Video: Aggression vs. Altruism: Crash Course Psychology #40 opens in new window (10:40) This video discusses the Robbers Cave experiment. Two sets of 11 boys were camping and enjoying camp life in isolation. However, when the two sets of boys met, conflict resulted in each group displaying aggression toward the other group.
As you watch, consider the following:
- How did the researchers turn the behavior of isolation into behavior of cooperation?
- How do we learn aggression?
- What are triggers for aggression?
Video: Asch Conformity Experiment opens in new window (4:10) This video is a representation of the classic Asch conformity experiment. Several participants were asked to provide an obvious answer in a line judgment task, while the experimenters observed whether a participant would yield to or defy the beliefs of the other group members.
As you watch, consider the following:
- Why does the sole participant in the study begin to give the same wrong answer as the other group members?
- What happens if a second (or partner) member supports the same answer as the subject?
- Why would a participant in such a study deny what they see?
A captioned version is available: Asch Conformity Experiment (CC) Video opens in new window
A video transcript is available: Transcript for Asch Conformity Experiment Word Document opens in new window
Video: Conformity: Are We Afraid to Stand Out? opens in new window (7:46) In this TEDx Talk, a teenage girl discusses the suicides and suicidal contemplations of young transgender people. She emphasizes how significant conformity is for the well-being of most people.
As you watch, consider the following:
- Why is it so important for people to conform to what everyone else is doing?
- Why did Jews kill Jews during the Holocaust?
- Why do people function as “robots” in modern society?
A captioned version is available: Conformity: Are We Afraid to Stand Out? (CC) Video opens in new window
A video transcript is available: Transcript for Conformity: Are We Afraid to Stand Out? Word Document
Video: Born Good? Babies Help Unlock the Origins of Morality opens in new window (13:32) This 60 Minutes video presents a study that examines the relationship between human nature and morality. The researchers observed babies as young as three months old to see if they preferred a nice puppet over a mean puppet.
As you watch, consider the following:
- What did the babies’ preferences reveal to the researchers?
- Are babies born with an innate sense of justice?
- What do babies show us about similarities and differences in others?
A captioned version is available: Born Good? Babies Help Unlock the Origins of Morality (CC) Video opens in new window
A video transcript is available: Transcript for Born Good? Babies Help Unlock the Origins of Morality Word Document opens in new window
Video: Brené Brown on Empathy opens in new window (2:53) This is a brief video with animated characters expressing empathy.
As you watch, consider the following:
- Does a response demonstrate empathy for someone else’s loss?
- What is the best way to ease someone’s pain and suffering?
- What is the most empathetic way to show someone you care?
Video: Why Some People Are More Altruistic Than Others opens in new window (12:21) In this TED Talk, the speaker explores the reason that people engage in selfless acts of support to others. Additionally, she explores the reason why people would place themselves at risk while they help others.
As you watch, consider the following:
- What motivates people to engage in altruistic acts for strangers?
- Why is it important to study psychopathology in order to understand the basic aspects of human nature?
- What role does the amygdala play in altruism?
Video: Why Moral People Tolerate Immoral Behavior opens in new window (5:04) In this video, we learn how our biases are often pragmatic. The narrators suggest that the moral judgements we make about those close to us are often more forgiving than the judgements we cast upon strangers. To promote a more morally consistent world, our ability to acknowledge and appreciate our common values is key.
As you watch, consider the following:
- What factors influence our moral judgments?
- Why are we more or less tolerant of a person’s moral transgressions?
- In the words of the narrator, why is it important to understand “where people are coming from”?
- Can our sense of tribal morality evolve to include people outside of our tribe?
A video transcript is available: Transcript for Why Moral People Tolerate Immoral Behavior opens in new window.
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Video: Dangerous Conformity opens in new window (8:23) This video depicts a study on group conformity in which individuals are asked to stay in a room. However, when an alarm sounds and the room appears to be on fire, the subject does not evacuate the room because the other group members choose to stay.
As you watch, consider the following:
- Why does the participant evacuate the room when no one else is around?
- Why does the participant choose to stay in the room when the other group members choose to stay?
- How can group conformity cause us to remain in a dangerous situation?
A captioned version is available: Dangerous Conformity (CC) Video opens in new window
A video transcript is available: Transcript for Dangerous Conformity Word Document opens in new window
Reading: Helping and Prosocial Behavior opens in new window This article discusses how and why people benefit from helping others. Although there is a need for us to help others, there are times when people choose not to help.
Project One Guidelines and Rubric
Competencies
In this project, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following competencies:
- Analyze theories of social psychology
- Analyze how social influence and human behavior are interrelated
Scenario
As a leader in the student government organization on campus, you have made a perplexing observation about group behavior: While some people refuse to conform to the group majority, others tend to defer to the general consensus, despite the fact that their beliefs may run counter to the majority opinion.
