Social Psychology

Social PsychologySocial PsychologyThe branch of psychology that studies the effects of social variables and cognitions on individual behavior and social interactions.Social ContextThe combination of people, the activities and interactions among people, the setting in which behavior occurs, and the expectations and social norms governing behavior in that setting.SituationismThe view that environmental conditions influence peoples behavior as much as or more than their personal dispositions do.Social Standards of BehaviorSocial Roles One of several socially defined patterns of behavior that are expected of persons in a given setting or groupScript A cluster of knowledge about the sequences of events and actions expected to occur in a particular settingSocial Standards of BehaviorSocial Norms A groups expectations regarding what is appropriate and acceptable for its members attitudes and behaviors.ConformityConformity The tendency for people to adopt the behaviors, attitudes, and opinions of other members of a group.Asch Effect A form of Conformity in which a group majority influences individual judgments.Based on the findings of Solomon Asch

Group Characteristics that Produce ConformityThe size of the majorityThe presence of a partner who disented from the majorityThe size of the discrepancyConformityGroupthink Members of the group attempt to conform their opinions to what each believes to be the consensus of the group.Conditions that influence groupthink:Isolation of the groupHigh group cohesivenessDirective leadershipLack of norms requiring methodical proceduresHomogeneity of members social background and ideologyHigh stress from external threats with low hope of a better solution than that of the group leaderThe Stanford Prison ExperimentExplaining the power of social situations in controlling behavior!Obedience to AuthorityMilgrams Obedience Experiment2/3 delivered the maximum shock of 450 volts!!!Even though the participants verbally dissented, they continued giving the shocks WHY???Obedience to AuthorityConditions under which people tend to be obedient:When a peer modeled obedience by complying to the authority figures commandsWhen the victim was remote from the teacher and could not be seen or heardWhen the teacher was under direct surveillance of the authority figure so that he was aware of the authority figures presenceWhen a participant acted as an intermediary bystander, merely assisting the one who was delivering the shock, rather than actually throwing the switchesWhen the authority figure had higher relative status (being billed as a professor or doctorThe Bystander ProblemKitty Genovese incident:Raped and stabbed to death in Queens, NY while 38 people watched from their windows. Only one person called the police, after the incident was over.

The Bystander ProblemDiffusion of responsibility Dilution or weakening of each group members obligation to act when responsibility is perceived to be shared with all group members.Interpersonal AttractionWe usually prefer rewarding relationshipsReward Theory of Attraction A social-learning view that says we like best those who give us maximum rewards at minimum cost.Interpersonal AttractionProximity Nearness. Principle of Proximity The notion that people at work will make more friends among those who are nearby with whom they have the most contact. Interpersonal AttractionSimilaritySimilarity Principle The notion that people are attracted to those who are most similar to themselves.Interpersonal AttractionSelf-Disclosure The more intimate details we share about our lives with someone, the more attracted we become to them.Most people find self disclosure highly rewarding.Builds trust, which leads to attraction.Interpersonal AttractionPhysical Attraction Although we may say it doesnt matter, research shows that it actually does.Matters in how people perceive usGetting a jobChildrenPhysically attractive people are often seen as more poised, interesting, sociable, independent, exciting, sexual, intelligent, well-adjusted, and successful.Also sometimes perceived as more vain and materialistic.Same for opposite and same sex couplesInterpersonal AttractionExpectations and the Influence of Self-EsteemMatching Hypothesis The prediction that most people will find friends and mates that are perceived to be of about their same level of attractiveness.Expectancy-value Theory A theory of social psychology that people decide whether to pursue a relationship by weighing the potential value of the relationship against their expectation of success in establishing the relationship.Interpersonal AttractionAttraction and Self-JustificationCognitive Dissonance A highly motivated state in which people have conflicting cognitions, especially when their voluntary actions conflict with their attitudes.Making Cognitive AttributionsFundamental Attribution Error The tendency to emphasize internal causes and ignore external pressures.FAE is more common in individualistic cultures than in collectivistic cultures.Making Cognitive AttributionsBiased thinking about yourselfSelf-serving bias An attributional pattern in which one takes credit for success but denies responsibility for failure.Prejudice and DiscriminationPrejudice A negative attitude toward an individual based solely on his or her membership in a particular group.Prejudice and DiscriminationDiscrimination A negative action taken against an individual as a result of his or her group membership.Prejudice and DiscriminationDissimilarity and Social DistanceIn-group The group with which an individual identifies.Social Distance The perceived difference or similarity between oneself and another person.Out-group Those outside the group with which an individual identifies. Prejudice and DiscriminationScapegoating Blaming an innocent person or a group for ones own troubles.Example Adolf Hitler used the Jews as a scapegoat for Germanys problems following WWI.Other Topics in Social PsychologySocial Facilitation An increase in an individuals performance because of being in a group.Social Loafing A decrease in performance because of being in a group.Deindividuation Occurs when group members lose their sense of personal identity and responsibility and the group assumes responsibility for their behavior.Other Topics and Social PsychologyGroup Polarization When individuals in a group have similar, though not identical, views, their opinions become more extreme.Groupthink An excessive tendency to seek concurrence among group members.

Other Topics in Social PsychologyLoving relationshipsRomantic Love A temporary and highly emotional condition based on infatuation and sexual desire.Triangular Theory of Love A theory that describes various kinds of love in terms of three components:Passion (erotic attraction)Intimacy (sharing feelings and confidences)Commitment (dedication to putting this relationship first in ones life)The Roots of Violence and AggressionViolence and Aggression Terms that refer to behavior that is intended to cause harm.The Robbers Cave: An Experiment in ConflictCohesiveness Solidarity, loyalty, and a sense of group membership.Mutual Interdependence A shared sense that individuals or groups need each other in order to achieve common goals.How did this end?TerrorismThe use of violent, unpredictable acts by a small group against a larger group for political, economic, or religious goals.Very psychological in nature because in essence terrorism is an attempt to control the minds of their enemies by making them feel victimized and fearful.