5 2 2014 PSYC 2101 Notes Microsoft OneNote Web App Social Thinking and Social Influence Friday March 21 2014 11 51 AM Forming Impressions Person Perception the process of forming impressions of others Usually unaware that you are forming impressions These judgments rely on our observations to determine what they are like Five key sources of information Appearance verbal behavior nonverbal behavior situations Key information Sources Appearance Physical features e g height weight race hair color How do you think your attire effects how others perceive you Job Interview Self disclosure giving advice questions judgements they make Verbal Behavior Examples Negative talk Actions Behaviors Actions speak louder than words Nonverbal messages Facial expressions body language gestures What are some non verbal cues that you think are dead giveaways for certain thoughts or attitudes Crossing Arms Situations Context Can provide crucial information about how to interpret someone s behavior Examples Crying at funeral vs wedding How We judge Others Bad impressions tends than good impressions A single trait or an act perceived to be negative tends to have a stronger influence on perception than a good trait or deed Snap judgments shortcuts made quickly based on little https onedrive live com edit aspx resid 7AF35F2B369F2BE4 1552 cid 7af35f2b369f2be4 app OneNote wdo 2 1 6 5 2 2014 PSYC 2101 Notes Microsoft OneNote Web App information preconceived notions May not be particularly accurate Not taking in all information Usually good enough because interactions are short lived and inconsequential Systematic Judgement more controlled processing occurs when forming impressions of those who may affect our happiness welfare Selecting a partner friend employee Use when the consequences are more meaningful Attributions inferences that people draw about the causes of behaviors and events Contextual Someone behaves in unexpected or negative way Events are personally relevant We are suspicious about another s motives Biases How we expect others to behave can influence our perceptions Confirmation Bias tendency to seek information that supports beliefs while not pursuing disconfirming information Selective recall facts fit our perceptions Well documented in variety of settings such as casual social interactions job interviews courtrooms Self fulfilling prophecy occurs when expectations about a person cause him or her to behavior in ways that confirm expectations Expectations cause people to behave in ways consistent with perceptions Ex telling someone they re not good at basketball they don t practice not good Cognitive Distortions Social Categorization shortcuts to categorize people Usually based on nationality race gender Ingroup similar individuals us vs outgroup dissimilar individuals them More favorable attitudes towards ingroup than outgroup Perceive ingroup members as more unique and outgroup members as more similar to each other outgroup homogeneity effect Heightens visibility of outgroup members Focus on them more Consequences Greater senese of influence https onedrive live com edit aspx resid 7AF35F2B369F2BE4 1552 cid 7af35f2b369f2be4 app OneNote wdo 2 2 6 5 2 2014 PSYC 2101 Notes Microsoft OneNote Web App Stereotypes Widely held beliefs that people have certain characteristics because of their membership in a particular group Examples African Americans and athletics Attractive people viewed as happier more social more competent better adjusted etc When individuals don t conform considered an exception Subtypes Persist because Ex Smart blondes and stupid blondes Simplicity they are functional and require less cognitive effort Confirmation bias Self Fulfilling Expectations may shape other s behavior Fundamental Attribution Error Tendency to explain others behaviors as the result of personal rather than situational factors Based on behavior Still risk for inaccuracy Reduces cognitive resources Occurs more often in an individualistic culture Place emphasis on individual Example individual yelling at a waiter assume individual is hostile However if take the second step to consider the situation such that the waiter spilled a glass of water all over the customer you may come to a different conclusion Defensive Attribution Tendency to blame victims for their misfortune so that one feels less likely to be victimized in a similar way Helps maintain a view of a just world Good things happen to good people Helps protect us from anxious thoughts about catastrophic things happening to us Example assuming victims of domestic abuse are stupid to remain with their abuses Self blame more likely to develop negative psychological consequences Key Themes in Person Perception Efficiency we don t want to exert more cognitive effort than is necessary https onedrive live com edit aspx resid 7AF35F2B369F2BE4 1552 cid 7af35f2b369f2be4 app OneNote wdo 2 3 6 5 2 2014 PSYC 2101 Notes Microsoft OneNote Web App Pros automatic and quick judgments are efficient and simple Cons error prone Selectivity we see what we expect to see and interpret things based on what we expect Consistency people find comfort in cognitions and perceptions that are consistent Discordant cognitions create discomfort Primacy effect Initially perceive someone how we continue to perceive them Persuasion Communication intended to change another person s attitudes Factors that affect success of persuasion Source factors Credibility Expertise and trustworthiness Ex doctor more trusted Likability attractive similar to self Message Two sided arguments listen more when bring up both sides Emotional appeals fear on news Receiver Factors Moods Needs for cognition shape judgments less more likely to be persuaded Forewarned Social Pressure Conformity when people yield to real or imaged social pressure Ex apple laptop think others are buying out of conformity have actual reasons for self Explain other people s behavior as conforming Normative Influence people conform to social norms for fear of negative social consequences Example cover tattoo at work place Other s perceptions Information Influence when people look to others for how to behave in ambiguous situations Example half your table hasn t been served but you want to eat your food while it s still hot You look and see that someone else hass started to eat so you do as well Modeling for adults Compliance https onedrive live com edit aspx resid 7AF35F2B369F2BE4 1552 cid 7af35f2b369f2be4 app OneNote wdo 2 4 6 5 2