1. Social Psychology Other people and us

2. Major Themes Human beings are fundamentally social by nature Humans are shaped by and shape the society and culture in which they live Each person has, as a survival tool, the ability to formulate stereotypes

3. Who are you? What social factors have influenced you to become who you are? Do you feel that you are more alike or different than –A) someone your age from your cultural/ethnic background who grew up in your ancestral country of origin? –B) someone your age from a different cultural/ethnic background who grew up on your block?

4. Social Psychology Thoughts about others Feelings toward others Actions toward others

5. Key Terms Attribution—principles used to judge the causes of events and our own and others’ behavior Fundamental attribution error— misjudging the causes of others’ behavior because of overestimating internal personal factors and underestimating external situational influence

6. Key Terms Saliency bias—tendency to focus on the most noticeable factors when explaining the causes of behaviors Self-serving bias—taking credit for our successes and externalizing our failures Attitude—learned predisposition to respond cognitively, affectively, and behaviorally to a particular object

7. Cognitive Dissonance Theory and Confirmation Bias Confirmation bias—we tend to accept data/input that confirms what we already believe to be true Cognitive dissonance theory—we discover inconsistencies between our attitudes and/or behaviors, we experience discomfort which we try to alleviate through attitude changes

8. Prejudice and Discrimination Stereotype—a set of beliefs about the characteristics of people in a group that is generalized to all group members Prejudice—a learned, generally negative, attitude toward members of a group; it includes thoughts (stereotypes), feelings and behavioral tendencies (possible discrimination) Discrimination—negative behaviors directed at members of a group

9. Prejudice A learned response A mental shortcut –Ingroup and outgroup Economic and political competition A form of displaced aggression

10. Ingroups and Outgroups Ingroup Favoritism—Viewing members of the ingroup more positively than members of an outgroup. Outgroup Homogeneity Effect— Judging members of an outgroup as more alike and less diverse than members of the ingroup.

11. Attraction Physical Attractiveness (symmetry) ProximitySimilarity

12. Love Eros—erotic love/romantic love Philia—fraternal love (love between friends or siblings) Agape—unconditional love (companionate love)

13. Social Influence Conformity—Changing behavior as a result of real or imagined group pressure Obedience—Following direct commands, usually from an authority figure

14. Conformity Normative social influence—Conforming to group pressure out of a need for acceptance or approval Informational social influence—Conforming to group pressure out of a need for direction and information Reference Groups—People we conform to or go along with, because we like and admire them and want to be like them

15. Obedience Factors Power of authority Distance between the teacher and learner (i.e., in the “shock experiment”) Assignment of responsibility Modeling/imitation

16. Group Membership Roles in groups Deindividuation—Increased arousal and reduced self-consciousness, inhibition, and personal responsibility that sometimes occurs in a group, particularly when the members feel anonymous

17. Group Decision Making Group polarization—Group’s movement toward either riskier or more conservative behavior, depending on the members’ initial dominant tendency –A form of “confirmation bias” –As the ends of the spectrum get redefined, so does the “center”

18. Group Decision Making Groupthink—Faulty decision making that occurs when a highly cohesive group strives for agreement and avoids inconsistent information –Newly married couples –Iraq war

19. Aggression Biological factors –Instinct –Genes –The brain and nervous system –Substance abuse and other mental disorders –Hormones and neurotransmitters

20. Aggression Psychological factors –Aversive stimuli –Culture and learning –Media and video games

21. Controlling Aggression Catharsis Incompatible responses Improve social and communication skills

22. Altruism Actions designed to help others with no obvious benefit to the helper –Egoistic model—Helping that is motivated by anticipated gain—later reciprocation, increased self-esteem, or avoidance of guilty and distress –Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis—Helping because of empathy for someone in need

23. Altruism Helping breaks down in a crowd largely due to: Diffusion of responsibility—Assuming someone else will take action (or responsibility)

24. Unlearning prejudice and discrimination Cooperation Superordinate goals Increased contact Cognitive retraining Cognitive dissonance