Appendix B
Social Psychology Terms Exercise
Instructions: For each of the following give an example that you think may fit the definition. It may be an historical, personal, or general example.
- Normative social influence predicts that people conform to prevent being ostracized or made fun of; moreover, it is better to fit in than to stand out.
- Informed influence is said to be a manifestation of an individual's value judgments. In other words, a person will prefer the group that thinks similarly to them, but is careful not to stray from any group dynamic.
- Obedience theory calculates that people tend to obey as a product of their deference to the social order; that people feel an obligation to higher authority and are more likely to act in ways that their moral sensitivities normally wouldn't allow.
- Social loafing is the idea that some people socially loaf when they belong to a group working toward a common goal. They feel as if the task will be completed even if they do very little, someone will pick up the slack.
- Social facilitation means that people are often prompted toward hyper activity or absolute nervousness by the existence of a group. Some people perform beyond their normal capabilities in a tense group situation whereas others become very nervous and lose their ability to perform, especially when they lack confidence in their skills.
- Groupthink postulates that people move in harmony through a decision making process that ultimately lacks realistic forethought and often produces unwanted results.
- Deindividuation occurs when people seem to lose self-awareness or self-restraint in large groups.
- Social control theory suggests that very powerful, convincing individuals within a group sometimes are able to will the group to a new norm.
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