T3: Lecture 1 Flashcards
What is social psychology?
Understanding how thoughts/feelings/actions of individuals are influenced by perceived/imagined/implied thoughts/feelings/ and actions of others
What are we influenced by?
What others think
Are our perceptions of others’ thoughts correct?
Often incorrect
What was Reosseau’s interpretation on the nature of humankind?
‘Man by nature is good, institutions make him bad’
What was Hobbes’ interpretation on the nature of humankind?
‘Man by nature is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish’ (bad)
What are the 5 approaches to Social Psychology?
- Cognitive
- Learning
- Motivational
- Biological
- Cultural
What is Cognitive Perspective about?
- How perception affects behaviour
- How you interpret someones behaviour reflects how you will respond
What is Learning Perspective about?
- Principles of reinforcement and imitation
- Focuses on observable behaviour and ignores cognition
- Responses based on prior learning
What is Motivational Perspective about?
- Basic Human needs
- Psychological needs e.g self esteem
What is Biological Perspective about?
- Evolutionary part and genetic predisposition
- Behave in a way due to evolutionary forces making behaviours adaptive e.g. communication
What is Cultural Perspective about?
-How culture affects social behaviour
What are the four levels of explanation in SS
- Intra-personal- within the person
- Inter-personal- between individuals
- Inter-group-within/between groups
- Societal-within/between societies
What is Intra-Personal based on?
What goes on inside a person e.g. personality, temperament, genes
What is Inter-Personal based on?
Interactions between two people
What is Inter-Group based on?
Based on group level behaviour
