Coercive power is a form of social influence based on the threat of punishment or the actual application of negative consequences. In a workplace context, this might include disciplinary actions, withholding bonuses, or denying requests. It is one of the five bases of power identified by French and Raven, and it functions primarily through the fear of negative outcomes to ensure compliance from subordinates.
82
Which social psychological concept is demonstrated by a study where college students received more traffic citations after displaying a bumper sticker associated with a militant black organization?
Discrimination refers to the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex. In this study, the act of issuing citations based on the group affiliation displayed on the bumper sticker represents a behavioral manifestation of discrimination against that specific group.
83
Which psychological phenomenon explains why bystanders might fail to intervene in an emergency, such as the Kitty Genovese case?
Diffusion of responsibility occurs when individuals feel less personal accountability to act in an emergency because other people are present. The assumption is that someone else will take action, which often leads to collective inaction. This concept was famously studied following the tragic murder of Kitty Genovese, highlighting how group size influences individual prosocial behavior.
84
Which psychological phenomenon describes the tendency for individuals to comply with a large request after first agreeing to a smaller, more manageable one?
The foot-in-the-door effect is a compliance strategy where a small initial request is used to gain agreement, which increases the likelihood that the individual will subsequently agree to a larger, more significant request due to the psychological need for consistency in one's actions.
85
What is the term for a label used to devalue or discredit members of a deviant group?
A stigma is a powerful negative social label that radically changes a person's self-concept and social identity. When individuals are labeled as deviant, they may be subjected to social exclusion or discrimination. This process of stigmatization serves as a mechanism of social control, reinforcing norms by marking those who violate them as 'other' or inferior.
86
What primary psychological factor have researchers identified as a major contributor to bystander apathy or the failure to intervene in emergencies?
Diffusion of responsibility occurs when individuals feel less personal accountability to act because others are present. In emergency situations, the presence of other bystanders leads each person to assume that someone else will take action, which significantly reduces the likelihood of any single individual intervening to help the victim.
87
Which theorist proposed that criminal behavior is acquired through social interactions?
Edwin Sutherland developed the theory of differential association, which posits that criminal behavior is learned through social interaction. According to this perspective, individuals acquire the techniques, motives, and rationalizations for committing crimes by associating with others who hold pro-criminal attitudes, rather than through biological or psychological traits alone.
88
What does the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) propose regarding the durability of attitude change?
The Elaboration Likelihood Model distinguishes between two routes to persuasion. The central route involves deep, thoughtful processing of the message's content, which leads to stronger, more resistant, and more enduring attitude changes. In contrast, the peripheral route relies on superficial cues like attractiveness or status, which typically result in temporary and less stable changes in attitude.
89
What is the term for the psychological process of adjusting one's attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors to align with perceived group norms?
Conformity is a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behavior in order to fit in with a group. This change is in response to real or imagined group pressure, often driven by the desire to be liked or the desire to be correct in a social context.
90
Which psychological phenomenon involves directing displaced aggression toward a vulnerable target, often resulting in prejudice?
Scapegoating occurs when an individual or group blames a less powerful 'out-group' for their own frustrations or societal problems. This process allows the aggressor to displace their negative emotions onto a target that is unable to retaliate effectively. It is a common mechanism underlying prejudice and intergroup conflict, as it provides a simple, albeit irrational, outlet for pent-up aggression and stress.
