The Mission and the Method Chapter 1 How do you think like a scientist o Applies the scientific method o Systematically observes and measures behavior What is social psychology o The scientific study of how people think about influence and relate to others Focuses on people Power of the situation Person X situation interactions What methods can be used to test ideas in social psychology i e correlations experiments and natural experiments o Correlational Research Test how one variable is associated with another variable Is there a relationship Positive correlation As one rises the other rises Negative correlation As one rises the other falls Correlation coefficient r Ranges from 1 to 1 Absolute value indicates magnitude closer to 1 stronger closer to 0 weaker Sign indicates direction Correlation does not equal causation Pros Cons o Experiments Simple to collect data Test whether a relationship exists between two variables Cannot test causation Two key features Random assignment of participants Controlled manipulation of independent variable Two types of variables Independent variable Dependent Variable Operational definitions Can test causation Pros Cons Sometimes difficult to do o Quasi Natural experiments No random assignment Let nature manipulate the IV for you Some questions are tough to answer using correlations or experiments Why are those methods better than personal anecdotes o Scientific methods are better than personal anecdotes because personal anecdotes are based primarily on personal observation and case studies How can you evaluate research i e internal and external validity reliability o Internal Validity Did IV really have an effect on our DV Did swearing really cause reduced pain Enhanced by Experimental control over IV Random assignment o External Validity Can we generalize Does swearing in lab differ from swearing in real life What if we used a different measure of pain sensitivity Would we get the same results if we used a different age group Culture and Nature Chapter 2 What is the relationship between nature and nurture o Evolution provides basic goals and what you have to work with body mind s abilities All cultures provides food shelter etc o Culture shapes how you achieve goals Cultures vary in the type of food shelter etc Explain the theory of evolution by natural selection o Differential success in survival and reproduction o Must survive and reproduce to pass on genes o The next generation gets the traits of the fittest members of the prior generation o Traits that help survival tend to be passed on o Genetic fitness Passed on genes to next generation Not necessarily good genes What are some evolutionary theories about human behavior i e natural selection of traits sexual selection of traits error management theory and what are some predictions that they make about human behavior o Theory of evolution by natural selection Heritability Variation Natural selection o Sexual Selection of traits Must survive and reproduce to pass on genes Selection based on mate s preferences Sometimes for costly traits Hypothesized human sexually selected traits Female breasts buttocks Male penis Music and art Writing and humor Intelligence o Error Management Theory Better safe than sorry Ex o Dog seatbelts When uncertain about an object Snake or garden hose Predator in the bushes or wind Robber in the house or house settling People assume the worst Make the least costly error How does the modern environment differ from the environment in which people evolved and what are some problems that that causes today o EEA Environment of evolutionary adaptedness o Genetically modern humans first emerged about 130 000 years ago o Many aspects of today s environment are different from EEA o Evolution explains human psychology in terms of what was adaptive in EEA not today o Humans crave sweet and fatty foods o These were precious commodities in the EEA o Today these things are too easily available o Based on the EEA we should fear Snakes Spiders Social rejection What is the cultural animal and why is it cultural o Culture What people in a large group share in common Language values favorite foods government homeland historical connection o Cultural animal Must survive and reproduce to pass on genes Humans are massively social Join a culture Rules guide behavior Language and communication Teaching and learning Specialization Progress Cultural Universals Food Rules Ownership Shelter Mating Child rearing Traditions and rituals Dunbar study analyzed brain size in animals compared to their body weight Larger brains more social animals Dunbar conclusion our larger brains are designed to help us relate to What are the two major types of culture i e individualistic vs collectivistic and how do they differ each other o Collectivist Self s connection with others External reasons for behavior I did what the group needed Express group s preferences More stereotyping More cooperation Prefer social emotions happiness guilt o Individualistic Self s being different from others Internal reasons for behavior I did what I wanted to do I did what I needed to do for me or my family Express self s preferences More creativity Prefer selfish emotions pride anger Attraction and Exclusion Chapter 11 What is thin slicing and how does it work o How quickly do people judge others o Thin slicing Very quick accurate judgements Nonverbal behaviors say a lot Active Attentive Likeable Warm How does mimicry affect attraction o Mimicry increases attraction What is propinquity o Is one of the main factors leading to interpersonal attraction It refers to the physical or psychological proximity between people What is the mere exposure effect o If already dislike someone exposure can increase disliking What makes a face attractive o Symmetry o No flaws o Masculinity What makes a man attractive to women Square Jaw Prominent chin Heavier eyebrows Thinner lips o Provider attraction yet What makes a woman attractive to men There isn t much research on same sex o Youth o Waist to hip ratio o A ratio about 0 7 is seen as very attractive regardless of how large the woman is o Prominent hips How would evolutionary and cultural theories explain the features that people find attractive o Culture specific qualities o Thinness in media What traits are the highest priority for men and women in looking for a mate Why i e explain parental investment theory o Men prioritize physical attractiveness o Women prioritize status wealth Close
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