chapter 16: social behavior the way individuals’ thoughts, feelings, & behavior are influenced...

Chapter 16: Social Behavior

Chapter 16: Social Behavior

The way individuals’ thoughts, feelings, &

behavior are influenced by others

The way individuals’ thoughts, feelings, &

behavior are influenced by others

1Chapter 16: Social Behavior

Social PsychologySocial Psychology

Person perception Attribution processes Interpersonal attraction Attitudes Conformity and obedience Behavior in groups

Person perception Attribution processes Interpersonal attraction Attitudes Conformity and obedience Behavior in groups

Chapter 16: Social Behavior 2

Person Perception:Forming Impressions of Others


Effects of physical appearance. We ascribe desirable personality characteristics &

more competent to those who are good looking. They have better jobs & get paid more.

Cognitive schemas. Social schemas. Are organized clusters of ideas

about categories of events & people. (Dates, meetings, dumb jokes)

Stereotypes. Are products of schemas shared by cultures, that

people have certain characteristics b/c of their membership of the group. (sex, age, ethnicity, job)

Effects of physical appearance. We ascribe desirable personality characteristics &

more competent to those who are good looking. They have better jobs & get paid more.

Cognitive schemas. Social schemas. Are organized clusters of ideas

about categories of events & people. (Dates, meetings, dumb jokes)

Stereotypes. Are products of schemas shared by cultures, that

people have certain characteristics b/c of their membership of the group. (sex, age, ethnicity, job)


Figure 16.1 Examples of social schemas

Figure 16.1 Examples of social schemas




Subjectivity in person perception. Perception is subjective to what they see & how they see it. Illusory Correlation. People overestimate the

encounters that confirm a stereotype and underestimate # of disconfirmations.

Selective Attention. Selectively recall facts that fit with their schemas & stereotypes.

Spotlight Effect. Assume that the social spotlight shines more brightly on them than it actually does.

Illusion of Asymmetric Insight. Tendency to think that their knowledge of their peers is greater then theirs peer knowledge of them.

Subjectivity in person perception. Perception is subjective to what they see & how they see it. Illusory Correlation. People overestimate the

encounters that confirm a stereotype and underestimate # of disconfirmations.

Selective Attention. Selectively recall facts that fit with their schemas & stereotypes.

Spotlight Effect. Assume that the social spotlight shines more brightly on them than it actually does.

Illusion of Asymmetric Insight. Tendency to think that their knowledge of their peers is greater then theirs peer knowledge of them.




Evolutionary perspectives. Argue that many biases seen in social perception were adaptive of humans’ ancestral environment. Categorizing traits, help us separate friend from foe. In-group. Us Out-group. Them

Evolutionary perspectives. Argue that many biases seen in social perception were adaptive of humans’ ancestral environment. Categorizing traits, help us separate friend from foe. In-group. Us Out-group. Them


Attribution Processes: Explaining Behavior


Attributions. Inferences that people draw about the causes of events, others’ behavior & their own behavior Internal. The cause of behavior to personal

dispositions, traits, abilities, & feelings. External. The cause of behavior is to situational

demands & environmental constraints. Weiner’s model of attributions

4 Types of Attributions for Success & Failure Lack of ability Inadequate effort Too much competition Bad Luck

Attributions. Inferences that people draw about the causes of events, others’ behavior & their own behavior Internal. The cause of behavior to personal

dispositions, traits, abilities, & feelings. External. The cause of behavior is to situational

demands & environmental constraints. Weiner’s model of attributions

4 Types of Attributions for Success & Failure Lack of ability Inadequate effort Too much competition Bad Luck




Biases in attributions Fundamental attribution error. Observer’s

bias in favor of internal attributions in explaining others’ behavior, actor favors external attribution.

Defensive attribution. Blame victims for their misfortune, so that you feel less likely to be victimized

Self-serving bias. Attribute your success to personal factors & failure to situational factors.

Biases in attributions Fundamental attribution error. Observer’s

bias in favor of internal attributions in explaining others’ behavior, actor favors external attribution.

Defensive attribution. Blame victims for their misfortune, so that you feel less likely to be victimized

Self-serving bias. Attribute your success to personal factors & failure to situational factors.


Figure 16.4 An alternative view of the fundamental attribution

error

Figure 16.4 An alternative view of the fundamental attribution

error




Cultural influences Individualism. Putting personal goals ahead of

group goals & defining one’s identity in terms of personal.

Collectivism. Putting group goals ahead of personal goals & defining one’s identity in terms of group.

Cultural influences Individualism. Putting personal goals ahead of

group goals & defining one’s identity in terms of personal.

Collectivism. Putting group goals ahead of personal goals & defining one’s identity in terms of group.


Close Relationships: Liking and LovingClose Relationships: Liking and Loving

Key factors in attraction Interpersonal Attraction. Positive feelings towards

another. Physical attractiveness. In the initial stage of dating it

continues to influence the course of commitment. Matching hypothesis. People of approximately equal

physical attractiveness are likely to select each other as partners.

Similarity. ”birds of a feather flock together” Reciprocity. Liking those who show that they like you. Romantic Ideals. People want their partner to measure

up to their ideals & we evaluate our partner to those standards.

