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"Charles Stangor takes us on a fascinating journey, exploring both classic contributions and more novel research on the way individuals behave in and deal with social groups. Although all major phenomena are being reviewed, the storyline remains clear and the style is engaging. This book comes across as a definite must-read for anyone who wants to get acquainted with this key aspect of human behavior. A job well done!" -- Vincent Yzerbyt, Catholic University of Louvain at Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
"It is nice to see a new textbook that covers groups in all its various manifestations - from social categories to work groups to families. The author has contributed to a number of different group-oriented research domains, so he is in a unique position to bring theory and research from the various perspectives together into a coherent volume." -- R. Scott Tindale, Loyola University Chicago
"This book provides a thorough and highly readable review of the major theories and findings in inter- and intra-group relations. These areas are rarely covered in a single treatment, and the author has done a superb job interweaving these two topics to the benefit of both. The author's considerable expertise is evident in the clear perspective that underlies this book and this would make an excellent text for advanced undergraduate or graduate classes." -- William von Hippel, University of New South Wales
"Social Groups in Action and Interaction is a well organized and thorough introduction to the social psychology of groups. Writing in a highly accessible style, Professor Stangor achieves a fine balance between classic literature and contemporary approaches. Consequently, this volume would serve well as a stand-alone text for a group dynamics seminar, or as a supplemental text for a broader course in social psychology."--Janet B. Ruscher, Tulane University
"A very readable, informative text about group life that presents an excellent balance between classical and modern perspectives with a minimum of jargon. Stangor addresses the reader personally with the use of revealing examples and carefully crafted descriptions of selected studies that illustrate important group processes."--Sam Gaertner, University of Delaware
The goal of Social Groups in Action and Interaction is to review and analyze the human group as it operates to create both social good and, potentially, social harm. The book provides relatively equal emphasis on topics traditionally considered from an intra-group perspective (for instance, conformity, minority influence, group decision-making, leadership, and task performance) as well as topics derived from an inter-group perspective (e.g. social categorization, social identity, intergroup conflict, stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination). In addition, topics that are not unique to either of these two approaches, and yet which are important aspects of group relations, such as culture, crowd behavior, social representations, and negotiation are also covered.
Contents:
Chapter 1: Defining the Social Group. Studying Groups. Varieties of Social Groups. Reference Groups. Dyads. Working Groups. Social Categories. Cultures. Crowds. Common Themes. Social Science and the Social Group. Studying Groups Scientifically. Levels of Analysis. Group-level Approaches. Individual-level Approaches. Comparing the Two Approaches. The Group Dynamics Approach. Kurt Lewin's Contributions. Social Perception and Interpretation. The Influence of Group Dynamics. Self-categorization Theory. The Flexibility of Social Categorization. Ingroups and Outgroups. Properties of Groups. Social Groups versus Social Aggregrates. Similarity and Liking. Similarity and Group Perceptions. Interaction and Interdependence. Group Structure. Norms. Roles. Status. Defining the Group: Entitativity. Being Part of a Group. Group Cohesion. Cohesion and Group Behavior. Cohesion, Norms and Group Performance. Social Identity. Group Process Reconsidered. Chapter Summary. Review and Discussion Questions.
Chapter 2: Studying Groups Scientifically. Basic and Applied Research. Basic Research. Applied Research. Theories and Research Hypotheses. Theories as Organizing Principles. The Research Hypotheses. Falsifiability. Measuring Group Interactions. Sociometric Methods. Analyzing Interactions: SYMLOG. Observational Research Designs. "When Prophecy Fails". Advantages of Observational Research. Ecological Validity. Varieties of Data. Disadvantages of Observational Research. Correlational Research Designs. The Research Hypothesis. The Pearson Correlation Coefficient. Advantages of Correlational Research Designs. Ecological Validity. Making Predictions. Disadvantages of Correlational Research Designs. Reverse Causations. Third Variables. Experimental Research Designs. Characteristics of Experimental Designs. The Experimental Manipulation. Equivalence and Control. Factorial Experimental Designs. Hypothesis Testing in Experimental Designs. Advantages and Disadvantages of Experiments. Interpreting Data. Statistical Significance. The Effect Size. External Validity. Meta-analysis. Chapter Summary. Review Questions.
