Social Influence And Group Processes

NCERT Class 12 Psychology: Chapter 7 - Social Influence and Group Processes

Introduction

Chapter 7 of the NCERT Class 12 Psychology textbook, "Social Influence and Group Processes," explores the dynamics of social influence, the functioning of groups, and the impact of group processes on individual behavior. It delves into how people are influenced by others and how group membership affects thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Social Influence

Definition and Types of Social Influence

Social Influence: The process by which individuals change their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to meet the demands of a social environment.

Conformity: Changing one's behavior to match the responses or actions of others, often to fit in with a group.
Compliance: Agreeing to a request or demand from another person, often in response to direct social pressure.
Obedience: Following orders or instructions from an authority figure.

Factors Influencing Conformity

Several factors can influence the extent to which individuals conform, including:

Group Size: Conformity tends to increase with group size, up to a point.
Unanimity: Conformity is more likely when everyone in the group agrees.
Group Cohesion: Stronger bonds among group members can lead to higher conformity.
Status: People are more likely to conform to high-status individuals or groups.
Public Response: Conformity is more likely when responses are made publicly rather than privately.

Group Processes

Definition and Types of Groups

Group: Two or more individuals who interact and are interdependent, sharing a common goal or purpose.

Primary Groups: Small, close-knit, and usually long-term groups, such as family and close friends.
Secondary Groups: Larger, more impersonal, and goal-oriented groups, such as work teams and social organizations.
Formal Groups: Groups with a defined structure and specific roles, often established by an organization.
Informal Groups: Groups that form naturally, without formal structure or roles.

Group Dynamics

Group dynamics refer to the interactions and processes that occur within a group. Key concepts include:

Norms: Shared expectations about how group members should behave.
Roles: Expected behaviors associated with particular positions within the group.
Status: The relative social position or rank within a group.
Cooperation: Working together to achieve common goals.
Competition: Rivalry between individuals or groups, often for resources or status.

Group Cohesion and Performance

Group cohesion refers to the bonds that hold group members together. High cohesion can lead to better performance, but too much cohesion can also result in groupthink, where the desire for harmony overrides realistic decision-making.

Important Terminology and Definitions

Conformity: Adjusting one's behavior or thinking to match those of others.
Compliance: Changing one's behavior in response to a direct request.
Obedience: Following the commands of a perceived authority figure.
Group Dynamics: The study of the interactions and processes within groups.
Norms: Rules or expectations for behavior within a group.
Roles: Patterns of behavior expected of individuals in specific positions within a group.
Status: The relative social position or prestige of an individual within a group.
Group Cohesion: The extent to which group members are attracted to the group and motivated to remain part of it.
Groupthink: A mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives.

Word Meanings

Conformity: Adjusting behaviors to align with group norms. (Hindi: अनुरूपता)
Compliance: Yielding to a request. (Hindi: अनुपालन)
Obedience: Following orders or instructions. (Hindi: आज्ञाकारिता)
Group Dynamics: Interactions within a group. (Hindi: समूह गतिकी)
Norms: Accepted standards of behavior. (Hindi: मानदंड)
Roles: Specific behaviors expected in a group. (Hindi: भूमिकाएं)
Status: Social standing or rank. (Hindi: स्थिति)
Group Cohesion: Attraction and unity within a group. (Hindi: समूह सुसंगति)
Groupthink: Flawed decision-making in cohesive groups. (Hindi: समूह विचार)

Key Learnings from the Chapter

Understanding the various forms of social influence and how they shape individual behavior.
Recognizing the factors that affect conformity, compliance, and obedience.
Comprehending the different types of groups and the dynamics within them.
Learning about the significance of group norms, roles, and status in influencing group behavior.
Appreciating the impact of group cohesion on performance and decision-making, including the dangers of groupthink.

Essay Questions

Question 1: Compare and contrast formal and informal groups, and ingroups and outgroups.

