Humanistic and Sociocultural Perspectives

1
Humanistic and Sociocultural Perspectives

• Segment 1
• Humanistic Perspective
• Sociocultural Perspective
• Segment 2
• Group Behavior and Conflict

2
Group Identity

• Social Identity The part of a persons
  self-concept that is based on his or her
  identification with a nation/ethnic
  group/gender/social affiliation.
• Ethnic identity A persons identification with a
  racial/religious/ethnic group.
• Acculturation Members of minority groups come to
  identify with/feel part of the mainstream
  culture.
• Ethnocentrism Belief that ones own ethnic
  group/nation/religion is superior.
• Stereotype Person believes that all members of
  the group share a common trait/traits. (Can be
  good, bad, or neutral)

3
Conformity

• Solomon Asch (1952)
• Line Study
• Confederate (n6) and Participant (n1)
• Three lines Which one is the longest?

4
Groupthink

• Defined In close-knit groups, the tendency for
  all members to think alike for the sake of
  harmony and to suppress disagreement.
• Symptoms of groupthink
• Illusion of invulnerability
• Self-censorship (Dissenters keep quite)
• Pressure on dissenters to conform
• Illusion of unanimity (consensus)
• Examples
• Challenger-Unsafe, no influence from the outside
  world.
• John F. Kennedy-Approved a plan to invade Cuba in
  the Bay of Pigs which was a defeat in the 1960s.

5
Crowd Behavior

• Diffusion of Responsibility The tendency of
  members to avoid taking action because they
  assume that others will
• Bystander Effect
• Kitty Genovese Stabbed to death while dozens of
  her neighbors listened and watched without
  calling for help.
• Deindividuation The loss of awareness of ones
  own individuality. This can increase aggression,
  and violent behavior.
• Wearing a uniform (Holocaust)

6
Disobedience

• Why do some few elite disobey and dissent?
• Why did Rosa Parks refuse to give up her seat?
• Why did the passengers of United Airlines Flight
  93 revolt?
• Why did Wesley Autrey jump onto the New York City
  subway tracks to save life of Cameron Hollopeter
• (A complete stranger)

7
Disobedience

• Factors that increase your likelihood of
  dissenting
• Perceive the need for intervention or help.
• Situation increases the likelihood that you will
  take responsibility.
• Cost-benefit ratio supports your decision to get
  involved.
• You have an ally.
• You become entrapped. (Once begun you increase
  your commitment)

8
How does Prejudice start?

• Jane Elliott (Educator and anti-racism activist)
• Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. (1968)
• Exercise exploring the nature of
  racism/prejudice.
• Brown Eye-Blue Eye Experiment
• Eye of the Storm
• A Class Divided

9
Reducing Conflict

• Steps for Reducing Conflict
• Both sides must have
• Equal legal status
• Economic opportunities
• Power
• Authorities and community institutions must
  endorse egalitarian norms and thereby provide
  moral support and legitimacy for both sides
• Both sides must have opportunities to work and
  socialize together
• Formally and informally
• Both sides must cooperate, working together for a
  common goal.
• Robbers Cave Experiment (1950s)
• Muzafer Sherif (Camp Janitor)
• Boy Scout Camp Study
• Two groups of campers pitted against each other
• Food Fight in the cafeteria
• Two Projects designed to help them work together
• Water turned off, find a leak in a pipe
• Bus stuck/truck wont start
• Afterward they loved each other