Chapter 7: Social Influence and Group Processes

Psychology • Class 12

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Chapter Analysis

Intermediate12 pages • English

Quick Summary

Chapter 7 of the class 12 psychology textbook covers the intricate dynamics of social influence and group processes. It distinguishes different types of groups such as primary and secondary, formal and informal, and ingroup and outgroup, highlighting how these groups impact individual behavior through concepts like social facilitation and social loafing. The chapter also discusses phenomena like groupthink and group polarization, examining how group dynamics can influence decision-making processes and personal opinions. Additionally, it covers theories like Tuckman's stages of group development and Tajfel’s minimal group paradigm【4:12†class-12-psychology-chapter-7.pdf】.

Key Topics

  • Types of Groups
  • Stages of Group Formation
  • Groupthink
  • Social Loafing
  • Group Polarisation
  • Ingroup and Outgroup
  • Social Influence
  • Roles and Norms in Groups

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the nature and types of groups.
  • Examine the influence of groups on individual behavior.
  • Identify the stages of group formation and development.
  • Evaluate the impact of group dynamics on decision making.
  • Understand how group membership satisfies individual needs.
  • Analyze phenomena like social loafing and groupthink.

Questions in Chapter

Compare and contrast formal and informal groups, and ingroups and outgroups.

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

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

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How do groups influence our behaviour?

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

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Additional Practice Questions

What are the main differences between social facilitation and social loafing?

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Answer: Social facilitation refers to the tendency of individuals to perform better on simple tasks when in the presence of others, while social loafing describes the decline in effort when individuals work in a group compared to when they work alone. This is because individual contributions are not evaluated in social loafing, leading to reduced accountability.

Discuss how you can apply the knowledge of group dynamics to enhance group performance in an organizational setting.

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Answer: Applying group dynamics to enhance performance can include appointing a leader to provide clear direction, encouraging open communication, establishing clear roles and responsibilities, fostering group cohesion through team-building activities, and setting common goals to align group efforts.

Explain the concept of groupthink and identify strategies to prevent it in decision-making groups.

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Answer: Groupthink is a phenomenon where the desire for group consensus overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives, leading to poor decision-making. Strategies to prevent groupthink include encouraging open discussion, inviting feedback or critique from outsiders, appointing a devil's advocate, and exploring alternative courses of action.

How does the Minimal Group Paradigm demonstrate the concept of ingroup favoritism?

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Answer: The Minimal Group Paradigm shows that even arbitrary and minimal distinctions between groups, such as preference for a painting, can lead to ingroup favoritism where individuals show preference and positive bias towards their group members.

What role do norms play in group behavior, and how can they be altered?

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Answer: Norms define the expected ways of behavior within a group. They provide structure and predictability. Norms can be altered by introducing new rules, encouraging open discussions about norms, and modeling desired behaviors by influential group members.