social isolation is a risk factor for the  Emotional loneliness: Lack of a long-term, meaningful, intimate onset of some psychological disorders (e.g., relationship with another person depression, schizo) o Groups that connect people in an intimate, meaningful way Inclusion and Exclusion Ostracism: Excluding one or more individuals from a group by reducing or eliminating contact with the person, usually by ignoring, shunning, or explicitly banishing them  

Contemporary forms – formal rejection, subtle interpersonal tactics Experimental studies – “ball toss” method, “life alone” method, “get acquainted” sessions

Inclusion-Exclusion Continuum (Leary, 1990)  

Reflexive stage – flood of negative feelings Reflective stage – adopting a specific behavioral strategy to minimize the negative effects of exclusion

Temporal Need-Threat Model of Ostracism (Williams, 2009)

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Fight-or-Flight Response Tend-and-Befriend Response Flight Fight  A physiological, psychological, and interpersonal response to stressful events characterized by increased nurturing, Self-defeating behaviours  Withdraw physically or Become less helpful and psychologically from the protective and supportive behaviors (tending), and situation initiating and strengthening relationships with other people more competitive (befriending) Lose temper and harm the  Inhibit their relational tendencies, keep to group  Seeks social reconnection, more socially perceptive themselves, seek  Men are more likely to display a fight-or-flight response, More likely when the acceptance elsewhere whereas women are more likely to tend-and-befriend exclusion is unexpected  Can lead to social isolation, emotional numbing Inclusion and Human Nature Evolutionary Theory Sociometer Theory Biological Theory  A conceptual analysis of self-evaluation  Pain of exclusion is Charles Darwin’s theory of natural neurologically similar to pain processes that theorizes self-esteem selection caused by physical injury functions to psychologically monitor of Recurring psychological and social one’s degree of inclusion and exclusion  Social attachment system, tendencies stem from evolutionary which ensures social in social groups processes that increase adaptive connection, may have borrowed actions and neurological mechanisms  Interpersonal rejection has a greater the pain signal to indicate when impact on lowering self-esteem than Interaction of genetical predisposition social r/s are threatened impersonal ones with environment From Individualism to Collectivism

PSY263 Revision Notes: Chapter 3 Facet Definition

Social Relations

Social Obligations Social Motives

Individualism A tradition, ideology, or personal outlook that emphasizes the primacy of the individual and his or her rights, independence, and relationships with other individuals Concern for maintaining relations that yield personal benefits and few costs (exchange orientation); memberships are limited to family and close personal friendships  Emphasizes trading gratifying experiences and rewards among members  Norm of reciprocity Behavior is guided by personal attitudes and preferences; context is not as important as personal attitudes Striving for personal success; satisfaction comes from personal triumphs in competition with others  Equity norm: A social standard that encourages distributing rewards and resources to members in proportion to their inputs

Collectivism A tradition, ideology, or personal orientation that emphasizes the primacy of the group or community rather than each individual person Concern for nurturing and maintaining harmonious relations with others (communal orientation); memberships including family, tribes, villages, organizations, and social clubs  Emphasizes meeting the needs and interests of others Behavior is guided by group norms and roles; decisions made by leaders and the group

Concern for group success, cooperation among group members, group is protected at all costs; strong sense of duty and pride in group’s successes  Equality norm: A social standard that encourages distributing rewards and resources equally among all members Social Self The independent self is based on one’s personal, The interdependent self is based on group-level idiosyncratic characteristics; each self is autonomous relationships, roles, and social identities rather than individual personal qualities and unique Groups  Attribute behaviors to the internal, personal  Recognize that people’s actions are often determined by the social circumstance in which characteristics of the person they find themselves  More trusting of strangers  Boundaries are relatively impermeable (in-group)  Optimal Distinctiveness Theory: A conceptual analysis that assumes individuals strive to maintain a balance between three basic needs: the need to be assimilated by the group, the need to be connected to friends and loved ones, and the need for autonomy and differentiation (proposed by Marilyn Brewer). From Personal Identity to Social Identity: Social Identity Theory Social Categorization Social Identification  The perceptual classification of people, including the self,  Accepting the group as an extension of the self and therefore basing one’s self-definition on the group’s into categories qualities and characteristics  Individuals’ perceptions of people are influenced by any beliefs they may have about the qualities of people in such  Higher SI  Perception of significant group membership groups  Self-descriptions become increasingly depersonalized  Sense of self changes as the group is included in the self  Stereotypes / self-stereotyping Self-Categorization Self-Identification  People are more likely to think of themselves collectively  A person’s identification with a group can become so pronounced that across situations they think of themselves if they are part of a group that others have labeled a group, as group members first and individuals second even if the group members are minimally interdependent  Presence of other groups triggers a collective self-C  Being in the minority increases the salience of social-I Motivation and Social Identity Evaluating the Self Protecting the Collective Self 2 basic motives influence the way SC and SI processes  Ingroup–outgroup bias: The tendency to view the ingroup, its members, and its products more positively than other combine to shape one’s sense of self: groups, their members, and their products. Ingroup 1. Groups compromise a significant portion of their selves; favouritism is more common than the outgroup rejection. hence, individuals maintain their self-worth by thinking o Contributes to the self-esteem and emotional wellwell of their groups 2. Groups offer people a means of self-understanding being of group members  Interpersonal failure can lead to long-term negative effects o Social creativity – selective focus on own group’s  Collective self-esteem: Individuals’ overall assessment of superior qualities that portion of their self-concept that is based on their o Negative side effect – tendency to derogate other relationships with others and membership in social groups groups Stereotype Verification and Threat Protecting the Personal Self  Can create or constrain identity (social identity theory)  People are more disturbed by threats to their personal selfesteem than to their collective self-esteem  Preference to interact with people who confirm their stereotype about their group, rather than people who hold  People are more likely to deny the accuracy of negative individualized information relative to negative group beliefs that contradict these assumptions information, and they more readily claim positive feedback  Negative ingroup stereotyping has been shown to protect

