Social Psychology The words…

Social Psychology The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another

Social Thinking First up…Attributing Behaviors to People or Situations

Attribution Theory Give an explanation for someone’s behavior– often by crediting either the situation or the person’s disposition “That child is mean because he was an abused child.” “That child is mean because he has an aggressive personality.”

Attribution Theory Your teacher is impatient and quick to scold. “The teacher is impatient because they are under financial stress at home.” “The teacher is impatient because he has quick tempered personality.”

Attribution Theory Tiger Woods is a cheater and an adulterer. Situational: “Tiger is a cheetah because _______________.” Dispositional: “Tiger is a cheetah because _______________.”

Fundamental Attribution Error You meet a woman at a sales meeting and you assume that she is overly friendly because she is a nice person– never thinking that she is trying to make a sale. To underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition

Fundamental Attribution Error Describe any of these people… To underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition

Fundamental Attribution Error How do you explain poverty or unemployment? Poor people are lazy??? Poor people are dumb??? There are plenty of jobs out there… get one!!!

Someone is driving erratically Situational Attribution “Maybe that person is sick” “Maybe their passenger is having a problem” Response: proceed with caution and allow the driver more room. Dispositional Attribution “Crazy Driver” “Road Rage” “Out of Control Teenager” Response: Speed up and race past the driver while giving him the finger and a dirty look

Someone is driving erratically

The Effects of Attribution Social Effects? Political Effects? Workplace Effects?

Your spouse made a mean comment about the meal you prepared… Happily Married Couple would say… Unhappily Married Couple would say…

Your spouse made a mean comment about the meal you prepared… Happily Married Couple would say… “They must have had a horrible day at work…” Unhappily Married Couple would say… “Why did I marry such a mean and ungrateful person?”

Attitudes and Actions Finish this sentence (honestly)… School is an opportunity to __________.

Attitude How might different attitudes respond to this photograph?

Attitude It would depend on these questions… Do you know anyone who is gay? What are you religious/political beliefs? Have you read any scientific research about the topic?

Attitude A belief and feeling that predisposes one to respond in a particular way to objects, people, and events Can changing a person’s attitude change their behavior?

Attitude Our attitudes will guide our actions if… Outside influences on what we say and do are minimal The attitude is specifically relevant to the behavior We are keenly aware of our attitudes

Attitude

Do our actions or behaviors affect our attitude? Many people come to believe in what they have stood up for. Attitude follows behavior.

My Favorite Sports Cliché that works here… “Fake it ‘till you make it”

Foot-in-the-door phenomenon When asked to display a large “Drive Carefully” sign only 17%-yes. Nearly all agreed to a 3-inch “Be a safe driver” When re-approached 2 weeks later, 76% agreed to post the large “Drive Carefully” sign The tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a large request.

Door-in-face Phenomenon The tendency for people who say no to a huge request, to comply with a smaller one. You ask mom for a Hummer Convertible. NO… But she may buy you dessert at Sweet Frogs.

Role Playing affects attitudes Some may feel phony “playing house” for the first 3 weeks after marriage, but soon enough the behavior does not feel forced. Some feel strange “playing soldier” for the first month of boot camp, but eventually you become a soldier. Imagine what it was like for me to walk into the classroom at 22 years young. Now what?

Role Playing affects attitudes This year may be a turning point for some of you. With College on the horizon, what do you really desire to be? What personal flaws would you like to get rid of? You can change– but it may take a little role playing.

Philip Zimbardo’s Prison Study Students were either guards (with uniforms, clubs, and whistles) or prisoners (in uniform) Students were encourages to “play their roles” Most of the guards developed disparaging attitudes and some devised cruel routines. Some of the prisoners broke down and resigned. Zimbardo had to call off the experiment

Cognitive Dissonance Theory The theory that we act to reduce the discomfort (dissonance) we feel when two of our thoughts (cognition) are inconsistent. When we are aware that our attitudes and actions don’t coincide. You are an actor plugging a product that may cause harm– like ephedrine.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory The theory that we act to reduce the discomfort (dissonance) we feel when two of our thoughts (cognition) are inconsistent. Could you defend this child molester in court?

Cognitive Dissonance Theory The theory that we act to reduce the discomfort (dissonance) we feel when two of our thoughts (cognition) are inconsistent.

Social Influence

Conformity Adjusting one’s behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard

Conformity Adjusting one’s behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard

Conformity

Solomon Asch’s Study

Conditions that strengthen conformity One is made to feel incompetent The group has at least 3 people The group is unanimous One admires the group’s status and attractiveness One has made no prior commitment to any response Others in the group observe one’s behavior One’s culture strongly encourages respect for social standards

An illegally parked car… Will give permission for others to park illegally as well!

Reasons for Conforming Normative Social Influence Influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid disappointment Informational Social Influence Influence resulting from one’s willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality

Normative Social Influence Influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval We understand social norms- or rules for accepted behavior. We do not want to attract attention for being different.

What do you think?

Informational Social Influence Influence resulting from one’s willingness to accept other’s opinions about reality (which we sometime think are facts) When we are unsure what is right, and when being right matters, we become receptive to others’ opinions… How many eat 5 fruits and vegetables every day? Surgeon general suggests it! I am supposed to drench my eyes with moisturizer to avoid wrinkles!

Informational Social Influence What sorts of things are we supposed to do because experts tell us they are good for us? Hour of sleep per night How often to wash hair Stretching before exercise

Reasons for Conforming Normative Social Influence Informational Social Influence

Obedience, Milgram’s Experiments

Obedience… Stanley Milgram Yale University Study- Men aged 20-50, fully complied 63% Similar results with women

Milgram’s Obedience Study

Lessons from Stanley Milgram’s Study He exploited the foot-in-the-door effect. The learner’s moral sense warned them not to harm other people, but it also prompted them to obey the experimenter and be a good research participant. Strong social influences can make people become agents in a terrible destructive process.