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

3. How do we relate to others?
Social Relations
Altruism
Aggression
Attraction
How do we relate to others?
Did You Know? Those who keep a gun in the home are nearly three times more likely to be murdered in the home. For every self-defense use of a gun in the home, there are 4 unintentional shootings, 7 criminal assaults or homicides, and 11 attempted or completed suicides.

4. Psychology of Aggression
Aggression – any physical or verbal behavior INTENDED to hurt or destroy
Genetic Influences
Aggression is hereditary
Y chromosome associated with aggression (males are more aggressive)

5. Psychology of Aggression
Neural Influences
Amygdala stimulation causes instant aggressive action
Brain injuries can lead to neurological disorders that cause aggression
Chris Benoit clip
High percentage of death row inmates have had brain injuries

6. Psychology of Aggression
Biochemical Influences
Hormones, alcohol, and other substances
Correlation between testosterone and aggression
Alcohol does not cause aggression but rather unleashes aggressive responses to frustration
Did You Know? Testosterone increases in sports fans when their team is winning and decreases when their team is losing.

7. Psychology of Aggression
Psychological Influences
Frustration-aggression principle: frustration creates anger which generates aggression
Basketball Melee Clip

8. Hot Weather and Aggression

9. Psychological Influences (cont.)
People can learn that aggression is rewarding (bullying example)
Ostracism can lead to aggression (Columbine example)
People can learn to be aggressive by observing aggression (Bobo doll study)
What does this say about violent movies, TV, and video games?

10. In 2002, two Grand Rapids, Michigan, teens and a man in his early twenties spent part of a night drinking beer and playing Grand Theft Auto III, using cars to run down simulated pedestrians, before beating them with fists and leaving a bloody body behind. Then they went out on a real drive, spotted a 38-year-old man on a bicycle, ran him down with their, got out, stomped and punched him to death, and returned home to play the game some more.

11. Aggression and TV = Watches
By the time you are 18, you spend more time in front of TV than in school
2/3 of all homes have 3 or more sets average 51 hours a week.
By the time a child finishes elementary school they have witnessed 8000 murders and 100,000 other acts of violence on TV
Over half of all deaths do NOT show the victim's pain
As TV watching has grown exponentially, as does violent behavior- a strong positive correlation.
How do you think TV has affected sexual aggression?

12. Psychology of Altruism
Altruism – the unselfish regard for others’ welfare
What counts as “altruistic?”
Donate, volunteer examples
Why do we help?
Social Exchange Theory: we help if it will benefit us somehow (promotion, heroism attention, etc.)
Social Responsibility Norm: expectation that we help those dependent on us (ex: children, gparents)
Reciprocity Norm: we help those who have helped us (Big Bang Theory Clip)

13. Psychology of Altruism
Bystander Effect – the tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present
Kitty Genovese and smoke-filled room examples

14. Psychology of Attraction
THREE MAIN FACTORS OF ATTRACTION
First Factor: Proximity
Geographic nearness is most powerful predictor for friendships and relationships
You are most likely to marry someone in your own neighborhood
Second Factor: Similarity
Similar attracts; opposites retract
Opposites can attract for short-term relationships, but usually don’t last (excitement gives way to disharmony)

15. Psychology of Attraction
Third Factor: Physical Attractiveness
Number 1 most desirable trait (women lie about it)
Attractiveness is different across the globe
Examples: weight, piercings, feet binding, neck lengthening
Mere exposure effect: repeated exposure to stimuli increases liking for them
Alphabet activity
Face in the mirror

16. Mere Exposure Effect
In 1993, a young Taiwanese man wrote more than 700 letters to his girlfriend, urging her to marry him. She did marry—the mail carrier.

17. Standards of Beauty - Men
America: square jaws, v-shape torso (.9 waist to hip ratio)
Worldwide: affluent, mature, symmetrical faces

18. “Personal beauty is a greater recommendation than any letter of introduction.” – Aristotle, 330 B.C.

19. Standards of Beauty - Women
Blonde hair?
Standards of Beauty - Women
America: small noses, big eyes, big lips, hourglass shape (.7 waist to hip ratio), large breasts
Worldwide: young, symmetrical faces
Body shape standards have changed over time (20s-50s-today)

20. Physical Attractiveness

21. Physical Attractiveness
People who are good looking date more frequently, are more popular, get more favorable initial impressions, are more likely to get hired after a job interview, make more money
We PERCEIVE them to be healthier, happier, more socially skilled, and have higher self-esteem, but they arent/don’t
Americans spend more on beauty supplies than on education, but women are unhappier with their appearance today than ever before
Dove Billboard clip Dove Onslaught clip
Babies gaze longer at attractive faces

23. Values of LOVE
Passionate Love: an aroused state of INTENSE positive absorption of another.
Usually present at the beginning of a relationship
Companionate Love: the deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined.

24. What makes companionate love work?
Equity
“I like hugs. I like kisses. But what I really love is help with the dishes.”
Self-disclosure