Key factors in attraction Interpersonal Attraction. Positive feelings towards

another. Physical attractiveness. In the initial stage of dating it

continues to influence the course of commitment. Matching hypothesis. People of approximately equal

physical attractiveness are likely to select each other as partners.

Similarity. ”birds of a feather flock together” Reciprocity. Liking those who show that they like you. Romantic Ideals. People want their partner to measure

up to their ideals & we evaluate our partner to those standards.


Close Relationships: Liking and LovingClose Relationships: Liking and Loving

Perspectives on love Hatfield & Berscheid

Passionate love. Complete absorption in another intense emotions of ecstasy.

Companionate love. Warm, trusting, tolerant affection for another whose life is deeply intertwined.

Sternberg Intimacy. Warm, closeness & sharing in a

relationship Commitment. Intent to maintain a relationship

in spite of difficulties & costs that may arise.

Perspectives on love Hatfield & Berscheid

Passionate love. Complete absorption in another intense emotions of ecstasy.

Companionate love. Warm, trusting, tolerant affection for another whose life is deeply intertwined.

Sternberg Intimacy. Warm, closeness & sharing in a

relationship Commitment. Intent to maintain a relationship

in spite of difficulties & costs that may arise.


Figure 16.7 Infant attachment and romantic relationships

Figure 16.7 Infant attachment and romantic relationships


Attitudes and Attitude ChangeAttitudes and Attitude Change

3 components cognitive, affective, and behavioral

Factors in changing attitudes Source. Person who sends the communication Message. Info transmitted by the source. Receiver. The person whom the message is sent to.

Theories of attitude change Learning theory. Classical/Operant/Observational Cognitive Dissonance theory. Inconsistent & Contradicts Self-perception theory. Infer attitudes from behavior Elaboration likelihood model. Central Route/Peripheral Route

3 components cognitive, affective, and behavioral

Factors in changing attitudes Source. Person who sends the communication Message. Info transmitted by the source. Receiver. The person whom the message is sent to.

Theories of attitude change Learning theory. Classical/Operant/Observational Cognitive Dissonance theory. Inconsistent & Contradicts Self-perception theory. Infer attitudes from behavior Elaboration likelihood model. Central Route/Peripheral Route


Figure 16.9 The possible components of attitudesFigure 16.9 The possible components of attitudes


Figure 16.10 Overview of the persuasion process

Figure 16.10 Overview of the persuasion process


Figure 16.12 Cognitive Dissonance Festinger and Carlsmith (1959)

study

Figure 16.12 Cognitive Dissonance Festinger and Carlsmith (1959)

study


Figure 16.13 Bem’s self-perception theory

Figure 16.13 Bem’s self-perception theory


Conformity – Solomon Asch (1950s) When people yield to real or imagined social pressure Classic experiment

Group size. 2 to 4 participants increase Group unanimity. When pressure is on we

tend to follow the leader. Video Clip

Conformity – Solomon Asch (1950s) When people yield to real or imagined social pressure Classic experiment

Group size. 2 to 4 participants increase Group unanimity. When pressure is on we

tend to follow the leader. Video Clip


Yielding to Others: ConformityYielding to Others: Conformity

Obedience – Stanley Milgram (1960s)/ Philip Zimbardo (1973)

Form of compliance when following direct commands, usually from someone in a position of authority. Controversial landmark experiment “I was just following orders”

presence of a dissenter Video Clip

Obedience – Stanley Milgram (1960s)/ Philip Zimbardo (1973)

Form of compliance when following direct commands, usually from someone in a position of authority. Controversial landmark experiment “I was just following orders”

presence of a dissenter Video Clip


Yielding to Others: ObedienceYielding to Others: Obedience

The bystander effect - Darley and Latane (1968) People are less likely to help when they are in groups than when they are alone Diffusion of responsibility

Group productivity Social loafing. Reduction in effort by individuals when working in

groups as compared to when they work by themselves. Decision making in groups

Polarization. Occurs when group discussion strengthens a group’s dominant point of view & produces a shift towards a more extreme decision in that direction.

Groupthink. Occurs when members of a cohesive group emphasizes concurrence at the expense of critical thinking in arriving at a decision.

Cohesiveness. Refers to the strength of the liking relationships linking group members to each other & to the group itself.

The bystander effect - Darley and Latane (1968) People are less likely to help when they are in groups than when they are alone Diffusion of responsibility

Group productivity Social loafing. Reduction in effort by individuals when working in

groups as compared to when they work by themselves. Decision making in groups

Polarization. Occurs when group discussion strengthens a group’s dominant point of view & produces a shift towards a more extreme decision in that direction.

Groupthink. Occurs when members of a cohesive group emphasizes concurrence at the expense of critical thinking in arriving at a decision.

Cohesiveness. Refers to the strength of the liking relationships linking group members to each other & to the group itself.


Behavior in Groups:The Influence of Other People



Figure 16.21 The three potential components of prejudice as an

attitude

Figure 16.21 The three potential components of prejudice as an

attitude


Figure 16.22 Relationship between prejudice and

discrimination

Figure 16.22 Relationship between prejudice and

discrimination


Figure 16.23 Bias in the attributions used to explain

success and failure by men and women

Figure 16.23 Bias in the attributions used to explain

success and failure by men and women