Download - Myers’ EXPLORING PSYCHOLOGY (6th Ed)
Myers’ EXPLORING PSYCHOLOGY (6th Ed)
Chapter 15
Social Psychology
Modified from:James A. McCubbin, PhD
Clemson University
Worth Publishers
Social Psychology
Scientific study of how we think about, influence, & relate to one another
Attribution Theory Tendency to give causal
explanation for someone’s behavior, often by crediting either situation or person’s disposition
Attribution, Attitudes & Actions Fundamental Attribution Error
Tendency for observers, when analyzing another’s behavior, to underestimate impact of situation & overestimate impact of personal disposition
Attitude Belief & feeling that predisposes one to
respond in particular way to objects, people & events
Social Thinking Our behavior is affected by our inner attitudes as
well as by external social influences
Internalattitudes
Externalinfluences
Behavior
Social Thinking
Attitudes follow behavior
Cooperative actions feed mutual liking
Actions & Attitudes
Foot-in-the-Door Phenomenon Tendency for people who have first
agreed to small request to comply later with larger request
Role Set of expectations about social
position Defines how those in position
ought to behave
Cognitive Dissonance Theory When attitudes & actions do not
coincide, experience tension Act to reduce discomfort
(dissonance) we feel when two of thoughts (cognitions) inconsistent
Actions & Attitudes
Asch’s Conformity Experiments Informational Social Influence
Influence resulting from willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality
Social Influence Conformity
Adjusting one’s behavior or thinking to coincide with group standard
Conditions that strengthen (p547)
Normative Social Influence Influence resulting from person’s desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval
Milgram’s Obedience Experiments Social influences can make people
conform to falsehoods or do destructive things
Group Influence Social Facilitation
Improved performance of tasks in presence of others
Occurs with simple or well-learned tasks but not with difficult or not yet mastered tasks
Social Loafing Tendency for people in group to exert
less effort when pooling efforts toward common goal than when individually accountable
Group Influence & Effects
Deindividuation Loss of self-awareness & self-restraint in
group situations that foster arousal & anonymity
Group Polarization Enhancement of group’s prevailing
attitudes through discussion within group
Groupthink Occurs when desire for harmony in
decision-making group overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives
Social Relations
Prejudice Unjustifiable (& usually negative)
attitude toward group & members Involves stereotyped beliefs,
negative feelings, & predisposition to discriminatory action
Aggression Any physical or verbal behavior
intended to hurt or destroy
Altruism Bystander effect Decision-making process for bystander intervention
THE END