Chapter 3: Groups and their Functions. Benefits of Group Membership. Social Exchange. Assumptions of Social Exchange. Staying and Leaving. Survival. Evolutionary Psychology. The Advantages of Groups. Accomplishing Goals. Social Affiliation and Attachment. Belonging and Ostracism. Ostracism. Social Groups on the Internet. Affiliation and Anxiety. Attachment Styles. Social Support. Mental Health. Physical Health. Social Comparison Theory. Abilities. Opinions. Equity and Relative Deprivation. To Whom do We Compare? Using Others to Feel Good. The Tradeoff. Social Identity. Creating Social Identity. Social Identity and Self Esteem. Varieties of Self-categorization. Which Groups Provide Social Identity? Limits to Social Identity. Does Everyone Identify? Social Creativity. Optimal Distinctiveness. Chapter Summary. Review and Discussion Questions.
Chapter 4: Social Influence. Social Influence. Some Examples of Social Influence. The Development of Social Norms. Binge Eating in Sororities. Reacting to Opinion Deviance. Group Persuasion. Motives for Conformity. Informational Conformity. Normative Conformity. Differentiating Motives for Conformity. Majority Influence. Solomon Asch's Line Perception Studies. Determinants of Influence. Number of Persons in the Majority. Social Impact. Perceptions of the Group. Unanimity in the Majority. Task Importance. Minority Influence. Minority Influence in Action. Minority Influence and Creative Thinking. Comparing Majority and Minority Influence. Single-process Approaches. Mathematical Models of Social Influence. Research Supporting the Single-process Approach. Dual-process Approaches. Research Supporting the Dual-process Approach. Limits to the Dual-process Approach. Summary. Limits of Conformity. Personality Variables. Gender Differences in Conformity. Psychological Reactance. Chapter Summary. Review and Discussion Questions.
Chapter 5: Social Categorization. Spontaneous Social Categorization. The Goals of Social Categorization. Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination. Accurate Information. Cognitive Economy, Categorization versus Individuation. Subtyping. Individuation. Motivations. Which Categories? Category Salience. Category Accessability. Outcomes of Social Categorization. Social Categorization and Stereotyping. Perceptual Accentuation. Outgroup Homogeneity. Ingroup Homogeneity. Stereotype Maintenance. Categorization into 'Us' and 'Them'. Ingroup Favoritism. Creating Social Groups. The Minimal Intergroup Effect. Outcomes of Categorization into Ingroups and Outgroups. Why Ingroup Favoritism? Exceptions to Ingroup Favoritism. Chapter Summary. Review and Discussion Questions.
Chapter 6: Group Development and Structure. Group Development. Models of Group Development. Group Level Approaches. Interactionist Approaches. Group Formation. Developing New Relationships. Behaviours of New Group Members. Initial Social Categorization. Initiation into Existing Groups. Storming and Conflict. Norming and Performing. Adjourning. Group Structure. Social Roles. Task Roles and Relationship Roles. Role Ambiguity. Role Conflict. Gender Roles. Social Status. Getting and Keeping Status. Dominance Contests. Perfomance-based Status. Conformity to Group Norms. Consequences of Status. Social Networks. The Physical Environment. Information Sharing and Networks. Chapter Summary. Review and Discussion Questions.
Chapter 7: Power and Leadership. Social Power. Milgram's Studies on Obedience to Authority. The Shocking Results! What Produces Obedience? A Theory of Power. Reward Power. Coercive Power. Legitimate Power. Referent Power. Expert Power. Informational Power. Power Tactics. Gender and Power. Leadership. Characteristics of Leaders. Intelligence. Task-oriented and Relationship-oriented Leaders. Other Traits. Charismatic and Transformational Leaders. Status, Gender and Ethnicity. Lewin, Lippitt and White's Research. Limitations to Personality Theories. Interactionist Approaches. The Contingency Model. Alternatives to the Contingency Model. Chapter Summary. Review and Discussion Questions.
Chapter 8: Group Decision Making. Understanding Group Performance. Task Classifications. Task Division. Task Combination. Group Member Perfomance. Task Assessment. Task Clarity. Summary. Groups and Their Members. Member Characteristics. Group Processes. Measuring Group Effectiveness. Group Size. Nominal Groups. Decision Schemes. Analyzing Group Discussion. Demonstrating the Correct Solution. Voting among Proposed Alternatives. Other Decision Schemes. Limitations of the Decision Scheme Approach. Groupthink. Causes of Groupthink. Conformity Pressures. Social Identity. Isolation, Time Pressure and Stress. Studying Groupthink. Preventing Groupthink. Group Polarization. What Causes Group Polarization? Diffusion of Responsibilty and the Risky Shift. Social Comparison and Normative Conformity. Self-categorization Theory. Persuasive Arguments Theory. Repeated Expression Theory. Summary. Chapter Summary. Review and Discussion Questions. References.
