Group Influences on Behavior and Mental Processes
Ella Gray
8 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This AP Psychology study guide covers social psychology concepts related to group dynamics (social loafing, crowding effect), individual behavior in groups (social facilitation, social inhibition, group polarization, ingroup bias, deindividuation), helping behaviors (bystander effect, reciprocity norm, social exchange theory, social traps), and conflict resolution (mirror-image perceptions, superordinate goals). It includes key definitions, examples, practice questions (multiple-choice and free-response), and tips for the AP exam.
#AP Psychology: Social Psychology - Your Last-Minute Guide! 🚀
Hey there, future AP Psych pro! This guide is designed to be your go-to resource for acing the Social Psychology section. Let's break down these concepts and make sure you're feeling confident and ready to rock the exam!
#Group Dynamics: How We Act in Crowds
#Social Loafing: The Slacker Effect 😴
When we're in a group, we often feel less responsible and put in less effort. It's like when you're working on a group project and someone is just... there.
Social loafing is the tendency for people to exert less effort when working in a group than when working individually.
Think of it like a group of people pulling on a rope – each person pulls a little less hard than if they were pulling alone.
Image Courtesy of Research Leap
#Crowding Effect: Amplified Opinions 📢
Group opinions tend to get louder and more extreme when people are together. This is a bit of an economics concept, but it's good to be aware of.
#Individual Behavior in Groups
#Social Facilitation: When Others Watch 👀
Social facilitation means we perform better on easy tasks when others are watching. But, it's a double-edged sword: we perform worse on difficult tasks. This is called social inhibition.
Imagine you're a pro at basketball (easy task) – you'll play even better with a crowd cheering. But if you're trying to learn a new dance move (difficult task), you might mess up more with people watching.
#Group Polarization: Moving to Extremes ↔️
Group polarization is when a group's views become more extreme over time as they discuss things with like-minded people. This can lead to stronger bonds but also to unrealistic thinking and prejudice.
Think of political discussions online – they often become very polarized.
#Ingroup Bias: Us vs. Them 🤝
**Ingroup bias...
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