Social Psychology Chapter 14Social PsychologySlide 3Slide 4The Fundamental Attribution ErrorSlide 6Slide 7Political Effects of AttributionAttitudes and ActionsAttitudes affect ActionsOr: Actions affect AttitudesFoot-in-the-Door PhenomenonRole-Playing Affects AttitudesWhy do actions affect attitude?Slide 15Conformity and ObedienceGroup Pressure and ConformitySlide 18Slide 19Why Do We Conform?ObedienceLessons from the Conformity and Obedience StudiesGroup InfluenceSocial FacilitationSocial Loafing (Why group projects can backfire)Social LoafingDeindividuationGroup PolarizationGroupthinkSlide 30PrejudiceHow Prejudiced Are People?Social Roots of PrejudiceIngroup and OutgroupEmotional Roots of PrejudiceCognitive Roots of PrejudiceSlide 37Slide 38PowerPoint PresentationAggressionThe Biology of AggressionSlide 42Slide 43The Psychology of AggressionSlide 45Slide 46Slide 47Slide 48Social PsychologyChapter 14Social PsychologySocial ThinkingThe Fundamental Attribution ErrorAttitudes and ActionsSocial InfluenceConformity and ObedienceGroup InfluenceLessons From the Social Influence StudiesSocial PsychologySocial RelationsPrejudiceAggressionAttractionAltruismConflict and PeacemakingSocial PsychologySocial psychology is the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.“We cannot live for ourselves alone.”Herman MelvilleThe Fundamental Attribution ErrorWhen analyzing another’s behavior, there is a tendency to overestimate the influence of personal traits, and underestimate the effects of the situationThe Fundamental Attribution Error•Experiment: Even when students were informed that a young woman had been instructed to act icy or warm, they still attributed her behavior to her personal traits (Napolitan & Geothals, 1979)•Cultural differences–People in East Asian culture tend to be more sensitive to the power of situationsThe Fundamental Attribution Error•When we explain our behavior, we are sensitive to situational influence–Also for people we have seen in many contexts•We are more likely to commit the F.A.E. when we disapprove of the stranger’s behavior •Taking the stranger’s point of view can help decrease incidence of the F.A.E.–Reflecting on our past self also switches our perspectivePolitical Effects of Attribution•How to explain poverty or unemployment?–Political conservatives often blame the personal traits of the poor and unemployed–Social scientists are more likely to blame past and present situations •Poor education, lack of opportunity, discrimination, etc.Our attributions have real consequencesAttitudes and Actions•Attitudes are feelings, based on our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people, and eventsAttitudes affect Actions•Particularly when external influences are minimal, and attitude is stable, specific, and easily recalled•Experiment: people given vivid information changing their attitude –Informed them about tanning, linking it to skin cancer –had lighter skin a month later compared to a group not having their attitude influencedOr: Actions affect Attitudes•Cooperative actions can build an attitude of team loyalty•Attitudes follow behavior–Foot-in-the-door phenomenon–Role-playing–Cognitive dissonanceFoot-in-the-Door Phenomenon•In the Korean War, Chinese communists solicited cooperation from US army prisoners by asking them to carry out small errands. •People who have first agreed to a small request are more likely to comply later with a larger request•To get people to agree to something big, start small and buildRole-Playing Affects Attitudes•In many life stages, we take on new roles – sets of behavioral expectations about a social position•May feel phony at first, as if “acting” the role–“Fake it until you make it”Why do actions affect attitude?Cognitive dissonance theory: We feel discomfort when beliefs don’t match with our actions or other thoughts. To relieve this tension, we may change our beliefs and attitudes to fit our choices–If we have chosen to support a party or president, we will change our understandings to fit the policies–Foot in the door: if I have taken a small action to help someone, I decide I must have wanted to help, and then it’s easier to get me to help more–Fake it till you make it: Make yourself act kindly, and kind intentions will grow.Social PsychologySocial InfluenceConformity and ObedienceGroup InfluenceConformity and Obedience•Chameleon effect: we take on the emotional tones of those around us, imitating others’ expressions, postures, and voice tones•When students worked beside people who rubbed their own faces or shook a foot, the students tended to do so too (Chatrand & Bargh, 1999)•Automatic mimicry helps us empathize, to feel what others feelGroup Pressure and Conformity•Conformity: adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standardGroup Pressure and Conformity•Solomon Asch (1955) asked “which line is the same length as the standard?”–Before subject’s turn to answer, confederates say “Line 3” –More than 1/3 of subjects conformed to wrong answerGroup Pressure and ConformityWe are more likely to conform when we–Are made to feel incompetent or insecure–Are in a group with at least three people–Are in a group in which everyone else agrees–Admire the group’s status and attractiveness–Have not already committed to any response–Know that others in the group will observe our behavior–Are from a culture that strongly encourages respect for social standardsWhy Do We Conform?•To avoid rejection or gain approval–Responding to social norms•Because we are open-minded and were convinced by new information from the group •Whether conformity is perceived as good or bad depends on our values•Conformity rates are lower in individualistic cultures like the U.S.Obedience•People give into social pressures. What about outright commands? •Stanley Milgram (1963) investigated the effects of authority on obedience•A brief videoLessons from the Conformity and Obedience Studies•Social influences can make people conform to falsehoods or give in to cruelty“I was only following orders.”–Adolf Eichmann, Director of Nazi deportation of Jews to concentration camps•A consistent and persistent minority voice can still have a powerful influenceGroup Influence•One of the first social psychology