PSY 223 1nd Edition Lecture 15 Outline of Last Lecture I Stereotypes a Implicit Attitudes b How to overcome stereotypes II Prejudice a Causes b How can it be reduced i Examples III Discrimination a Sexism b Racism Outline of Current Lecture IV Discrimination contd a Costs of prejudice stereotyping and discrimination V Group Processes VI Social Facilitation a Explanation VII Social loafing VIII Deindividuation IX Groups Current Lecture 10 20 General findings from this research If target has a weapon quicker to press shoot if black than white If target has a harmless object slower to press don t shoot if black than white More likely to mistakenly shoot an unarmed black target than unarmed white target With repetition or more time actual officers were less likely to make mistakes These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute Costs of Prejudice stereotyping and discrimination Material costs something can actually cost more think price of car Cannot be sure why others are behaving as they are attribution ambiguity Being stigmatized Consequence of Stereotype Threat fear that one stereotype will be reduced to a stereotype in the eyes of the others girls aren t good at math so freak self out before test Hamper academic achievement reactions to threat can directly interfere with performance threat can cause individuals to dismiss the domain as no longer relevant to their self esteem and identity Group Processes What is a collective an assembly of people engaging in a common activity but having little direct interaction with each other not a real group Does an audience improve or impair performance It depends on how well you know activity When you are engaging in individual efforts but along with others or in the presence of others social facilitation occurs Social facilitation enhances easy tasks Triplett s study with children on finishing reel Also found in animals and insects Zajonc s study with cockroaches Social facilitation inhibits difficult tasks Zajnoc Solution presence of another person or member of the same species increases arousal and then strengthens dominant response if easy then enhance if difficult then impair Social facilitation home team advantage Alternative Explanations for Social Facilitation The Evaluation Apprehension Explanation argues that arousal is only created when others are evaluating The Distraction Conflict Explanation argues that others as well as nonsocial stimuli are distracting which causes the arousal someone else taping pen while trying to take test Do better if you knew the material but worse if not Social loafing when you are with others but merge into the group you should become more relaxed social loafing As a result you will not be as productive particularly on simple tasks Ringelmann s study of men pulling rope Latane s study of 6 shouting blindfolded college students Explanation for Social Loafing Relaxation no arousal that provides energy Diffusion of responsibility Not everyone loafs to the same degree Factors associated with decreased likelihood of social loafing Being female Being from a collectivistic culture The outcome is personally important Belief that one s contribution matters The group is small and cohesive Unifying Facilitation and Loafing You need to know 2 things to predict whether the presence of others will help or hinder your performance Will your individual efforts be evaluated Is the task simple or complex Deindividuation and loss of individual identity Being in a crowd a collective nonsocial group can also cause deindividuation the loosening of normal constraints on behavior leading to an increase in impulsive and deviant acts Possible Explanations of Deindividuation Accountability cues feeling less accountable for one s actions Attentional cues diminished self awareness and thus less attention on internal situations Conformity to group norms specific to the situation social identity increases which in some cases could increase conformity Definitions of Group Group collection of 2 or more people who interact with each other and are interdependent in the sense that their needs and goals cause them to rely on each other Why do people join groups An innate need arising from evolutionary pressures to increase survival and reproduction To accomplish things that can t be done alone To acquire the social status and identity and self esteem To be around people we like To acquire important information to reduce ambiguity about the social world