Question

During an inter-school science exhibition,

Riya, who usually works efficiently when alone, noticed a drop in her productivity while working with a team.
Her friend Arjun, however performed much better during the final group presentation than he did during rehearsals.
Meanwhile, during a debate on climate change, the group members who initially had mild views became more extreme after discussing their options together.
While playing tug of war, only Riya's teammates contributed less efforts in the group task compared to working alone. Based on the above situation, identify and explain any four psychological concepts related to group influence on individual behaviour.

Hint:

Social Loafing = Decreased effort (Tug of war).
Social Facilitation = Increased effort (Audience presence).
Group Polarization = Extreme views (Post-discussion).

Answer 1

1. Social Loafing:
Riya's teammates contributed less effort in the group task of tug of war compared to working alone. This is an example of social loafing, which occurs when individuals exert less effort in a group task than when they are working alone. Social loafing typically happens when individuals feel their individual contribution is less identifiable and may not be as impactful as that of others in the group.

2. Social Facilitation:
Arjun's improved performance during the final group presentation compared to rehearsals is an example of social facilitation. This psychological concept suggests that people perform better on simple or well-practiced tasks when they are in the presence of others. Arjun may have felt motivated or energized by the presence of his group members, which enhanced his performance.

3. Group Polarization:
During the debate on climate change, the group members became more extreme in their views after discussing their options together. This is an example of group polarization, which refers to the tendency for group discussions to lead to more extreme attitudes or decisions than individuals might have formed on their own. Group polarization occurs because members reinforce each other's beliefs, leading to an exaggeration of initial views.

4. The Ringelmann Effect:
Riya, who works efficiently alone, noticed a drop in productivity while working with a team. This is an example of the Ringelmann effect, which occurs when individuals' efforts decrease as the size of the group increases. The effect is commonly seen in tasks requiring collective effort, like group work, where individuals feel less personally accountable and contribute less as part of a larger group.