Intro to social psychology

Question 1

What is social psychology?

Answer 1

Scientific study of how individuals think , feel and behave in a social context

Question 2

What did Lewin suggest?

Answer 2

behaviour is a function of the interaction between the person and the environment

Question 3

what is self concept?

Answer 3

how people come to know themselves

Question 4

what is self esteem?

Answer 4

how do people evaluate themselves

Question 5

Explain a study that investigated self perception theory

Answer 5

Facial feedback and emotion (Strack et al., 1988) ⇒ asked to rate cartoons

1. hold pen between lips
2. pen in hand
3. pen between teeth

= between teeth found cartoon funniest

Question 6

What is the overjustification effect?

Answer 6

the tendency for instrinsic motivation to diminish for activities that have become associated with a reward or other extrinsic factors

Question 7

Explain social comparison. When does it happen and with whom?

Answer 7

= people evaluate their own abilities and opinions by comparing themselves to others

when - more likely when we are in a state of uncertainty

with whom - more likely with people similar to u

Question 8

What is the two factor theory of emotion formula?

Answer 8

physiological arousal + social cue = emotions

Question 9

Explain how anxiety is linked with affiliation ?

Answer 9

ppt told get shocked 1) nasty 2) pleasant - sit alone or with another ppt , waited together much more when nasty shock

Question 10

Why do we have a need for positive self-esteem ?

Answer 10

We have a need for positive self-esteem as it protects humans from the possibility that we are designed only to die and decay

Question 11

What is self regulation?

Answer 11

• controlling behaviour to strive personal and social aims
• all self control drawn from single source like flexing muscle

Question 12

Explain categories of thought and the effect of self focusing

Answer 12

People feel unpleasant thinking about themselves because it makes them realise they are not perfect

The effect of self-focusing ⇒ honesty box - eyes or flowers , 3x more money paid with eyes

Question 13

What are the four methods to enhance self esteem ?

Answer 13

1. Biased self serving cognitions - the better than average effect , conspiracy theories
2. Self-handicapping strategies - sandbagging , play down ability
3. Basking in reflected glory
4. Downward comparisons