Chapter 16: Social Psychology

1. Chapter 16: Social Psychology

2. Chapter 16: Social Psychology

3. Attribution Theory Definition: Inferences that people draw about the causes of events, others� behavior, and their own behavior Dispositional Attribution: we attribute a person�s behavior to an internal state (personality, abilities, etc.) Situational Attribution: attributing a person�s behavior to an external state (stress, abuse, hardship, wealth, etc.) Function: People like to explain and understand behavior and the events that impact their lives Attributions are made when an event is unusual and personal �Just world� phenomenon

4. Covariation Model of Attribution

5. Attribution Example

6. Bias in Attribution Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE): Observer�s bias in favor of internal attributions in explaining others� behavior but external attributions in explaining their own (Ex: Someone else drops out of college because �they couldn�t handle the pressure or work load� � internal. You drop out of college because �tuition was raised and you had to help support your family� � external) Defensive Attribution: Tendency to blame the victim for their misfortune, so that one feels less likely to be victimized in a similar way Self-Serving Bias: Tendency to attribute one�s successes to personal factors and one�s failures to situational factors In-group bias- tendency to favor your own group over the out-group

7. Attitudes & Attitude Formation - When we observe & respond to the world around us, it is never without the influence of our attitudes (even if we don�t realize it). - Advertisers spend millions because they know that attitudes can be shaped & changed�.to their benefit $$ Definition Positive, negative, or mixed feelings, based on our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people, and events. Ex: A friend tells you that they believe Coach Stove is a mean teacher. You may feel dislike for Coach Stove, and act unfriendly. Components of Attitudes Cognitive: What you believe Affective: How you feel about it Behavioral: What you are willing to do about it

8. Components of Attitudes

9. Attitudes can Affect Action

10. Cognitive Dissonance & Social Facilitation Cognitive Dissonance Theory: When we act in a way not consistent with our beliefs we feel tension. We then revise our beliefs to align with our behavior.

11. Person Perception Definition: The process of forming impressions of others Impressions are influenced by: Physical appearance good looking people are seen as intelligent, friendly, and confident Schemas: Organized clusters of ideas about categories of social events and people 1st Impressions: self fulfilling prophecy, primacy Stereotypes: gender, race, job

12. Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination Stereotype: Thoughts and beliefs held about people strictly because of their membership in a group Prejudice: A negative attitude held toward members of a group Discrimination: Negative actions towards a group

13. Stereotype Cartoon

14. Articles Showing Bias

15. Attraction Contributors to Attraction Proximity: Physical closeness (mere exposure) Physical Attractiveness: Pleasant physical appearance (often different depending on culture), signs of health such as symmetry (universal) Similarity: Commonalities between two people Reciprocity: The tendency to like those who like you Matching Hypothesis: �opposites do not attract�

16. Results of Attraction Friendship: An attraction driven by a set of rules that must be followed for the relationship to continue Examples of rules: help when needed trust and confide in each other Romantic Love: Intense feeling of attraction to another within an erotic context with future expectations Compassionate Love: Strong and lasting attraction characterized by trust, caring, tolerance, and friendship Triangular Theory of Love: (see next slide)

17. Triangular Conception of Love

18. Social Influence Chameleon Effect: our tendency to unconsciously mimic those around us Yawning when others yawn Picking up the mood of a happy or sad person Dress like your friends This automatic mimicry is an ingredient in our ability to empathize with others

19. Persuasion Source: credible, trustworthy, likable, attractive, similarity Message: Fear vs. logic, one or two sided, repetition Channel: TV, radio, in person Receiver: Personality, expectations, preexisting attitudes, intelligence

20. Persuasion Techniques Limited time offer Everyone is buying!!! DEAL!!! Reciprocation Foot in the door Door in the face Low-balling

21. Conformity and Obedience Conformity - yielding to social pressure Asch�s Conclusions 1) subjects often conform to a group, even when the group states clearly inaccurate conclusions 2) conformity to a group increases with the size of the group, up to five or six, but only when the group is unanimous in its beliefs Obedience Milgram�s Conclusions 1) situational pressures can make people obey instructions that go against their belief systems

22. Obedience Experiment

23. Behavior in Groups Bystander Effect: less likely to help others when in groups than when alone Social Loafing: individuals produce less work (reduced efficiency & effort) when working in groups than by themselves Decision Making Group Polarization - when group discussion leads to a more �polarized� point of view by the group Groupthink - when feel pressure to conform to the group, stops critical thinking to avoid dissention in the group Ex: Kennedy and the Bay of Pigs

24. Percentage of Bystanders Helping Victims & Time Taken

25. Group Polarization

26. Aggression & Altruism