Answer:

Formal groups are structured with specific roles and responsibilities, often created by organizations to achieve specific goals. Examples include work teams, committees, and task forces. Informal groups, on the other hand, are naturally formed based on personal relationships and common interests. These groups lack formal structure and are often more flexible, such as groups of friends or hobby clubs.

Ingroups are social groups to which an individual feels they belong, sharing a common identity and loyalty. Members of ingroups often have a sense of solidarity and positive bias towards each other. Outgroups are those to which an individual does not belong and may feel opposition or competition. The distinction between ingroups and outgroups can influence behavior, attitudes, and perceptions, often leading to favoritism towards ingroup members and prejudice against outgroup members.

Question 2: Are you a member of a certain group? Discuss what motivated you to join that group.

Answer:

Yes, I am a member of a local sports club. Several factors motivated me to join this group. Firstly, I have a strong interest in sports and wanted to improve my skills. The club provides excellent facilities and coaching, which appealed to me. Secondly, I was looking for a way to stay physically active and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Being part of a sports club offers regular opportunities for exercise and competition. Lastly, the social aspect of the club was a significant motivator. I enjoy the camaraderie and the chance to meet and interact with like-minded individuals who share my passion for sports.

Question 3: How does Tuckman’s stage model help you to understand the formation of groups?

Answer:

Tuckman's stage model provides a framework for understanding the developmental stages of group formation. The model consists of five stages:

Forming: Group members get to know each other and establish ground rules. This initial stage is characterized by polite behavior and a focus on orientation.
Storming: Conflicts and competition arise as group members assert their opinions and vie for positions. This stage involves negotiation and conflict resolution.
Norming: Group members develop a sense of cohesion and unity, establishing norms and roles. Cooperation and collaboration increase during this stage.
Performing: The group reaches a stage of maturity and functionality, working effectively towards achieving its goals. Performance is high, and members are motivated and engaged.
Adjourning: The group disbands after achieving its objectives. This stage involves reflection, celebration, and dealing with any final tasks.

Tuckman's model helps in understanding how groups evolve over time, the challenges they face, and the processes involved in achieving effective collaboration and performance.

Question 4: How do groups influence our behaviour?

Answer:

Groups significantly influence our behavior in various ways:

Social Norms: Groups establish norms that dictate acceptable behavior, influencing individuals to conform to these expectations.
Social Roles: Groups assign roles to members, guiding their behavior based on the expectations associated with those roles.
Social Identity: Group membership contributes to an individual's social identity, affecting their self-concept and behavior to align with group values and goals.
Peer Pressure: Groups can exert pressure on individuals to behave in certain ways, either through direct influence or the desire to fit in and be accepted.
Support and Motivation: Groups provide emotional support and motivation, encouraging individuals to achieve goals and perform better.

Overall, groups shape our behavior through norms, roles, identity, peer pressure, and support mechanisms, highlighting the importance of social context in understanding individual actions.

Question 5: How can you reduce social loafing in groups? Think of any two incidents of social loafing in school. How did you overcome it?

Answer:

Social loafing can be reduced through several strategies:

Increasing Individual Accountability: Assigning specific tasks and responsibilities to each group member can ensure that everyone contributes equally.
Setting Clear Goals: Establishing clear, attainable goals for the group can motivate members to participate actively.
Enhancing Group Cohesion: Building a strong sense of unity and commitment within the group can reduce social loafing by fostering mutual accountability.
Providing Feedback: Regular feedback on individual and group performance can help identify and address social loafing behavior.

Two incidents of social loafing in school:

In a group project, some members were not contributing their fair share of work. We overcame this by dividing the project into specific tasks and assigning each member a task, ensuring accountability and equal contribution.
During a team sports event, a few players were not putting in their best effort. We addressed this by holding a team meeting to discuss the importance of everyone’s contribution and setting individual performance goals. This motivated the team to work harder and support each other.

Practice Questions with Answers

Question 1:

Define social influence and name its types.

Answer: Social influence refers to the process by which individuals change their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to meet the demands of a social environment. Its types include conformity, compliance, and obedience.

