Group Influence on Behavior
Discuss a situation where group influence impacts an individual’s behavior, such as conformity, obedience, or groupthink. How do social pressures, authority figures, or the desire for group cohesion shape decisions? What are the psychological mechanisms at play, and how can negative group influence be prevented in decision-making?
A classic example of group influence on individual behavior is the Asch conformity experiment, where participants were asked to match line lengths in a group setting. Despite knowing the correct answer, many participants conformed to the incorrect majority response due to social pressure. This illustrates how group influence can override personal judgment.
Psychological Mechanisms at Play:
- Normative Social Influence – Individuals conform to avoid rejection or gain social approval.
- Informational Social Influence – When uncertain, people assume the majority is correct and follow along.
- Obedience to Authority – As seen in Milgram’s experiment, individuals obey authority figures even against their moral beliefs.
- Groupthink – In highly cohesive groups, the desire for consensus suppresses dissent, leading to poor decision-making (e.g., the Challenger disaster).
Preventing Negative Group Influence:
- Encourage Independent Thinking – Promote diverse perspectives and critical evaluation.
- Assign a Devil’s Advocate – Challenge consensus to prevent blind agreement…
A classic example of group influence on individual behavior is the Asch conformity experiment, where participants were asked to match line lengths in a group setting. Despite knowing the correct answer, many participants conformed to the incorrect majority response due to social pressure. This illustrates how group influence can override personal judgment.
Psychological Mechanisms at Play:
- Normative Social Influence – Individuals conform to avoid rejection or gain social approval.
- Informational Social Influence – When uncertain, people assume the majority is correct and follow along.
- Obedience to Authority – As seen in Milgram’s experiment, individuals obey authority figures even against their moral beliefs.
- Groupthink – In highly cohesive groups, the desire for consensus suppresses dissent, leading to poor decision-making (e.g., the Challenger disaster).
Preventing Negative Group Influence:
- Encourage Independent Thinking – Promote diverse perspectives and critical evaluation.
- Assign a Devil’s Advocate – Challenge consensus to prevent blind agreement…
