What is Social Science?

“Everyone in this class is an observer and predictor

of human behaviour”

Things to keep in mind...

• Everyone has the right to express an informed opinion

• Be mindful of your own bias

• Listen with respect

• Have an open mind

• We do not have to agree, but we are respectful when we disagree

• Offensive comments are never permitted

• Everyone in the class has a right to learn

Can you predict behaviour?

A group of people are gathered in a room. A bar is opened and they are told to drink whatever they like – a bartender will serve them. There is rum,

rye, vodka, gin, beer, wine, etc....

Two hours later, most people are showing distinct signs of intoxication. When asked to perform

simple coordination tasks, they fail.

How do we explain this?

Just one thing...

There was really no alcohol content in the drinks...

How do we explain THIS?

The Placebo Effect

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfRVCaA5o18

There are many non-scientific ways of predicting behaviour. People

generalize in an effort to understand each other and be able to anticipate

behaviours...

• Clichés

• Truisms

• Proverbs

.

Cliché

• Figure of speech whose effectiveness has been worn out due to overuse

• E.g. Live and learn

Truism

• A claim so obvious or self-evident it is hardly worth mentioning

• E.g. a watched pot never boils

Proverbs

• Sayings popularly known and repeated which express a truth based on common sense or practical experience of humanity

Other non-scientific ways of looking at human behaviour

• Talk shows

• Self-help books

• Self-proclaimed experts

Economics

Political ScienceBiology

What is social science?

Psychology Anthropology

Sociology

Anthropology

• The study of culture- the arts, beliefs, habits, institutions and other endeavors that are characteristic of a specific community, society or nation

Psychology• The study of behaviour based on

mental processes• Psychologists use an understanding of

mental processes and the characteristic patterns of motivation that they call personality to explain individual behaviour (micro studies)

• Also examine how individuals interact (macro studies)

Sociology

• The study that explains the behaviour of individuals in social groups, families and society

• Investigate social facts

• More concerned with patterns of behaviour observed in large numbers of people or groups rather than individuals

Demographics

• The analysis of statistical data of a population

• Age

• Marital status

• Average income

Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism

• combines "ethnic" and centre". • to believe that your culture or ethnic group is

superior to all other races or cultures, or to view alien groups or cultures from your own biased perspective.

• causes individuals or groups to judge other groups in how they relate to themselves.

• examples of how they relate themselves to other groups are language, behaviour, customs and religion.

Egocentrism The belief that you are the centre of the world;

that your own importance is valued over others – the “better him/her than me” ideology.