Social PsychologyChapter 1: Introduction

Definition Social psychology is the scientific study of the

way in which people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the real or imagined presence of other people.

Social Science “Cousins” Sociology – more emphasis on the group as a

unit and the function of larger groups and organizations

Personality psychology – more emphasis on personal, individual differences to explain differences in behavior

Social psychology – looks at the person in the situation.

What is a construal?

- the way in which people perceive, comprehend, and interpret the social world

- “Well, that’s just the way that I see it.”

Originated in the Gestalt theories of psychological perception.

Naïve realism (Lee Ross) – the conviction that we perceive things as they really are

Construals – our interpretation of the world -and human motives

Many times we need to see the world the way that we do

We need to feel good about ourselves We need to justify our behavior We need to be accurate

Example: the Rosenthal effect