1. 1 Behavior in Social and Cultural Context

2. 2 Why?

3. 3 Roles and Rules Norms- rules that regulate social life, explicit laws and implicit cultural conventions Role- a given social position that is governed by a set of norms for proper behavior Culture- a program of shared rules that govern the behavior of people in a community or society, and a set of values, beliefs, and customs shared by most members of that community (passed generation to generation)

4. 4 The Power of Social Roles The Obedience Study Stanley Milgram and coworkers investigated whether people would follow orders, even when the order violated their ethical standards. Most people were far more obedient than anyone expected. Every single participant complied with at least some orders to shock another person Results are controversial and have generated much research on violence and obedience.

5. 5 Obedience Study Continued Factors associated with participants disobedience When the experimenter left the room When the victim was right there in the room When two experimenters issued conflicting demands When the person ordering them to continue was an ordinary man When the subject worked with peers who refused to go further

6. 6 The Power of Social Roles The Prison Study Zimbardo Random Assignment to Roles of Prisoner or Guard Basement of Stanford University Building Ceased Study After Six Days

7. 7 Why People Obey Factors that increase obedience Allocating responsibility to the authority Routinizing the task Wanting to be polite Becoming entrapped Entrapment: A gradual process in which individuals escalate their commitment to a course of action to justify their investment of time, money, or effort.

8. 8 Social Influences on Beliefs Social Cognition- an area in psychology concerned with social influences on thought, memory, perception, and beliefs Attribution- assigning some quality or character to a person or thing Attribution Theory- The theory that people are motivated to explain their own and other peoples’ behavior by attributing causes of that behavior to a situation or a disposition.

9. 9 Attributions

10. 10 Attribution (continued) Westerners believe that individuals are responsible for their own actions (individualism) Westerners and Self Serving Bias The tendency, in explaining one’s own behavior, to take credit for one’s good actions and rationalize one’s mistakes Just World Hypothesis- the notion that many people need to believe that the world is fair and that justice is served, that bad people are punished and good people rewarded

11. 11 Attitudes Attitude: A relatively stable opinion containing beliefs and emotional feelings about a topic. Validity Effect: The tendency of people to believe that a statement is true or valid simply because it has been repeated many times.

12. 12 Influencing Attitudes

13. 13 Coercive Persuasion Person is under physical or emotional duress. Person’s problems are reduced to one simple explanation, repeated often. Leader offers unconditional love, acceptance, and attention. New identity based on group is created. Person is subjected to entrapment. Person’s access to information is controlled.

14. 14 Individuals in Groups Conformity Groupthink The Anonymous Crowd Courage and Nonconformity

15. 15 A B CSample Conformity Subjects in a group were asked to match line lengths. Confederates in the group picked the wrong line. Subjects went along with the wrong answer on 37% of trials.

16. 16 Groupthink In close-knit groups, the tendency for all members to think alike and suppress disagreement for the sake of harmony. Symptoms of Groupthink: Illusion of invincibility Self-censorship Pressure on dissenters to conform Illusion of unanimity

17. 17 The Anonymous Crowd Diffusion of Responsibility: In organized or anonymous groups, the tendency of members to avoid taking responsibility for actions or decisions because they assume that others will do so. Deindividuation: In groups or crowds, the loss of awareness of one’s own individuality.

18. 18 Courage and Nonconformity Situational factors contributing to nonconformity: You perceive the need for intervention or help. Situation makes it more likely that you will take responsibility. Cost-benefit ratio supports your decision to get involved. You have an ally. You become entrapped.

19. 19 Us Versus Them: Group Identity Ethnic Identity Ethnocentrism Stereotypes

20. 20 Ethnic Identity Social Identity: The part of a person’s self-concept that is based on identification with a nation, culture, or group or with gender or other roles in society. Ethnic Identity: A person’s identification with a racial, religious, or ethnic group. Acculturation: The process by which members of minority groups come to identify with and feel part of the mainstream culture.

21. 21 Acculturation Strategies

22. 22 Ethnocentrism The belief that one’s own ethnic group, nation, or religion is superior to all others.

23. 23 Robbers’ Cave Experiment Boys were randomly separated into two groups “Rattlers” and “Eagles” Competitions fostered hostility between the groups. Experimenters contrived situations requiring cooperation for success. Cross-group friendships increased.

24. 24 Stereotypes Stereotype: A cognitive schema or a summary impression of a group, in which a person believes that all members of the group share a common trait or traits (positive, negative, or neutral).

25. 25 Group Conflicts and Prejudice

26. 26 Group Conflicts and Prejudice The Origins of Prejudice Varieties of Prejudice Reducing Prejudice and Conflict

27. 27 Reducing Prejudice and Conflict Groups must have equal legal status, economic opportunities, and power. Authorities and community institutions must endorse egalitarian norms and provide moral support and legitimacy for both sides. Both sides must have opportunities to work and socialize together, formally and informally. Both sides must cooperate, working together for a common goal.

28. 28 Bridging the Cultural Divide Tips for Successful Travel: Be sure you understand the other culture’s rules, manners, and customs. When in Rome, do as the Romans do as much as possible. Avoid stereotyping.