Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Psychology of 97 The behavior is driven by the deindividuating effects of group membership, and the diffusion of feelings of personal responsibility for the consequences. As part of this process, individuals become less self-aware and feel an increased sense of anonymity. As a result, they are less likely to feel responsible for any antisocial behavior performed by their group. Diffusion of responsibility can manifest itself in a group of people who, through action or inaction, allow events to occur which they would never allow if they were alone. Groupthink and group shift is where a group of people working on a task lose motivation, feel less responsibility for achievement of group goals, and hide their lack of effort in the group (social loafing). It applies in hierarchical organizations when subordinates claim to be simply following orders, and supervisors claim that they merely issue directives and do not perform the actions under question. The difficulty of identifying the culpable party is often seen in trials regarding crimes against humanity. Altruism- Is behavior aimed at unselfishly helping others and is the principle or practice of concern for the welfare of others. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures and a core aspect of various religious traditions and secular worldviews, though the concept of "others" toward whom concern should be directed, can vary among cultures and religions. Altruism or selflessness is the opposite of selfishness. Altruism can be distinguished from feelings of loyalty. Pure altruism consists of sacrificing something for someone other than the self (e.g. sacrificing time, energy or possessions) with no expectation of any compensation or benefits, either direct, or indirect (e.g., receiving recognition for the act of giving). Social Identities- According to social identity theory, prejudice stems from a need to enhance our self- esteem. Some experiments find that people express more prejudice after their self-esteem is threatened and that the opportunity to derogate others helps restore self-esteem. Acculturation- Explains the process of cultural change and psychological change that results following a meeting between cultures. The effects of acculturation can be seen at multiple levels in both interacting cultures. At the group level, acculturation often results in changes to culture, customs, and social institutions. Noticeable group level effects of acculturation often include changes in food, clothing, and language. At the individual level, differences in the way individuals acculturate have been shown to be associated, not just with changes in daily behavior, but with numerous measures of psychological and physical well-being. As enculturation is used to describe the process of first-culture learning, acculturation can be thought of as second-culture learning. Acculturation is thought to impact health by impacting levels of stress, access to health resources, and attitudes towards health. In situations of continuous contact, cultures have exchanged and blended foods, music, dances, clothing, tools, and technologies. Cultural exchange can either occur naturally through extended contact, or deliberately though cultural appropriation or cultural imperialism. In some instances, acculturation results in the adoption of another country's language, which is then modified over time to become a new, distinct, language. Ethnocentrism- Is judging another culture solely by the values and standards of one's own culture. Ethnocentric individuals judge other groups relative to their own ethnic group or culture, especially with regard to language, behavior, customs, and religion. These ethnic distinctions and subdivisions © 2015 Achieve Page 87