4.3 Psychology of Social Situations

Bystander Effect

• The tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present.

• The phenomenon where individuals are more likely to help when they are alone.

• The increased likelihood of helping behavior in a group setting.

• The tendency to ignore someone in need when in a crowd.

Aggression

• Any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotionally.

• A form of communication that promotes understanding and peace.

• A strategy used to resolve conflicts amicably.

• An emotional response that leads to happiness and joy.

Group Polarization

• The enhancement of a group’s prevailing inclinations through discussion within the group.

• The reduction of a group's overall opinion after a discussion.

• The tendency of individuals to conform to group norms.

• The process of making decisions in a group setting without discussion.

Passionate Love

• An aroused state of intense positive absorption in another, usually present at the beginning of a romantic relationship.

• A calm and stable affection that develops over time in a relationship.

• A feeling of deep friendship without romantic involvement.

• An emotional attachment that is primarily based on physical attraction.

Mirror-image Perceptions

• Mutual views often held by conflicting parties, as when each side sees itself as ethical and peaceful and views the other side as evil and aggressive.

• A psychological phenomenon where individuals perceive their own group as superior and the opposing group as inferior.

• A situation where both parties agree on the same set of values and beliefs.

• A method of conflict resolution that emphasizes understanding and compromise.

Superordinate Goals

• Shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation.

• Goals that are only relevant to one individual.

• Goals that create competition among team members.

• Goals that are unrelated to teamwork.

Social Facilitation

• Improved performance on all tasks in the presence of others.

• Worsened performance on all tasks in the presence of others.

• Improved performance on simple or well-learned tasks, and worsened performance on difficult tasks.

• No effect on performance in the presence of others.

Equity

• A condition in which people receive from a relationship in proportion to what they give to it.

• A situation where one party benefits more than the other in a relationship.

• A principle that emphasizes equal distribution of resources regardless of contribution.

• A legal term referring to the ownership of assets.

Tight Culture

• A place with clearly defined and reliably imposed norms.

• A society with loose and flexible social norms.

• A culture that encourages individualism and personal freedom.

• A community that lacks any social structure.

Reciprocity Norm

• An expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them.

• A principle stating that people will always act in their own self-interest.

• A belief that kindness should be rewarded with kindness.

• A guideline suggesting that individuals should avoid helping others.