Question 2:

What is conformity? Mention factors influencing conformity.

Answer: Conformity is adjusting one's behavior or thinking to align with a group standard. Factors influencing conformity include group size, unanimity, group cohesion, status, and public response.

Question 3:

Differentiate between compliance and obedience.

Answer: Compliance is yielding to a request from another person, often without authority, while obedience is following orders or instructions from an authority figure.

Question 4:

Explain the concept of group dynamics.

Answer: Group dynamics refers to the interactions and processes that occur among members of a group, including norms, roles, status, cooperation, and competition.

Question 5:

What are norms, and why are they important in groups?

Answer: Norms are shared expectations about how group members should behave. They are important because they provide guidelines for behavior, promote group cohesion, and ensure predictability in interactions.

Question 6:

Describe the role of status in group dynamics.

Answer: Status refers to the relative social position or rank within a group. It influences group dynamics by affecting power distribution, influencing behavior, and determining roles and responsibilities.

Question 7:

What is group cohesion and how does it affect group performance?

Answer: Group cohesion is the extent to which group members are attracted to the group and motivated to remain part of it. High cohesion can improve group performance through increased cooperation and morale but can also lead to groupthink.

Question 8:

Explain the phenomenon of groupthink.

Answer: Groupthink is a mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives, leading to poor decisions.

Question 9:

What are the different types of groups? Provide examples.

Answer: Types of groups include primary groups (e.g., family), secondary groups (e.g., work teams), formal groups (e.g., committees), and informal groups (e.g., friends).

Question 10:

How does social facilitation affect performance?

Answer: Social facilitation refers to the tendency for people to perform better on simple tasks and worse on complex tasks in the presence of others, due to increased arousal.

Question 11:

What is social loafing and how can it be reduced?

Answer: Social loafing is the tendency for individuals to exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone. It can be reduced by increasing individual accountability, setting clear goals, and enhancing group cohesion.

Question 12:

Define deindividuation and discuss its effects.

Answer: Deindividuation is a psychological state where individuals lose their sense of self-awareness and personal responsibility, often leading to impulsive and deviant behavior. It can result in actions that individuals would not typically engage in alone.

Question 13:

Explain the concept of social identity.

Answer: Social identity is the part of an individual's self-concept derived from their membership in social groups, influencing their attitudes and behavior towards in-group and out-group members.

Question 14:

What is the social identity theory?

Answer: The social identity theory posits that individuals derive a sense of identity and self-esteem from their group memberships and are motivated to maintain a positive social identity by favoring their in-group over out-groups.

Question 15:

Discuss the role of leadership in group processes.

Answer: Leadership involves guiding and influencing group members towards achieving goals. Effective leadership can enhance group cohesion, improve performance, and facilitate conflict resolution, while poor leadership can lead to dysfunction and reduced morale.

Question 16:

How does minority influence differ from majority influence?

Answer: Minority influence occurs when a smaller faction within a group persuades the majority to accept their viewpoint, often through consistency and confidence. Majority influence involves the larger group swaying the minority, usually through social pressure and conformity.

Question 17:

What is the role of communication in group decision-making?

Answer: Communication is crucial in group decision-making as it facilitates the exchange of ideas, clarifies misunderstandings, builds consensus, and helps coordinate actions towards achieving group goals.

Question 18:

Explain the concept of intergroup conflict and its causes.

Answer: Intergroup conflict refers to tension and antagonism between different groups. Causes include competition for resources, perceived injustices, stereotyping, and power imbalances.

Question 19:

How can intergroup conflict be managed or resolved?

Answer: Intergroup conflict can be managed through communication, mediation, fostering intergroup cooperation, addressing underlying issues, and promoting inclusive social norms and policies.

Question 20:

What is the impact of cultural factors on group processes?

Answer: Cultural factors significantly impact group processes by influencing communication styles, decision-making, conflict resolution, and the norms and values that guide group behavior. Understanding cultural differences is essential for effective group functioning in diverse settings.