© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 13 Social Psychology

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter Preview Social Cognition Social Behavior Social Influence Intergroup Relations Close Relationships Social Psychology and Health and Wellness

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Psychology the study of how people think about, influence, and relate to other people social cognitions social influences social relations

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Cognition How do people select, interpret, remember, and use social information? Person Perception physical attractiveness -“Beautiful is good” stereotype - self-fulfilling prophecy - composite faces, symmetry, and youthfulness first impressions

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Cognition Attributions …explanations for why people behave the way they do Attribution Theory …attempt to discover underlying causes of behavior - internal/external causes - stable/unstable causes - controllable/uncontrollable causes

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Cognition Attribution Errors observers often explain actors’ behaviors incorrectly fundamental attribution error - overestimate the importance of internal traits - underestimate the importance of external causes actors often explain own behavior in terms of external causes

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Fundamental Attribution Error

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Cognition Heuristics …cognitive shortcuts that speed decision making stereotypes false consensus effect - overestimating the degree to which everyone else thinks or acts the way we do - use our outlook to predict that of others

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The Self as a Social Object Self-Esteem positive illusions – views of ourselves that are not necessarily rooted in reality self-serving bias – tendency to take credit for success and deny responsibility for failure self-objectification – tendency to see oneself primarily as an object in the eyes of others

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Cognition Stereotype Threat a self-fulfilling fear about being judged on the basis of a negative stereotype about our group Social Comparison process by which we evaluate our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and abilities in relation to other people social comparison theory

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Attitudes Attitudes are beliefs about people, places, and ideas. Can attitudes predict behavior? … when attitudes are strong …when attitudes are rehearsed …when person has vested interest Can behavior predict attitudes? …cognitive dissonance and self perception

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Cognitive Dissonance Theory Discomfort caused by two dissonant thoughts thoughts of ones attitude v. ones behavior Dissonance reduced by changing behaviors to match attitude changing attitudes to match behavior

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Self-Perception Theory Individuals make inferences about their own attitudes by perceiving their own behavior, especially if their attitudes are unclear. Both cognitive dissonance and self- perception theory explain the connection between attitudes and behavior.

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Attitudes and Behavior

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Persuasion The Communicator (credibility) - trustworthiness, expertise, attractiveness, likeability, similarity Medium (television versus print) The Target (age, attitude, strength) Message (rational versus emotional strategy) - elaboration likelihood model: central & peripheral routes

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Persuasion Successful Persuasion foot-in-the-door technique door-in-the-face technique Resisting Persuasion inoculation

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Behavior we behave in social ways toward the people around us two extremes of human social activity… - altruism - aggression

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Altruism …an unselfish interest in helping someone else Egoism …helping others for personal enhancement (e.g., to ensure reciprocity ) Prosocial Behavior

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Explanations of Altruism evolutionary psychological factors mood empathy sociocultural factors market economies investment in established religion gender Prosocial Behavior

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The Bystander Effect Darley and Latané (1968) individuals are less likely to help in an emergency when others are present diffusion of responsibility Media Influence Prosocial Behavior

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Biological Influences evolutionary views genetic basis neurobiological factors limbic system and frontal lobes of brain low levels of serotonin testosterone Aggression

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Psychological Influences aversive circumstances - frustration - weather, physical pain, crowding cognitive determinants - priming - perception of unfairness observational learning Aggression

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sociocultural Influences cultural variations culture of honor media violence television violent pornography violent video games Aggression

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Reducing Aggression decrease rewards lessen exposure encourage empathy monitor adolescents’ activity Aggression

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Influence: Conformity Asch’s Experiment (1951) factors that contribute to conformity - informational social influence - normative social influence Cognitive Neuroscience fMRI images - when women found others disagreed, they responded as mistakes

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Influence: Conformity

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Influence: Obedience Milgram’s Experiments (1965, 1974) factors that contribute to disobedience - disobedient models - authority figure not legitimate or not close by - victim made to seem more human ethical concerns regarding Milgram - deception

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Influence: Obedience

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Influence Deindividuation erosion of personal identity and responsibility anonymity Social Contagion spread of behavior, emotions, and ideas Group Performance social facilitation: arousal with well-learned tasks social loafing: reduced accountability

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Decision Making Risky Shift group decisions are riskier than average individual decisions Group Polarization discussion strengthens the individual’s position

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Group Decision Making Groupthink group harmony impaired decision making and avoidance of realistic appraisal symptoms of groupthink avoiding groupthink Majority-Minority Influence majority: normative and informational pressure minority: informational pressure

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Intergroup Relations Group Identity - us versus them Social Identity - define ourselves in terms of group membership Social Identity Theory - in-groups versus out-groups Ethnocentrism - favoring one’s own group over other groups

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Identity

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Prejudice an unjustified negative attitude toward a group and its members explicit versus implicit racism explanations for prejudice  competition between groups  cultural learning  motivation to enhance self-esteem  limitations in cognitive processes

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Stereotyping and Prejudice Stereotype …a generalization about a group Discrimination …an unjustified negative or harmful action How can relationships between ethnic groups be improved?

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Stereotyping and Prejudice Improving Interethnic Relations Contact Only is Not Effect Works best if groups: - think they are of equal status - feel an authority figure approves positive relations - anticipate emergent friendship - engage in cooperative tasks Sherif’s robbers cave study Aronson’s jigsaw classroom

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sherif’s Robbers Cave Study

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Close Relationships Attraction proximity - mere exposure effect - promise of acquaintanceship we like those who like us similarity - consensual validation

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Close Relationships: Love Romantic Love passionate love sexuality and infatuation Affectionate Love companionate love deep caring affection

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Close Relationships: Love Social Exchange Theory fair exchange of “goods” minimize costs, maximize benefits Investment Model factors in stability of relationship - commitment to partner - investment in relationship - lack of attractive alternatives

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Psychology and Health and Wellness Social Ties and Health isolation and mortality social support and coping Fighting Loneliness join activities with others act pleasant get help

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter Summary Describe the influences on people’s perceptions and attributions of others. Identify how people are influenced in social settings. Discuss inter-group relations. Explain the nature of close relationships. Describe social processes affecting health and wellness.

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter Summary Social Psychology study of how we think about, influence, and relate to other people Social Cognition person perception attribution and the fundamental attribution error heuristics self-esteem attitudes – cognitive dissonance/self perception

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter Summary Persuasion Prosocial Behavior altruism bystander effect media influence Aggression biological influences psychological influences sociocultural influences

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter Summary Social Influence conformity – Asch’s study obedience – Milgram’s study group influence - deindividuation, social contagion, group performance - group decision making Intergroup Relations social identity prejudice and stereotyping

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter Summary Close Relationships attraction – proximity and similarity romantic (passionate) love affectionate (companionate) love social exchange theory and investment model Social Psychology and Health and Wellness social ties and health