For this project, in order to address this observation, you will create a set of research notes that explain the socio-psychological factors that influence conformity to group norms. The purpose of these notes is to help your fellow group members better understand the factors that contribute to majority influence and, ultimately, enhance group collaboration within the student government organization.
Directions
You will use the Project One Template Word Document to complete this project. Using the rubric criteria listed below, you will analyze, reflect upon, and integrate the concepts that explain the impact of conformity within the group dynamic.
Part One:
Analyzing the Socio-Psychological Foundations of Conformity
Analyze the socio-psychological factors that influence our tendency to conform to group pressure. In your analysis, address each of the following rubric criteria in 3 to 5 sentences:
- Describe the difference between acceptance, compliance, and obedience, and provide examples of how these concepts present within the group dynamic.
- Describe the difference between normative influence and informational influence, and provide examples of how these concepts impact the group dynamic.
- Describe why cognitive dissonanceis not always easy to recognize in ourselves.
- Describe ways to reduce cognitive dissonance and shift to a state of cognitive consonance in the group setting.
- Describe the factors that may impact a person’s ability or desire to deviate from the norm and choose not to conform to group pressure.
Part Two:
Reflecting On the Conformity Experience
Reflect upon an authentic experience that occurred either at home, in school, at work, or within the greater community, in which you or someone you know conformed to the majority opinion. In your reflection, address each of the following rubric criteria in 3 to 5 sentences:
- Describe the influence of unanimity on the tendency of group members to conform to the majority opinion.
- Describe the influence of cohesion on the tendency of group members to conform to the majority opinion.
- Describe the influence of status on the tendency of group members to conform to the majority opinion.
Part Three:
Integrating the Negative and Positive Aspects of Conformity Within the Group Dynamic
Integrate and apply your knowledge of conformity, which can result in both negative and positive outcomes on group collaboration. In your response, address each of the following rubric criteria in one paragraph:
- Describe the negative effectsof conformity on group collaboration. Include the potential impact of conformity on each of the following:
- If one or more of the group members are not motivated, how does that impact the group?
- How can the identity and individuality of members impact the group?
- The perceptions of fairness toward group members
- The creativity and diversity of ideas of group members
- Describe the positive effectsof conformity on group collaboration. Include the potential impact of conformity on each of the following:
- The cohesiveness of group members
- The intergroup harmony between group members
- The productivity level of group members
- The learning among group members
- Using the various socio-psychological concepts examined in this project to support your position, share three recommendations for optimizing the group collaboration experience.
What to Submit
To complete this project, you must submit the following:
Research Notes You will use the Project One Template to complete this project. Sources must be cited according to APA style.
Project One Template
Complete this template by replacing the bracketed text with the relevant information.
Part One: Analyzing the Socio-Psychological Foundations of Conformity
Analyze the socio-psychological factors that influence our tendency to conform to group pressure. In your analysis, address each of the following rubric criteria in 3 to 5 sentences:
- Describe the difference between acceptance, compliance, and obedience, and provide examples of how these concepts present within the group dynamic.
[Insert text]
- Describe the difference between normative influence and informational influence,and provide examples of how these concepts impact the group dynamic.
[Insert text]
- Describe why cognitive dissonanceis not always easy to recognize in ourselves.
[Insert text]
- Describe ways to reduce cognitive dissonance and shift to a state of cognitive consonance in the group setting.
[Insert text]
- Describe the factors that may impact a person’s ability or desire to deviate from the norm and choose not to conform to group pressure.
[Insert text]
Part Two: Reflecting On the Conformity Experience
Reflect upon an authentic experience that occurred either at home, in school, at work, or within the greater community, in which you or someone you know conformed to the majority opinion. In your reflection, address each of the following rubric criteria in 3 to 5 sentences:
- Describe the influence of unanimityon the tendency of group members to conform to the majority opinion.
[Insert text]
- Describe the influence of cohesionon the tendency of group members to conform to the majority opinion.
[Insert text]
- Describe the influence of statuson the tendency of group members to conform to the majority opinion.
[Insert text]
Part Three: Integrating the Negative and Positive Aspects of Conformity Within the Group Dynamic
Integrate and apply your knowledge of conformity, which can result in both negative and positive outcomes on group collaboration. In your response, address each of the following rubric criteria in one paragraph:
- Describe the negative effectsof conformity on group collaboration. Include the potential impact of conformity on each of the following:
- The motivation of group members
- The identity and individuality of group members
- The perceptions of fairness toward group members
- The creativity and diversity of ideas of group members
[Insert paragraph]
- Describe the positive effectsof conformity on group collaboration. Include the potential impact of conformity on each of the following:
- The cohesiveness of group members
- The intergroup harmony between group members
- The productivity level of group members
- The learning amongst group members
[Insert paragraph]
- Using the various socio-psychological concepts examined in this project to support your position, share three recommendations for optimizing the group collaboration experience.