Social Psychology Lesson 1 Intro – what is psychology? what is social psychology? Obedience

Introductions! Post it notes 3 things I can do to help you learn

Showbie - Groups 12A – HFWLU 12B – H93UA 12D – D6GZY

Print out the checklist! Year 12 of the course Miss Mawdsley Mrs Watts Social Psychology Behavioural Psychology (Learning) Cognitive Psychology Biological Psychology All topics Include: Research methods, statistics a practical project and a Key Question.

Course Structure - Social Social Psychology Obedience Prejudice Key studies (2) Research methods (including maths/stats) Practical (questionnaire)

What is Psychology? Pop Psychology – theories or concepts that may or may not have basis in psychology Can be oversimplified based on anecdotal evidence and popular beliefs – unsupported claims Scientific psychology- based on documented research evidence Activity ----

Psychology – how is it considered a science? Empirical methods – means information gained through direct observation or experiment To collect facts Does not rely on beliefs Important – anyone can make claims ‘Direct testing’ i.e. Observation and experiments High control over variables

Back to Social Psychology! The Social approach In pairs – take turns to describe yourselves to each other. Who are you? What did you notice? Social roles Groups Social identity/group identity

In pairs – discuss what you think social psychology is about

Do other people influence us. Do we influence other people Do other people influence us? Do we influence other people? How do people affect us? How do we interact with others? How do we interact and behave in groups? Do groups influence the way in which we think or behave? How do groups affect us? How does culture influence our behaviour? What role does society play in a person’s thinking or behaviour?

You can use the books to help – but don’t copy! In pairs discuss the diagrams and come up with a description of social psychology. You can use the books to help – but don’t copy! We will go through answers together and you must have notes on this section as you may be required to define or describe social psychology. Behaviour is affected by their experiences within a society and culture, where they are members of certain groups.

Gordon Allport, social psychology is a discipline that uses scientific methods "to understand and explain how thoughts, feelings and behaviour of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined or implied presence of other human beings" (1985). Social perception and social interaction are also vital to understanding social behaviour. Social psychology looks at a wide range of social topics, including obedience, prejudice, group behaviour, social perception, leadership and conformity.

Obedience

What is obedience? 2 minute discussion In your own words – what is obedience? When did you last obey someone? Who were they? What do you think makes people obey?

Key words are very important Obedience A type of social influence where someone acts in response to a direct order usually given by someone considered to have more authority than themselves Key words are very important

Authority figures – examples?

Why are we more likely to obey a legitimate authority figure? What makes them a legitimate authority figure?

Who are you more likely to obey, and why? 1. A fireman in uniform approaches you in the street and tells you to cross to the other side of the street immediately 2. You volunteer to contribute ideas to a book, for which you’re being paid, and in your first session another volunteer tells you to step on snails and then write about the experience

Obedience – Milgram Why is obedience seen to be important in society? Society is hierarchal in nature Survival function Social order and harmony Without obedience there would be challenges to social order Societal breakdown

Why Study Obedience? Why do people suspend moral judgements and carry out an order that is inhumane or destructive? “The Nazi extermination of European Jews is the most extreme instance of abhorrent immoral acts carried out by thousands of people in the name of obedience” - Stanley Milgram At the time historians were under the impression that the Nazi soldiers had a character flaw that made them more obedient to orders. Follow orders – exterminate Jews Authority figure Eichman – mild mannered not the monster everyone assumed. “Could it be that Eichmann and his million accomplices in the Holocaust were just following orders? Could we call them all accomplices?" (Milgram, 1974).

Reminder about the homework policy! You will have a review every 5 lessons (approx.) This means you are responsible for reviewing the content from each lesson and assessing your understanding Revising as you go rather than all at the last minute