PSY 301 - 2 Discussion Questions

DISCUSSION QUESTION 1:

To prepare for this discussion, please read Chapter 8 (attached) (Feenstra, 2013).  In addition, read Milestones in the Psychological Analysis of Social Influence (Attached) (Crano, 2000) and watchPrudential: Everybody’s Doing It (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.(2013).  Finally, review Instructor Guidance and Announcements.  In this discussion, you will consider social influences on your own behavior.  Be sure to use your own academic voice (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. and apply in-text citations (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. appropriately throughout your post.

1. Consider your own social behavior and the various normative and informational social influences you encounter in everyday life.  Then, complete the following activities.

1. Appraise your behavior.  For 24 hours, keep a log of every behavior in which you engage that is due to conformity or obedience.
2. Select oneof the following:
   • Choose one mundane behavior from your log that is based on a social norm.  Violate this norm.  Be sure you are not breaking any rules or laws or putting yourself at risk in any way.  Here is a link to a number of examples, but feel free to come up with your own (or google search for additional ideas):  http://www.radford.edu/~jaspelme/social/examples_of_norm_violations.htm (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
   • Spend 24 hours living “A Day of Nonconformity”, living each minute as uninfluenced as possible (without infringing on the rights of others).  Strive to be your true, unfettered self.
3. Examineyour social influence log and your experience living a day of nonconformity/violating a social norm.  Include the following in your summary:
   • To what extent is your everyday behavior shaped by social influence? 
   • How do people react when you do not conform/obey?  What factors influence people to follow?

   DISCUSSION QUESTION 2

   To prepare for this discussion, please read Chapter 9 (attached) (Feenstra, 2013).  In addition, read One Hundred Years of Group Research: Introduction to the Special Issue (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (attached) (Forsyth, 2000).  Finally, review Instructor Guidance and Announcements.  In this discussion, you will consider your own experiences in a group setting.  Be sure to use your own academic voice (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. and apply in-text citations (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. appropriately throughout your post.

4. Do you love group work or hate it?  Formulate your position by synthesizing your own experiences, relatingspecific course concepts and research findings that support the merit of your view. 
   • For example, if you believe “two heads are better than one”, you might summarize work on the value of brainstorming.  If, however, you think “too many cooks spoil the broth”, you might relate the negative impact of groupthink.  Any concept in the chapter is appropriate to utilize for this discussion, and you may discuss more than one if applicable.
5. Explain how you might use this knowledge to influence other members and improve the overall function of a group in which you have been/are currently/will be a member.