Social Psychology

Question 1

Social Psychology

Answer 1

Examines the influence of social processes on people’s;
Thoughts (cognitive)
Feelings (emotions)
Behaviour (actions)
The focus is on individuals but considered in terms of interactions and influence of others.

Question 2

Norms

Answer 2

Rules about appropriate behaviour in different situations

Powerful but not hard to articulate

Question 3

Factors Affecting Conformity

Answer 3

• Ambiguity/Uncertainty
• Unanimity/Dissension
• Group size
• Identification with group
• Personality
• Culture
• Gender

Question 4

Bystander Effect

Answer 4

More people available to give help, the lower the chances of receiving help

Question 5

Social Loafing

Answer 5

Exert less effort in a group than alone: let others pick up the slack.

• less effort; same reward
• larger the group, the less the individuals contributions are noticed
• liking/identification with the group
• group expresses disapproval
• culture

Question 6

Obedience

Answer 6

Change in behaviour to meet the demands of an authority figure
Factors that effect Obedience;
- others behaviour
- peers
- experimenter
- learner
- personality characteristics

Question 7

Social Perception

Answer 7

The process by which people make sense of themselves, others, social interactions, and relationships.

• first impressions
• schemas
• attribution
• stereotypes
• prejudice

Question 8

First Impressions

Answer 8

What sort of information?
What do we infer?
Very quick
Stable
Self-fulfilling prophecies
Halo Effect
- Schema

Question 9

Schema

Answer 9

Patterns of thought that organise our experiences and knowledge

 - People (librarians, extroverts, students)
 - Situation (work, movies, party, funeral)
 - Roles (student, lecturer, parent)
 - Relationships (siblings, couples)

Question 10

Attribution

Answer 10

The process of understanding and explaining the causes of behaviour.

• Understand behaviour
• Predict future behaviour
• Control Situation
• Internal Causes (personality characteristics)
• External Causes (circumstances/situation)

Question 11

Attributional Biases

Answer 11

• Actor-Observer Effect
• Can lead to ‘victim-blaming’
  
  • explain others’ misfortunes as their fault

Question 12

Stereotypes

Answer 12

Schemas about a group of people.

• Chosen vs Unchosen Characteristics
• Levels of Stereotypes
  
  • Public: consciously aware and openly admit
  • Private: consciously aware, but won’t admit
  • Implicit: unconscious

Question 13

Implicit Stereotypes

Answer 13

• Can be primed by presenting relevant stimuli.
• Implicit Association Test
• How long it takes to match different groups with positive or negative words
• young-old, gay-straight, thin-obese
• Underlying attitudes
• Familiarity with culture

Question 14

Stereotypes and Prejudice

Answer 14

Stereotypes
- Belief about person’s characteristic
on the basis of their group membership 
Prejudice
- Attitude towards someone on basis of their group membership
Discrimination
- Behaviour directed towards someone
on the basis of their group membership

Question 15

Ingroup

Answer 15

Group you belong to

Question 16

Outgroup

Answer 16

Group you do not belong to

Question 17

Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

Answer 17

Our beliefs and expectations influence our bahviour
Our behaviour affects others’ responses/behaviour
Others’ response/behaviour reinforces our beliefs and expectations.