April 2, 2014Social Psychology How we think in relation to others How other people influence not only our thinking but our actions Conformity Obedience Group behavior How we treat & relate to each other Prejudice Attraction Aggression Social thinking Study of how we interpret, analyze, remember & use information about the social world Attribution theory Attribution = conclusion about the cause of an observed behavior/event We explain others’ behaviors with 2 types of attribution Situational attribution = factors outside the person doing the action (e.g. peer pressure) Dispositional attribution = person’s stable, enduring traits, personality, ability, emotions cause the action Errors in attribution Self-serving bias = tendency to view one’s self favorably Fundamental attribution error = tendency to attribute other peoples’ behaviors to their disposition & to be less likely to consider situational causes Cultural differences Collectivist cultures Behavior of others attributed more to situation Credit for successes given more to others Blame for failures is placed on oneself Attitudes Feelings, ideas & beliefs that affect how we approach & react to other people, objects & events ABCs Affect (emotional reactions) Behavior (or behavioral intentions) Cognitive Changing attitudes Central route persuasion = relying on evidence & logic Best when attitude is important to the person Peripheral route persuasion = appealing to fears, desires & associations Best when attitude is unimportant to person Attitudes & behavior Attitudes affect behavior when : External influences are minimal Attitude is stable Attitude is specific to behavior Attitude is easily recalled Behaviors affecting attitudes Cognitive dissonance = when our actions do not match up with our attitudes Cognitive dissonance theory = resolving dissonance by changing our attitudes to fit our actions Foot-in-the-door phenomenon = tendency to be more likely to agree to a large request after agreeing to a small one (e.g. agreeing to donate $20 to charity after agreeing to donate $5) Door-in-the-face phenomenon = tendency to agree to a smaller request after rejecting a larger one (e.g. agreeing to donate $5 to charity after rejecting donating $20) We like who we agree to help & dislike who we agree to harm (adjusting attitude to actions) Social influence Social situations have many ways of influencing our behavior, attitudes, beliefs & decisions Conformity Change in behavior or belief as a result of real or imagined group pressure Why we conform : Automatic mimicry Informational social influence Normative social influence Automatic mimicry Not by choice Contagious yawning, arm folding, hand wringing, face rubbing, etc. Adopting regional accents, grammar & vocabulary Empathetic shifts in mood that fit the mood of others around us Adopting coping styles of parents or peers (violence, yelling, withdrawal, etc.) Informational social influence Choose to conform because we believe other peoples’ views are correct or that their behavior is appropriate When : Situation is ambiguous There is a crisis Very difficult task Other people are/are thought to be experts Normative social influence Conformity because we want to be liked/thought of positively Can happen even in unambiguous situations Desire to be accepted/fit in Leads to public compliance (people act on group norms, even if they disagree with them) Conformity is most likely when : Group is medium sized & unanimous You admire/are attracted to the group Culture encourages respect for norms Group tries to make you feel incompetent, insecure & closely watched You are not fully committed to one set of beliefs or style of behavior Why people obey Obedience to authority Need for consistency Escalation of commitment Strange situations Diffusion of responsibility Importance of roles
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