PSY 331Social PsychologyMiura Ang09/02, Wednesday Ø What is Social Psychology?- Formal definition (Gordon Allport)o The scientific study: … of how the thoughts, feelings and behavior…. … of individuals… … are influenced by the actual, imagined or implied presence of others…-“implied” – u think someone is there, but they’re not; e.g. video camera in a supermarket- Classic definitiono Doesn’t capture everything- Alternate definitiono Study of human experience – Very Broad!- Yet another alternative (thus far the best definition)o Study of how people function as individuals in a social world … and why they do what they do- “Opposites attract” – e.g. power difference: power vs. submissive- “Birds of a feather flock tgt” – e.g. stereotypes as seen in movies: jocks, cheerleaders, and geeks- Dilemma?o Both seem reasonableo Rely on what…Ø Not just Common Sense- Many explanations “make sense” – not necessarily correct!- PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR U: rely on what research says, NOT what makes sense- In the discipline:o Personal experience, common sense, etc.o … may help generate ideas…o … but scientific method used to test…Ø Social Psychology in the World: - Hazing, Cults, Obedience to authority, Discrimination, Political decision-making, Drinking night before an examØ Social Psychology has BOTH psychological and sociological branches.- Psychological Social Psyo Individuals – how they respond to social stimuli2 Variations of behavior believed to be due to people’s interpretation of social stimuli or differences in their personalities and temperament. - Sociological Social Psyo Importance of individual differences and the effects of immediate social stimuli on behavior.  Focus on larger group or societal variables, such as people’s socioeconomic status, their social roles, and cultural norms.  Provide explanations for such societal-based problems as poverty, crime, and deviance. Ø Social Psychology Principles- Self-fulfilling prophecy (introduced by Robert Menon) o Describe how others’ expectations about a person, group, or situation can actually lead to the fulfillment of those expectations.o Three-step process: 1) The perceiver (the “prophet”) forms an impression of the target person.  2) The perceiver acts towards the target person in a manner consistent w this first impression.  3) In response, the target person’s behavior changes to correspond to the perceiver’s actions. o The MORE interactions the target has w the perceiver, and the MORE this 3-step process is repeated during those interactions, the MORE likely it is that the target will internalize the perceiver’s expectations into his or her own self-concept. o Behavior changes due to self-fulfilling prophecies can be remarkably long lasting.  When people have negative expectations about others, they are MORE LIKELY to treat these individuals in a negative manner, which often results in the targets of negative treatments, thus confirming the initial negative expectations. 3- Social Reality is changeable, with ppl’s expectations about a person, group, or situation often leading to the fulfillment of those expectations. Ø The Self- A symbol-using social being who can reflect on his or her own behavior.- A simple and complex concept; central and organizing concept in social psy. o You: a social being w the ability to engage in symbolic communication and self-awareness- Selves do NOT develop in isolation, but do so only within a social context- Symbol usage and self-awarenesso Essential for us to engage in planned, coordinated activities in which we can regulate our behavior and anticipate the actions of others. - Focus on the Selfo Self-Serving Bias Tendency to take credit for positive outcomes but deny responsibility for negative outcomes in our lives  Allows us to enhance and protect our self-worth If we feel personally responsible for successes or positive events in our lives but do not feel blameworthy for failures or other negative events, our self-worth is likely to be bolstered. o This self-enhancement explanation emphasizes the role of motivation in our self-serving biases.  Can create problems if it allows us to repeatedly overlook our own shortcomings in situations where a more realistic appraisal would generate useful corrective steps. - Person and the situationo Interactionism: Emphasizes the combined effects of both the person and the situation on human social behavior Combines personality psychology (which stresses differences among people) w traditional social psy (which stresses differences among situations)4- Social Cognition: the ways in which we interpret, analyze, rmb, and use info about our social world{How our basic cognition is influenced by our social environment}o Theorists propose dual-process theories of social cognition – our social thinking and behavior is determined by two different ways of thinking about (udsing and responding to) social stimuli Implicit cognition: Judgments or decisions that are under the control of automatically activated evaluations occurring w/o our awareness- Involving automatic, effortless, reflective thinkingo Behavior is often impulsively and automatically activated by emotions, habits or biological drives. - Unintentional- Uses few cognitive resources- Operates quickly- Inflexible, and often CANNOT deal with new problems Explicit cognition: Deliberate judgments or decisions of which we are consciously aware- Involving more deliberate, effortful, deliberate thinking – mode of processing infoo No action is taken until its potential consequences are properly weighed and evaluated.- Relatively effortless if task is easy- Consumes considerable cognitive resources- Flexible and CAN deal w new problems- Cultural Influences on behavioro Individualism (Western culture) A PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE stressing the priority of individual needs over grp needs,  A PREFERENCE for LOOSELY knot social relationships (in which individuals are supposed to take care of themselves and their immediate families only), and  A DESIRE to be relatively autonomous of others’ influence5 This belief system asserts that society is a collection of unique individuals who pursue their own goals and interests and striveto be relatively free from the influence of others.  Develops among ppl who inhabit relatively safe environment where their survival is less dependent on