What is Social Psychology

Transcription

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2 What is Social Psychology Social psychology is a scientific concept that seeks to explain how the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals are influenced by the presence of others, or lack of others.

3 Social Cognition Definition study of how information about people is processed and stored. Our thoughts, perceptions, and beliefs about people are influenced by society and who we interact with.

4 Schemas Mental representations that influence how we perceive others Also known as concepts We pay more attention to people who portray characteristics that are consistent of our ideas about how they should behave in public

5 Script Expectation about how a certain event or situation should unfold Ex. After an good job interview, an applicant expects a call back

6 Self-fulfilling prophecy Our expectations cause us to unconsciously act in a manner to bring about behaviors that confirm our expectations Ex. Student who believes he/she cannot pass a test will not study as hard as needed Confirming that he/she is right

7 Attribution Process Process involves how we explain the causes of behavior Both our behavior and the behavior of others Two types Internal Attributions (Personal) External Attributions (Situational)

8 Internal Att. Explain an outcome by looking within and individual Example: I was able to accomplish my goal because I was able to break the larger goal into mini-goals that I could manage

9 External Att. Explain an outcome by looking outside the individual Fate Luck Chance

10 Factors that determine the type of attributions Distinctiveness uniqueness of response Consensus extent of general agreement Consistency how often does it occur or repeat

11 Biases in the attribution process Fundamental attribution Actor-observer bias Self-serving bias False consensus bias Just world hypothesis

12 Fundamental Attribution Overestimating internal influences and underestimating external influences when judging behavior of others. Ex. He is poor because he is lazy More likely to happen when you don t know the person well

13 Actor-Observer Bias Attributing one s own behavior to external (situational) causes and the behavior of others to (personal)factors. Ex. I was no prepared for the quiz because of a family emergency, but Sally was not prepared because she is not good at math.

14 Self-serving bias Tendency to attribute success to internal (personal) factors and failures to external (situational) factors. Example: I won the game because I am a great athlete We lost the game because the refs make bad calls

15 False consensus Tendency to think other people share our attitudes more than they actually do. Ex: I really like this one TV show, so I assume most of my peers lie it as well.

16 Just World Hypothesis Tendency to believe that good people are rewarded, and bad people are punished. Leads to blaming-the-victim effect Now for an activity

17 You already have notes over: Conformity Compliance Obedience

18 Pro-social Behaviors These are behaviors that are intended to benefit others. Altruism unselfish regard for other s welfare Various factors that influence helping and altruistic behaviors Good Samaritan Laws Bystander effect Diffusion of responsibility Empathy Costs

19 Factors Good Samaritan laws - Perception of the need to help We should help people that need help Do you think this is a social norm? Bystander effect we are less likely to help the more people are around can lead to diffusion of responsibility.

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21 What are each of these? Prejudice Discrimination Stereotypes Sexism

22 Prejudice Is a positive or negative attitude formed about others because of their membership in a group. Ex: being suspicious of someone because he/she is of a middle-eastern background Ex: Harvard graduates are held in higher esteem compared to other college graduates What do you think about these examples?

23 Discrimination Behavior that affects member of a targeted group Can be explained by prejudice: Ex. Female employees get paid less than male employees Refusing to serve someone because of.

24 Stereotypes Cognitive component of prejudice and discrimination Beliefs about a group are applied to all members of that group Can cause: Oversimplification Negativity Bias

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26 Sexism Prejudice directed at women because of their gender Benevolent sexism positive attitudes Hostile sexism negative attitudes Gender stereotypes Men are strong and independent Women are warm and emotional

27 Question Does sex sell?

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