Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Psychology by David G. Myers 9 th Edition Introducing Social Psychology

Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Psychology “We cannot be distinguished from our situations, for they form us and decide our possibilities” –Jean Paul Sartre

Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. What is Social Psychology? –Social Psychology is a science that studies the influence of our situations, with special attention to how we view and affect one another. –It is the science of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another. What is the difference between Sociology and Social Psychology? –Social Psychology focuses on individuals while Sociology focuses on people in groups and societies.

Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Psychology Social Psychology is still a very young field. –The first Social Psychology experiments were reported in –It did not emerge as a vibrant field until after World War II.

Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Questions Asked By Social Psychologists How much of our world is on our head? –How you construe what’s going on Would people be cruel if ordered? –Holocaust –Stanley Milgram Experiement To Help? Or to help oneself? –How many of you would help? Why would you or wouldn’t you help? –

Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Psychology What are the main areas of research today? 1. Social Thinking 2. Social Influence 3. Social Relations

Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Psychology’s Big Ideas We construct our social reality: –As humans we like to explain behavior and attribute it to some cause to make it seem more orderly, predictable, and controllable. –In other words, we interpret events and experiences differently, based on our attitudes and beliefs which develop from our families, cultures, neighborhoods, and other social forces. –We tend to explain other peoples’ behaviors to suit our own needs. Have you ever tried to explain anyone’s behavior? What are some examples? –How we react to a friend’s insult can vary depending on whether we think they are being hostile or having a bad day.

Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Psychology’s Big Ideas Our social intuitions are sometimes powerful, but sometimes perilous –Our intuitions shape our fears (is flying dangerous?), impressions (can I trust this person?), and relationships (does she like me?) –Our intuitions are powerful, but can also be wrong

Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Psychology’s Big Ideas Social Influences Shape Our Behavior: –We are social animals, we speak and think in words we learned from others. We long to connect, to belong, and to be thought of. –In an experiment conducted by Matthias, Mehl, and Pennebaker (2005), it was noted that 30% of student’s time during the week was spent in conversation. –Sometimes the power of a social event causes us to act in ways that depart from our expressed attitudes. –Our cultures help define our situations: Whether you prefer slim or voluptuous women Whether you are expressive or reserved Whether you focus more on yourself or others

Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Psychology’s Big Ideas Personal Attitudes and Dispositions Also Shape Behavior –Our inner attitudes affect our behavior –Your attitude towards smoking can play a role on whether you give in to peer pressure –What comes first the pressure or the attitude?

Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Psychology’s Big Ideas Social Behavior is Biologically Rooted: –Some social behaviors may be biologically rooted

Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. What Shapes our Behaviors? Our behaviors toward others are shaped by: 1. Cultural values about what is “right” or “wrong” 2. Personal values and opinions (which may result from stereotyping others or from what our parents tell us about certain types of people) 3. Personality traits (such as being friendly, generous, open-minded, hostile)

Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. What Shapes our Behaviors? We often respond positively to others who are similar in gender, culture, profession, and recreational interests. We may treat others negatively due to stereotypes about a certain ethnic group or a certain occupation. We respond to others in a reciprocal manner, in that our actions affect others, and their actions affect us, and so on.

Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Psychology and Human Values Social Psychologist’s Values may enter their work: Obvious ways in which values enter: –When they choose research topics Not-so-obvious ways in which values enter –The subjective aspects of science –Psychological concepts contain hidden values Systematic observation and experimentation are needed to check our ideas against reality

Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Is Social Psychology Simply “Common Sense”? Hindsight bias –The tendency to exaggerate, after learning an outcome, one’s ability to have foreseen it –The I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon

Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. How Do We Do Social Psychology? Forming and Testing Hypotheses Theory: An integrated set of principles that explain and predict observed events Hypothesis: A testable proposition that describes the relationship that may exist between events Research may take place in the field or in a laboratory Two primary research methods are correlational and experimental

Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Correlational Research: Detecting Natural Associations Correlational Research: Study naturally occurring relationships among variables Allow prediction; do NOT infer causation Survey Research: Random samples help obtain a representative group Unrepresentative samples Concerns:  Order of questions  Response options  Framing

Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Experimental Research: Searching for Cause and Effect Control: Manipulating Variables –Independent and Dependent Variables –Random Assignment –Ethical Concerns: –Mundane/Experimental Realism –Deception –Demand Characteristics –Informed Consent –Potential Harm –Confidentiality –Debriefing

Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Understanding Experiments

Introducing Social Psychology Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Two Methods of Doing Research: Correlational and Experimental