1. Social Psychology Lovemore Nyatanga Introduction to Approaches in Psychology 4PS032

2. By the end of the lecture and with some further reading you should be able to: l Define Social Psychology? l Outline how social psychology relates to other similar paradigms l Outline the historical development of social psychology l Discuss the social and cognitive processes associated with social psychology l Discuss theories that explain the development of attitude Learning Outcomes

3. The scientific study of how individuals think. Feel, and behave toward other people and how individuals thoughts, feelings, & behaviours are affected by other people (Brehm, Kassin, & Fein 2002 p5). The scientific investigation of how the thoughts feelings and behaviour of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined and implied presence of others (Hogg & Vaughan 2005 p4). Definition of Social Psychology

4. Social Psychology & other disciplines Hogg & Vaughan 2005 Social Psychology Clinical Psychology Sociology Personality Psychology Cognitive Psychology

5. Social Psychology & other disciplines

6. Historical development  Well before social psychology became a particular area of scientific enquiry, philosophers such as Plato had observed & commented on the phenomenon of the “crowd mind”  Plato asserted that “crowd mind” was potentially irrational and not representative of the intellect of the individual when outside of the crowd.  Norman Triplett is often credited as the founder of social psychology (Brehm et al 2002).

7. Some key names in Social Psychology

8. Some key names/developments in Social Psychology

9. Insight into social interaction

10. Social psychology of helping behaviour  On 13 March 1964 Catherine Genovese (28), bar manager, arrived home at about 3:15 a.m.  She lived in a block of flats in Kew Gardens (New York) where she parked her car some 100 feet from her apartment.  A stranger (Winston Moseley) intercepted & stabbed her for no known reason other than that Moseley was a necrophiliac.

11. Catherine Genovese (Kitty) New York Times story (27 March 1964) For about 1/2 hour 38 law abiding citizens watched the murder of Kitty Genovese without phoning the police or coming to her aid. Why did so many people fail to help? Kitty (28 at the time)

12. Social & cognitive processes  Ways in which our emotions influence our thinking  Ways in which our motives justify our means  Ways in which significant others, e.g. family, society, influence our attitudes, values and beliefs.  Ways in which our perceptions influence our reality

13. Cognitive processes

15. 8 Principles of Social Behaviour Two fundamental principles: ¥ People construct their own reality ¥ People are influenced & influence others Three motivational principles: ¥Strive for mastery ¥Strive for connectedness ¥Value “me & mine” Three processing principles: ¥ Conservatism ¥ Accessibility ¥ Superficiality Vs Depth

16. Recommended Reading 4 Brehm, S.S., Kassin, S., M., & Fein, S (2002) Social Psychology. Houghton Mifflin: London (chapter 1) 4 Hogg, M., & Vaughan, G. (2005) Social Psychology (4th edition) Prentice-Hall: London (chapter 1)