The Social Animal...

Question 1

The human mind can take in about __ million pieces of information at any time.

Answer 1

11 million

Question 2

How many pieces of information can we be consciously aware of at a time?

Answer 2

only about 40 of these

Question 3

What are the aspects of the ‘thinking animal’ or outer mind?

Answer 3

Conscious mind
Dry, rational, mechanistic
‘pure reason’
Reason and analysis rule
Power of the individual
Hungers for status, money, applause
Individual choice
IQ
Distant / removed from experience
French Enlightenment (focus on reason)

Question 4

What are the aspects of the ‘social animal’ or the enchanted inner mind?

Answer 4

Unconscious mind
Enchanted, emotional, passionate
Passions and perceptions rule
Power of relationships and the invisible bonds between people
Hungers for harmony and deep connection / attachment to others
Social entanglement / connection
Character
Immersed in / responding to, the flow of experience - “coats the world with emotion”
British Enlightenment (focus on sentiments)

Question 5

From social psychology perspective, what are we driven by?

Answer 5

Driven by passions

Question 6

From social psychology perspective, what sets us apart from other animals/mammals?

Answer 6

immense and intense sociality

Question 7

Understand the importance of how many of the biggest stories of the previous decade are related to major topics of sociology (ex. attitudes, behaviour, interpersonal violence, love and attachment, group cooperation and helping, leadership styles, etc.)