Psych 1101 Chapter 14 Social Psychology continue Social Relations One way we simplify the world is to form categories In categorizing others we often stereotype them overestimating the similarity of those within another group The other race effect or cross race effect or own race bias is the tendency to recall faces of one s own race more accurately than faces of other races Victim blaming victims may be blamed based on the assumption that the world is just and that people get what they deserve and deserve what they get Aggression Any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy Biological influences on aggression operate at the genetic neural and biochemical levels Studies of violent criminals have revealed diminished activity in the frontal lobes which play an important role in controlling impulses Studies of the effect of hormones e g testosterone alcohol and other substances in the blood show that biochemical influences contribute to aggression Aggression Frustration The frustration aggression principle states that the blocking of an attempt to reach some goal creates anger which can generate aggression People can learn aggression by observing models who act aggressively for example in the family or in the media watching violence or sexual aggression on TV or in film Laboratory experiments reveal that repeatedly watching on screen violence makes sexual aggression seem less serious extramarital sex less troubling and a woman s friendliness more sexual Media depictions of violence also trigger aggression by providing social scripts mental tapes for how to act provided by our culture Attraction Three factors are known to influence our liking for one another 1 geographical proximity is conducive to attraction partly because of the mere exposure effect repeated exposure to novel stimuli enhances liking of them 2 physical attractiveness influences social opportunities and the way one is perceived attractive people are viewed as healthier happier more sensitive and more successful 3 as acquaintanceship moves toward friendship similarity of attitudes and interests greatly increases liking The factors that foster attraction are explained by a reward theory of attraction we like those whose behavior is rewarding to us and we will continue relationships that offer more rewards than costs Love and Attraction The strong affection of companionate love which often emerges as a relationship matures is enhanced by equity a condition in which both parties receive in proportion to what they give receiving as much as you give enhances this strong affection Another vital ingredient of loving relationships is mutual self disclosure in which partners reveal to each other intimate details about themselves Altruism Altruism unselfish regard for the welfare of others doing for others without a focus of how am I going to be rewarded can be given health support things etc The bystander effect is the tendency for any given bystander to an emergency to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present e g Kitty Genovese 1964