Social Psychology

What is Social Psychology? Branch of psychology concerned with the way individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by others. Part 1 Person Perception & Stereotypes Attributions Part 2 Attitudes & Persuasion Social Influence

Person Perception Our impressions of other people We form opinions about people based on very little information

Who is more competent? A. Left B. Right

Who is friendlier? A. Left B. Right

Who is more sociable? A. Left B. Right

Who is more attractive? A. Left B. Right

Who is more attractive? A. Left B. Right

Who is more attractive? A. Left B. Right

Halo Effect A cognitive bias whereby the perception of one trait (i.e. a characteristic of a person or object) is influenced by the perception of another trait (or several traits) of that person or objectcognitive biastrait Example: Thinking a beautiful person is also intelligent

Stereotypes about attractive people There is little correlation between physical attractiveness and personality traits Why do we tend to incorrectly assume that beautiful people are smarter, more fun, and friendlier? Stereotypes: generalized beliefs and expectations about a particular group and its members

If you were a teacher, which students would you expect to be high achievers? A. Left B. Right “Thugs” “Punks” “Good Students”

Self-fulfilling Prophecy If a teacher thinks her students who dress a certain way lack ambition, she will treat them in a certain way that brings out a lack of ambition.

Is this a reason to have dress codes or uniforms? A. Yes B. No

Where do our stereotypes come from?

Johnny’s dad tells a bunch of racist jokes and his dad’s friends laugh hysterically. Now Johnny tells these jokes at school. A. Social Identity Theory B. Classical conditioning C. Observational learning D. Media’s influence

Melanie loves to watch The Sopranos. When she meets an Italian kid at school, she asks him if his dad is in the mafia. A. Social Identity Theory B. Classical conditioning C. Observational learning D. Media’s influence

Sandra comes from a family that is very proud of their African American heritage. Her grandmother has taught her that black is beautiful and that other races are not. She tells Sandra that she should only date and marry African American men. Sandra spends very little time around white people and has no interest in doing so. A. Social Identity Theory B. Classical conditioning C. Observational learning D. Media’s influence

Where does prejudice come from? Observational learning Media Social Identity Theory We use group membership as a sense of pride and self-worth, which can be good, but… This can result in hatred towards “out groups”

Stereotypes Widely held beliefs that people have certain characteristics because of their group membership Gender, Ethnic, Age, Sexual Orientation, and Occupational stereotypes Simplification at cost of accuracy stereotypes -> evaluations (prejudice) -> discrimination Putting someone in a small, distorted social box is limiting and insulting

Stereotypes cont. Why is it so hard to change people’s stereotypes? When someone who judges people using stereotypes (prejudice) meets a likeable member of the out-group, they consider this person the “exception to the rule.” How can they be changed? Equal-status, cooperative contact Research shows that personal contact with a disliked group at work/school can lead to mutual good feelings if there are not obvious differences in power or status

Have negative stereotypes about African Americans improved?

Doll Test Research nUFOns nUFOns

What have we covered so far? Person Perception Stereotypes About attractive people (and the Halo Effect) Self-fulfilling prophecy Origins of stereotypes Observational Learning Social Identity Theory Media Changing Stereotypes Doll Test Research

Everyday we form impressions about why people do what they do based on very small amounts of information. ATTRIBUTIONS

Attributions Our assumptions about why we and others do the things we do. We like to make sense of our world, so we make up explanations for why things happen. Influence our reactions toward others. Internal vs. external

How would you feel if your son wrecked your car because… It was snowing… External Attribution

How would you feel if your son wrecked your car because… He was speeding… Internal Attribution

The woman in line in front of you is using food stamps to pay for her purchases. If you had to choose one of the options below, which would you choose? A. She is lazy. B. She is uneducated. C. She is not intelligent. D. She got laid off.

If you have ever used food stamps, or if you use them in the future, which of the following would be the most likely reason? A. You are lazy. B. You are uneducated. C. You are not intelligent. D. You got laid off.

Think about the last time you got a bad grade. What was the main cause? A. It was my teacher’s fault. B. I didn’t study enough. C. I didn’t try hard enough. D. My motivation was low.

Think about the last time you got a good grade. What was the main cause? A. My teacher is easy. B. I studied really hard. C. My teacher gave clear instructions. D. I got lucky.

Errors in Attribution Mental shortcuts lead to mistakes. Common errors Fundamental attribution error When explaining other’s behavior, we overestimate the role of internal factors. Self-serving bias Good things - internal attributions Bad things - external attributions

According to the fundamental attribution error, which of the following would most people attribute someone’s financial problems (eg., food stamps)? A. The person is lazy. B. The person got laid off. C. The economy is poor. D. The person has been mistreated by society.

According to the self-serving bias, if you don’t do well in this class, what will be the reason? A. You didn’t study hard enough. B. You were unmotivated. C. Dr. Kelly is a bad teacher. D. You didn’t read the book.

According to the self-serving bias, WHEN YOU do well in this class, what will be the reason? A. You are smart. B. The class was easy. C. Dr. Kelly is a great teacher. D. The class was fair.

Attribution Concepts Attribution Errors Fundamental attribution error When explaining other’s behavior, we overestimate the role of internal factors. Self-serving bias Good things - internal attributions Bad things - external attributions

Next time… Attitudes & Persuasion Social influences Conformity Obedience