U0 Social Psychology: the science of the social side of life Flashcards
What is Social Psychology
Science that tries to understand the causes of social behavior by focusing on the behavior of individuals
Who is the father of social psychology? And what did he say
Gordon W. Allport
“The scientific investigation of how the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals are influenced by actual, imagined or implied presence of others.”
-> communication serves a purpose
-> behavior is influenced motives, goals, perspective, cutlural, background, -> actor and behavior
The STUDY OF social psychology
What does social psychology rely on?
Accuracy (observation not people watching)
Replicability (same findings)
Objectivity (free from bias - unconscious bias)
Skepticism (accept data accurately)
Open-mindedness (commitment to change one’s view if evidence suggests to)
What is considered when we for example study why do individuals perform violence?
-> groups
-> culture
-> emotion
-> Non-social factors
-> environment
->info framing biology
->appereances
Social contexts/experiance -> self-identities -> social behavior -> social contexts
What do social psychologists examine?
- how groups influence social behavior
- how culture becomes internalized and affects individual preferences
- how emotions and moods affect the decisions made by the individual
What are the components of psychological perspective in social psychology?
-> Variation (same species evolve different ways)
-> Inheritance (vari. can be passed on to next generations)
-> Selection (advantages that make organisms survive more)
social psych. who are guided by evo. perspective are particularly interested in features that might account for gendered behavior, esp. related to sexuality
studies like why do we find some people attractive
What are the two groups in social psychologists?
Social behaviors - how ppl act in social situations
Social thought - how ppl attempt to make sense of the social world and understand themselves and others
What are some things that are studied in social behavior
the ways people interact with one another:
* altruism
* communication
* tradition
* humour
* influence
* conformity
* cooperation
* listening
* leadership
* gossiping
* politeness
* shyness
* discipline
* manipulation
* agression
* competition
What are some things social thought group studies
What we think in any situation and the models we use
-> automatic vs. controlled
-> bribing/gifiting
-> Leaving a tip
-> to ‘dress up’
What do modern theories of Social psychology do?
integrate both social thought and behavior to come understand how and why other people behave. We cannot hope to understand how and why other people behave the way they do withouth considering their thoughts, memory, intentions, emotions, attitudes, and beliefs.
What is the role of emotion in the social side life
-> positive emotions (affect) increase our tendency to help others
-> interest in this topic has increased
How do relationship relate to social psychology?
relationships are a fundamental part of our life as it can add happiness when its a good relationship, and disturb our well-being when we’re in a negative relationship.
It is better, to view one’s partner realistically or through “rose-colored glasses”?
- It is good but only if it is restrained by a healthy degree of reality
- Positivity and perceived similarity between partners contributes to hapiness, but
accuracy does too.
single people can be happy, however those that belong to a social group are healthier and live longer
What data do social psychologists collect?
they use brain activation when doing certain activities, heart rate and neural activity, response latency when presented an stimuli or a choice
What are mirror neuron’s
neurones that allow us to have empathy
-> capacity to put ourselves in another person’s shoes
-> DOES NOT INCLUDE JUDGEMENT
-> REQUIRES ACTIVE LISTENING AND TAKES ON NONVERBAL CUES
What are cognitive theories in social psychology?
Explanations of behavior in terms of the way people actively interpret and represent their experiences and then plan actions (schemas)
Who is considered to be the father of experimental social psychology
Lewin’s theory was the earliest social psychology’s cognitive theories
advocating for full cycle research: basic and applied research inform one another
What is the order of domination in theories within SP during the years
during 50’s and 60’s cognitive theories dominated
(Our thoughts about ourselves, our behavior, and the world create discomfort, motivating us to resolve the cognitive conflict.)
early 70’s attribution theories dominates (People explain behavior through causes, which shape their reactions and future actions.)
late 70’s social cognition
How does Kurt Lewin’s model explain the role of both individual and environmental factors in shaping social behavior?
Kurt Lewin emphasized the practical value of good theories in understanding social behavior. He argued that every psychological event is influenced by both the individual’s state and the environment, though the weight of each can vary in different situations. Lewin’s model of social behavior highlights this interaction between the person and their surroundings.
A model for understanding social behaviour
Lewin established two categories that would affect social behavior
- social behavior is a function of the interaction of the situation and the individual’s characteristics:
beh = f(social situation x individual characteristics)
What is a person’s perception of the world influenced by?
it is influenced by their past, their tasks, and needs
-> social contexts can produce forces that control the individual’s actions
What does Kurt Lewin’s Field Theory explain about the perception of the psychological environment and its role in change management?
- Refers to the overall psychological environment a person perceives at any moment.
- Rooted in Gestalt psychology: the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
It evolves with time, experiences, and interactions. - Applied in change management: highlights the tension between driving forces (pushing for change) and restraining forces (resisting change).
Field theory - unfreeze
- Bring status quo out of
balance and prepare all
involved parties for the
change process - Overcome resistance and
encourage willingness of
participants.
Field theory - change
- Create a new condition if
enough willingness to
change is established. - Create new solutions and
new attitudes until a new
balance is established.
Field theory - freeze
- Solidify new attitudes and newly
created balance. - Integrate new problema-solving
strategies into Company
processes. - Move on to next stage Project
after successful conclusión of
this phase.
Why don’t social situations and individual characteristics directly influence social behavior, and how does intention differ from action?
Inputs from social situations and individual characteristics don’t directly determine social behavior. Instead, other factors intervene between intentions and actions. Even if someone forms a behavioral intention, it doesn’t guarantee that they will act on it.
WHAT DOES THE DYNAMIC PROCESS LOOK LIKE?
Individual characteristics+ social situational -> social cognition and perception -> evaluation -> Intention to behave a certain way -> overt social beh
