Week 23: Social Thinking and People in Groups Flashcards
What is the definition of social psychology?
The scientific study of how individuals think, feel, and behave in social contexts.
Who is often referred to as ‘the father of social psychology’?
Kurt Lewin
What equation did Kurt Lewin formulate regarding behavior?
Behavior = f (person, social situation)
What significant social psychology experiments were conducted before 1900?
The earliest social psychology experiments on group behavior.
What did the studies by Sherif and Asch demonstrate?
The importance of conformity pressures in social groups.
What was the focus of Stanley Milgram’s obedience studies?
How authority figures can lead individuals to commit harmful acts.
What does social influence refer to?
The process through which other people change our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Fill in the blank: Social psychology primarily studies the _______ between individuals and their social situations.
dynamic relationship
What are social norms?
The accepted behaviors within a group or society.
What is social support?
The comfort that we receive from the people around us.
True or False: Social situations have a weaker influence on behavior than personality traits.
False
What effect does social support have on mental health?
It leads to greater happiness and fewer psychological problems.
What is cognitive dissonance theory?
A theory that describes the discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs or behaviors.
List some key figures in social psychology who focused on group behavior.
- Irving Janis
- Philip Zimbardo
- John Darley
- Bibb Latané
What is the relationship between social support and physical health?
People with social support have better physical health outcomes.
What happens to individuals who experience social exclusion?
They feel pain, frustration, and lower self-esteem.
Fill in the blank: The studies of social psychology have influenced decisions in areas such as _______.
law, education, and public policy
What does the term ‘social cognition’ refer to?
How knowledge about social worlds develops through experience.
What was the focus of Leonard Berkowitz’s research?
The study of human aggression.
What is the significance of the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case?
It helped end racial segregation in U.S. public schools.
What are the psychological effects of a happy marriage?
It serves as an excellent form of social support.
True or False: Ostracism has no significant psychological impact on individuals.
False
What is the primary goal of effective psychotherapy regarding social support?
To help people generate better social support networks.
What did Zimbardo’s prison experiment demonstrate?
The powerful role of social situations on human behavior.