PSY263 Revision Notes: Chapter 3

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individuals’ feelings of self-worth (self-fulfilling prophecy) Social identity can protect the self, even if the identity includes qualities that are not socially prized Stereotypes distort the accuracy of people’s perceptions of the members of other groups and contribute to intergroup conflict, prejudice, discrimination

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when it focuses on them rather than on their group Individual mobility: Reducing one’s connection to a group in order to minimize the threat to individual self-esteem

PSY263 Revision Notes: Chapter 4 CHAPTER 4: Formation Joining Groups Openness: Neuroticism: Conscientiousness: Agreeableness: Intellectually able, Emotional, anxious, Sincere, thinks the best Responsible, organized, appreciative of art and easily angered, selfachievement-oriented, of people, frank, beauty, emotionally conscious, prone to feel self-disciplined, concerned with others’ expressive, opendepressed or sad, planned confident welfare, conciliatory, minded, imaginative impulsive, distressed modest, sympathetic Loners (Introverts): Joiners (Extraverts):  Oriented primarily toward inner perceptions and judgments  Extraversion: The degree to which an individual tends to of concepts and ideas seek out social contacts  Tend to be withdrawn, quiet, and reclusive  Oriented primarily toward social experiences  Personality-Group Fit: The closer the fit between an  Prefers working with other people than alone – affinity for individual’s personality characteristics and the group’s being part of a group may be due to purpose and organization, the more likely the individual  Prefers groups that are team-oriented & cooperative will seek to join the group  Appreciates stimulating experiences  positive reactions Social Anxiety: Shyness:  A feeling of apprehension and embarrassment experienced  The tendency to be reserved or timid during social when anticipating or actually interacting with other people interactions, usually coupled with feelings of discomfort and nervousness  Sets in from pessimistic expectations (thinking that their attempt to make a good impression would fail)  Often form associations with other shy individuals, and these groups adopt interaction styles and activities that  Innocuous sociability – merging in the group’s b/g by indicating general interest in the group and agreement better suit the social tendencies of their members (e.g., activity-focused groups)  Disaffiliate – reduce social contact with others in the group  If paired with a pronounced fear of embarrassment or  Social surrogate helps them transition into the group by humiliation, the individual could have social anxiety doing much of the work needed to establish connections disorder with others, until they overcome their initial anxieties Attachment Styles:  Childhood differences emerge in adulthood as variations in attachment style  4 basic styles – secure, preoccupied, fearful, dismissing  2 dimensions – anxiety about r/s and avoidance of closeness & dependency on others  Group-level attachment style (e.g., group experiences) o Secure: contributed to both instrumental & r/s work o Anxious: contributed less to instrumental work o Avoidant: contributed less to r/s & instrumental work  Can predict how well an individual adjusts during transitioning Extraversion: Outgoing, friendly, gregarious, assertive, emotionally positive, active

Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation (FIRO):  A theory of group formation and development that emphasizes compatibility among 3 basic social motives: inclusion, control, and affection  Inclusion (need for affiliation), Control (need for power), Affection (need for intimacy)  Assumes that people join/remain in groups as their needs are met  

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Need for Affiliation: A motivating state of tension that can be relieved by joining with other people (e.g., winning their approval) Drawn to groups, but are more anxious (fear of rejection)  might become less likely to join groups Beliefs: Positive beliefs about a group’s capacity to enhance performance and effort expressed a stronger preference to join in groups Negative expectations about groups were disinclined to take part in them

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Need for Intimacy:  A motivating state of tension that can be relieved by seeking out warm, positive r/s with others Drawn to groups, does not fear rejection  Experiences: One’s previous experience in groups, whether good or bad, influences one’s interest in joining groups in the future

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Need for Power: A motivating state of tension that can be relieved by gaining control over other people and one’s environment Drawn to groups as it allows them to influence other people Taking Collective Action: 2 main factors that influence people’s decisions to join a social movement – a sense of injustice and strong emotions

Affiliation The gathering together of individuals (typically members of the same species) in one location; also, a formalized relationship, as

PSY263 Revision Notes: Chapter 4 when an individual is said to be affiliated with a group or organization Social Comparison: The process of contrasting one’s personal qualities and outcomes, including beliefs, attitudes, values, abilities, accomplishments, and experiences, to those of other people  People often rely on others for information about themselves and their environment  To validate social reality, people must compare their interpretations to those of other people  Social comparison orientation: The dispositional tendency to compare oneself to others  Provides an indispensable social and cognitive service, but can also set in motion processes that destabilize rather than sustain the group and its members (e.g., ostracizing, sabotaging) Embarrassed Misery Avoids Company: Misery Loves Miserable Company: Misery Loves Company:  Fear of embarrassment can be  People are more interested in  Most people in an ambiguous stronger than the need to understand gaining clarifying information than predicament would choose to join what is happening, resulting in social in sharing the experience with with other people to gain the inhibition instead of affiliation someone, particularly when the information they need to allay their situation is a dangerous one and anxiety they can converse openly with other group members  Affiliation with others plays a key role in both fight-or-flight & tend-and-befriend responses  Forms of social support: o Belonging (acceptance/inclusion) o Emotional support o Informational support (advice) o Instrumental support (tangible assistance) o Meaning (existential/spiritual)  Groups can serve as protective buffers against negative psycholo...