Social Cognition

• Social Cognition is the mental process associated

with the ways in which people perceive and react

to other individuals and groups.

• People in the culture in which we live affect two important components of the self:

• Self-concept: The beliefs we hold about who we are and what characteristics we have.

• Self-esteem: The evaluations we make about how worthy we are as human beings.

Social Comparisons:

• Social comparisons

• Reference groups– Downward social comparison

• Relative deprivation

Social Identity

• It’s our beliefs about the groups to which we

belong. Our social identity is part of our self-

concept.

Social Cognition and Psychological Disorders

• Self-schema– Unified self-schema– Differentiated self-schema

Social Perception

Social Perception

• The role of schemas

• First impressions– Forming first impressions– Lasting impressions– Self-fulfilling prophecies

Explaining Behavior: Attribution

• Attribution– Sources of attributions: concensus, consistency,

distinctiveness– The fundamental attribution error

• Ultimate attribution error• Actor-observer bias• Self-serving bias

The Self-Protective Functions of Social Cognition

• Unrealistic optimism

• Unique vulnerability

• Self-handicapping strategy

Attitudes• Structure of attitudes

– Cognitive component– Affective component– Behavioral component

• Forming attitudes

• Changing attitudes– 3 factors– Elaboration likelihood model

• Peripheral route• Central route

• Cognitive Disonance

• Self-perception