Chapter 9: Group Performance and Productivity. Social Facilitation. Process Gains in Group Performance. Process Losses in Group Perfomance. Why Does Social Faciliation Occur? Drive Arousal. Mere Presence. Evaluation and Competition. Distraction Caused by the Presence of Others. Coordination and Motivation Losses. The Ringelmann Effect. Coordination Losses. Motivation Losses. Determinants of Social Loafing. Group Factors. Task Attractivness and Significance. Deindividuation. Evaluation Potential Free Riding. The Sucker Effect. Brainstorming. Explanations for the Difficulty of Brain Storming. Social Loafing. Evaluation Apprehension. Production Blocking. The Illusion of Group Effectivity. Improving Brainstorming. The Nominal Group Technique. Electronic Brainstorming. What are the Benefits of Groups? The Advantage of Number. Evaluation Potential and Identifiability. Well-trained Groups. Other Outcomes. Chapter Summary. Review and Discussion Questions. References.
Chapter 10: Effective Working Groups. Member Characteristics. Member Skills. Affiliation and Anxiety. Group Characteristics. Group Size. Group Member Diversity. Advantages of Member Similarity. Advantages of Member Diversity. Gender and Ethnic Diversity. Group Processes. Incentives. Planning. Breaking Inefficient Norms. Goal-setting. Improving Communication. Quantity and Quality of Discussion. Unshared Information. Variables that Influence Information Sharing. Implementing Decisions. Member Satisfaction. Examples of Groups at Work. Jury Decision Making. Member Characteristics. Group Processes. The Leniency Bias. Are Juries Effective? Work Teams. Member Characteristics and Group Processes. Training. Team Effectiveness. Electronic Groups. Cues to Social Status. Deindividuation. Satisfaction and Productivity. Chapter Summary. Review and Discussion Questions.
Chapter 11: Cultures, Social Change, and Crowds. Cultures. Independence and Interdependence. Outcomes of Independence and Interdependence. Balancing the Two Orientations. Other Dimensions of Cultural Difference. Organizations as Culture. Social Representations. The Development of Social Representations. Dynamic Social Impact Theory. Social Status and Social Change. Accepting or Rejecting the Existing Status Heirachy. False Consciousness. Individal Mobility. Social Creativity. Collective Action. Determinants of Attempts at Social Change. Summary. Crowds. Deindividuation. Norm Theories. Chapter Summary. Review and Discussion Questions. References.
Chapter 12: Cooperation and Conflict within Groups. Cooperation and Conflict. Outcomes of Cooperation and Conflict. Public Goods and Social Dilemmas. Harvesting and Contributions Dilemmas. Studying Cooperation and Conflict. Matrix Games. The Prisoner's Dilemma. Characteristics of the Prisoner's Dilemma. Resource Dilemma Games. The Trucking Game. Critiques of Gaming Approaches. Variables that Produce Cooperation or Conflict. Task Characteristics. Rules and Regulations. Incentives. Privatization. Expectations of Others' Behavior. Social Norms and Entitlement. Group Size. Communication. Advantages of Communication. Reducing Misconceptions. Individual Differences. Social Value Orientations. The Dual Concern Approach. Strategies for Producing Cooperation. The Tit-for-tat Strategy. Negotation. Third Party Intervention. Mediation. Arbitration. Chapter Summary. Review and Discussion Questions. Appendix 2: The Arms Race Matrix Game.
Chapter 13: Cooperation and Conflict between Groups. Objective and Perceived Conflict. Realistic Conflict. The Robber's Cave Study. Superordinate Goals. Perceived Conflict and Misperceptions. Reciprocated Aggression. The Ultimate Attribution Error. The Individual-group Discontinuity. Escalating Conflicts as a Result of Misperceptions. Potential Benefits of Competition. Persistence and Change of Negative Attitudes. Reducing Intergroup Conflict. Individuating Others. Decreasing Outgroup Homogeneity. Individuation and Interdependence. The Difficulty of Ignoring Categories. Changing Stereotypes and Prejudice through Intergroup Contact. The Contact Hypothesis. Desegregrating U.S. Schools. Experimental Evidence. Conditions that Foster Change through Contact. The Generalization Problem. Changing Social Norms. Changing Categorizations. Recategorization. The Extended-contact Hypothesis. Cooperation in the Classroom. Chapter Summary. Review and Discussion Questions. Glossary. References. Index.
Author Biography:
Charles Stangor is a Professor of Psychology in the Social Psychology Area at the University of Maryland, College Park. He holds a Ph.D. from NYU and is charter member of the American Psychological Society. He is a recipient of research grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and National Science Foundation. Research interests include stereotypes and prejudices, a topic upon which he edited a reader for Psychology Press.
© Taylor & Francis Group plc.
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