Attitude, Conformity and Obedience Social Psychology Attitude, Conformity and Obedience
Bell Ringer Discussion: Does attitude follow behavior or does behavior follow attitude?
objective Identify what social psychologists study. Discuss how we tend to explain others’ behavior and our own. Describe automatic mimicry, and explain how conformity experiments reveal the power of social influence.
Fundamental Attribution Error Personal effects Behavior changes with the situation Social effects Ex: Friendships, jury, voters Economic effects Ex: Poverty and unemployment
attitude Peripheral v. central route persuasion Persuasion changes attitude = changed behavior Attitude follows behavior Foot-in-the-door phenomenon Ex: temptation, facial expressions Techniques: low-ball, brainwashing, write-it-down, “fifty-words-or-less” Role playing morphs into real life Cognitive dissonance theory Ex: US invasion of Iraq
Conformity The chameleon effect empathy = good and bad Solomon Asch, why we conform Normative social influence Informational social influence Cross-cultural = W. Europeans (ind.), Latin Am., Asia, Africa (group)
obedience Stanley Milgram brings controversy = stress, deception Replication Jerry Burger (2009) slight decrease Historical examples The Holocaust The “Birkenhead drill” Lesson learned… “Do I adhere to my own standards or respond to others?”
Group Behavior/Prejudice and Discrimination Social Psychology
Bell Ringer The Cave Rescue Mission – Working with your group, read the biographical information about the individuals to be rescued and rank the 6 trapped individuals in order of their rescue.
Objective Determine how our behavior is affected by the presence of others. Describe how behavior is influenced by cultural norms. Identify the social, emotional and cognitive roots of prejudice.
The Presence of Others – the Good and the Bad Norman Triplett (1898) Social facilitation arousal amplifies actions Ex: the “home advantage”, crowding Bibb Latane (1981) Social loafing
The Presence of others – The good and the Bad Adverse effects of SF/SL deindividuation Ex: tribal warriors, Internet bullies Beliefs strengthen with group polarization Separation+ Conversation = Polarization Desire for harmony = group think
The roots of prejudice Prejudice = attitude Discrimination = behavior Social Just-world phenomenon Ingroup/outgroup Emotional Scapegoat theory Cognitive Other-race effect
Aggression, Attraction, Conflict Social Psychology
Bell Ringer Does the media have an affect on how violent we are? What causes aggression? What attracts you to friends/significant other? Why do you help others out? When are you most likely?
Objectives Outline biopsychosocial triggers of aggression. Explain why we befriend or fall in love with some people but not others. Discuss how social traps and mirror-image perceptions fuel social conflict
Aggression Genetics Neural Biochemical Psychosocial Reinforcement Found in twin studies Neural Amygdala, frontal lobe Biochemical Testosterone Psychosocial Frustration- aggression principle Reinforcement Passive parents Social scripts
Aggression Media “We are what we repeatedly do.” Video games Hostile Desensitized Dehumanized perceptions
Discussion Determine the persons level of attraction on a scale of 1-10. If you had to assume, what is their likelihood of success (income, friends, career)?
Attraction Mere-exposure effect Adrenaline makes the heart grow fonder Familiarity breeds fondness Survival value Similarity and proximity Adrenaline makes the heart grow fonder Equity and self- disclosure are key
Conflict Kitty Genovese (1964) John Darley & Bibb Latane (1968) – the bystander effect Happiness breeds helpfulness Norms Social exchange theory Reciprocity norm Social responsibility norm
Conflict: Causes and Resolutions Mirror-image perceptions lead to self-fulfilling prophecy Peace is promoted through contact, cooperation, communication and conciliation