Introduction to Social Psychology Flashcards
What is social psychology?
Social psychology is the scientific study of the nature and causes of human behaviour, thoughts and feelings in social situations
Social psychology as a scientific discipline
Discuss accuracy
Careful, precise and error-free data that is collected with precision considering that when collecting data on social behaviour it can be subjective and lack replicability.
Social psychology as a scientific discipline
Discuss objectivity
Collecting and evaluating objective evidence in an empirical manner.
Social psychology as a scientific discipline
Discuss Skepticism
Querying the reliability of data
Social psychology as a scientific discipline
Discuss Open-mindedness
A commitment to changing one’s views by testing paradigms even the most strongly held ones in the search of new theories/beliefs
Research methods in social psychology
Systematic (Naturalistic) Observation
Formal observation of behaviour
Research methods in social psychology
Survey method
Questionnaires
Research methods in social psychology
Correlation
Allows you to make predictions or inferences about variables
Research methods in social psychology
Experimental
Allows you to determine causality through random assignment
Theoretical perspectives in pschology
Socio-cultural Perspective
Social and cultural causes of social behaviour are influenced by our social groups
Theoretical perspectives in pschology
Evolutionary Perspective
Physical & pschological predispositions
Theoretical perspectives in pschology
social learning
previously learnt experiences determine behaviour
Theoretical perspectives in pschology
socio-cognitive
cognitive processes involved in the interpretation of social experiences
B.E.C.C.B
what are the nature and causes of individual behaviour and thought
- Behaviour & characteristics of others
- environmental variables
- cognitive processes
- cultural context
- biological factors
what are the motives/goals that drive behaviour?
- to establish social ties
- to understand ourseleves and others
- to gain and maintain status
- to defend ourselves and those we value
- to attract and retain mates
