Theories about groups

Here are academic theories about how groups behave.

Epistemological Weighting Hypothesis: conformance depends on how closely our norms match group norms.

Conversion Theory: Minorities can convert majority people.

Group Locomotion Hypothesis: members are motivated to achieve group goals.

Groupthink: maintenance of group cohesion becomes all-important.

Normative Social Influence: basic group need forces us to conform.

Politeness Theory: we are nice where respect is needed (and vice versa).

Roles: we conform with shared expectations of behavior.

Social Impact Theory: conformance increases with importance, immediacy and number of others.

Social Norms: groups have rules that must be followed.

Pluralistic Ignorance: sometimes most people disagree with a group norm, but nobody speaks out.

In-Group Bias: we give group members preferential treatment.

Hostile Media Phenomenon: opposed groups see neutral people as biased.

Linguistic Inter-group Bias: Varying abstraction in communication.

Minority Influence: groups tolerate minorities, who should stick together.

Out-Group Homogeneity: seeing non-group people as 'all the same'.

Group Polarization Phenomenon: groups are more extreme in decisions.

Groupthink: maintenance needs leads to limited or blinkered decisions.

Persuasive Arguments Theory: to sway others in group, arguments tend to be extreme.

Risky Shift Phenomenon: groups take either more or less extreme risks.

Deindividuation: losing our sense of self in the crowd.

Group Attribution Error: groups attribute much like individuals do.

Minimum Group Theory: when in any group, people use group behavior.

Leader-Member Exchange Theory: leaders and members create tacit agreements.

Small World Theory: Six hops to anyone in the world.

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Theories about groups

The pressure to conform

In-group vs. out-group

Making decisions

Other group behavior

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